THE MALE FERN. ] 199 
rachides. "The main rachis is entirely hidden in front by the crowded 
imbricated pinnules. The chief peculiarity, after its dwarfness and 
density, and that to which it mainly owes its distinctness and 
beauty, is the undulation of the parts, which gives it a fine crispy 
appearance. This is produced by the points of the pinn® turning 
upwards or backwards from the plane of the rachis, so that the 
surface of the frond is concave, while the convex segments are 
unequally deflexed, producing an uneven convexity of the surface 
of the pinnæ. It is one of those forms which have proved them- 
selves constant from the spores, a large number of plants having 
been raised. We are indebted to Mr. R. Sim for our knowlege of 
the plant, and the annexed particulars of its history:—“It was 
gathered in Wales, by Mr. J. W. Salter of London, and by him 
given to the Hon. Mrs. Wrightson of Warmsworth Hall, Doncaster, 
in whose fernery the original plant still exists. It was there seen 
by Mr. 8. Appleby of Balby, who struck with the peculiar habit, 
obtained a fertile frond, from which plants have been raised, all 
exactly resembling the parent.” We have lately received from 
Miss Stancomb of Trowbridge, a similar form, found in 1858 
in the neighbourhood of South Molton, Devonshire, by the Rev. T. 
Mann ; this also proves constant, and it agrees with the Welsh plant 
in everything but the distinctly serrated margins. 
16. Bollandie. (M.). This very interesting variety has, when fresh, 
a remarkably powerful mignonette-like fragrance, resembling that 
of pumila and abbreviata, arising doubtless from numerous minute 
sessile or embedded - glands, the fronds appearing to be glandular- 
punctate. The fronds grow about a foot and a half in height, and 
are ovate-lanceolate, membranaceous, and bipinnate at the very base 
of the pinns, but there only, all the other pinnules being connected 
by the wings of the rachides. The pinnæ are broad, oblong, | 
stalked, narrowed rather suddenly at the point, not at all acu- 
minate. The pinnules are large, elongate-oblong, obtuse, pointing 
forwards, somewhat wavy, deeply lobed, the lobes sparingly serrate, 
the base narrowing in a wedge-shaped manner, and becoming decur- 
rent with the narrow but distinct membrane which borders the 
secondary rachides. The scales of the stipes are very pale brown, 
and distinctly fimbriated. It was found in a hedge-row near 

