198 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
line on each side the midrib of the pinne about even with the 
sinuses of the pinnules. When however the growth is very luxuriant, 
a few of the basal pinnules bear two, three, or four sori each, but 
even in these cases, the sori form two simple series for more than 
half the length of the pinne, so that the general uniserial arrange- 
ments is hardly disturbed. The indusium is convex, reniform, 
and persistent, and its margin is somewhat inflected beneath the 
spore-cases ; it is, moreover, beaded with short-stalked glands. 
We are almost persuaded that this plant offers specific differences, 
in its constantly small size, the direction of the pinn® and pinnules, 
the peculiar distribution of the sori, the glandular inflected indusium, 
and in the important character of vernation. In respect to this 
latter point, the shepherd’s crook form, which occurs in the com- 
mon Male Fern, is not assumed in the process of unrolling its 
fronds, but the rachis gradually unrols from the base to the apex. It 
is also reproduced from the spores, although that alone is not 
evidence of its distinctness. On the other hand, the general cha- 
racter of the parts, and of the sori and indusia, agree with diminu- 
tive examples of the Male Fern. The fresh fronds are fragrant, in 
consequence no doubt of the presence of numerous small glands on 
their surface; the fragrance having something of the sweetness of 
Mignonette. This rare Fern appears to have been first brought 
from Snowdon, by the late Mr. D. Cameron, and has been recently 
found near Llyn Ogwen by Mr. 8. O. Gray. Mr. Wollaston finds 
it sometimes dichotomously divided at the apex. It seems confined 
to North Wales, and to alpine localities. [Plate XXXV.—Folio 
ed. t. XVII B.] 
19. crispa (Sim). This a beautiful dwarf evergreen Fern, remark- 
able for its crispy surface. We have not seen it in a mature fertile 
state, but the plants appear to resemble pumila (14) in size and 
habit, and they agree with that variety in having fimbriated scales. 
The fronds are lanceolate, with an acuminate apex. The pinne, 
which are thickly set upon the rachis, so that they overlie each other, 
are deeply pinnatifid, but scarcely pinnate even at the base. The 
segments are oblong, crowded, overlapping, and rather distinctly 
serrated. The stipes is short, and very scaly, as is the main rachis 
behind ; smaller. scales are also scattered along the secondary 

