
182 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
bearing alternate branches or veins, which are again branched once 
or twice, these secondary branches or venules extending nearly to 
the margin, each venule (or vein) itself if simple, or the anterior 
branch if ramified, proceeding towards the point of one of the 
marginal -serratures, just within which it terminates. The manner 
of ramifying is, by what is called forking, which consists in the 
production of two branches both slightly and about equally diverg- 
ing from the straight line. In the larger varieties there are more 
of these forkings than in the smaller. 
Fructification on the back of the frond, rarely extending more 
than half-way down, and most copious on the upper third. Sori 
numerous distinct, roundish-reniform, in the normal form confined 
to the lower half of the pinnules, attached to the anterior venule 
at a short distance above its source, and much below its termination, 
thus becoming medial on the vein, and forming two short lines 
extending upwards from the base of the pinnæ, rather nearer the 
midvein than the margin. Indüsium firm, convex, persistent, reni- 
form, i. e., roundish with a posterior notch, affixed by the notch or 
sinus, with an entire margin, 7. e., without marginal glands, (except in 
pumila, and. abbreviata, which are probably distinct) and acquiring a 
grayish or leaden hue as the fructification becomes matured. Spore- 
cases reddish brown, obovate. Spores oblong or reniform, granulated. 
Duration. The caudex is perennial. . The young annual fronds 
are produced about May, and endure throughout the summer and 
autumn, and until destroyed by severe frost. Under shelter all 
the forms are subevergreen, paleacea and its subvarieties most 
especially. 
This plant is the type of the modern genus Lastrea, which con- 
sists of indusiate free-veined dot-fruited Ferns, having the indusium 
~ reniform, ¿.e., round with a notch in the margin, forming a sinus, 
by which it is affixed. 
The common Male Fern cannot well be mistaken for any other 
native species. It has indeed been formerly confounded with 
L. cristata, but the two have no very close affinity, and the only 
near resemblance occurs in a form of Filix-mas, not common, in 
which the lower pinn® are triangular. The Incised variety is in 

