




188 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
Fern-growers shows it to have no value whatever among Ferns. 
Cystopteris Dickieana, which has the aspect of a species, is reproduced 
from its spores, and this fact might seem to prove its distinctness ; 
but the forms referred to above are clearly not species, but varieties 
of well-known species, and they, too, are reproduced with equal 
constancy. So that the test of reproduction from the spores, fails as 
the mark of a species. The fact itself is probably suggestive that 
spores are bodies rather of the nature of buds than of seeds. 
The Male Fern occurs commonly in three distinct forms, as has 
been already mentioned, these forms being probably often taken 
indifferently as representatives of the species. There are besides 
them, moreover, a considerable number of forms which are recog- 
nised as varieties of a secondary character, many of which are 
permanent, and objects of much interest. In addition to several 
eristate varieties, all of which are very handsome, there are some 
striking forms of the ineisa type, a singular elongated form of the 
paleacea type, and a beautiful dwarf crisped variety, which perhaps 
belongs to the pumila ipo 
l. erosa (Clowes). This form has oblong obtuse biserrated pin- 
nules, which are more or less and variously abbreviated or erose 
in the fertile portions, giving an irregularly contracted appearance 
to these parts; while the lower sterile portions are sometimes much 
like rigida. The fronds are, however, at other times more lax and 
more generally affected, the pinnse being then distant, and the pin- 
nules more widely separated and decurrent, as wellas more irregular 
in size. When in this state, it has a semi- -depauperated aspect. It 
has been found at Lodore, near Keswick, by Miss Wright, and 
at Windermere by Mr. Clowes, who finds it subpermanent. 
` 2. interrupta (M.). This is a curious abnormal- -looking form, very 
irregular in development. The pinnules are in great measure 
changed from the normal character, sometimes forming short 
inciso-serrate lobes along the rachis, sometimes larger and laciniate, 
the fronds having a tendency to divide at the apex. The general 
effect is that most of the pinnules are very much narrowed. Tt 
was found at Windermere by Mr. Clowes, and is a constant form. 

