THE MALE FERN. i 201 
and young ones quite characteristic abundantly produced from it. 
Tt differs from the older cristata (17), very much in the same way as 
Pinderi differs from paleacea, namely in the elongation and coincident 
narrowing of the fronds. It is however still more remarkable, for it 
is only pinnate, the pinnules being all confluent, so that the margins 
of the pinnæ are only shallowly lobed. The largest fronds-we have 
seen, which we believe are of mature size, are about eighteen inches 
long and two and a quarter-inches broad. The pinne are conse- 
quently so short, that the frond seems to consist only of a frill on 
each side of the rachis. The pinne have an enlarged semicordate 
base, representing the basal pinnules; above this they are con- 
- tracted, with a lobate-serrate margin, and they terminate in a 
roundish erispy tuft; the elongated apex of the frond also termi- 
nates in a multifid-crispy tuft of considerable size. This elegant 
variety was raised by Mr. R. Sim, of Footscray, Kent. 
19. dentew (M.). A curious variety raised from cristata by the 
Messrs. Stansfield, of Todmorden. It has the apex of the frond 
constantly truncate or abrupt, the usual attenuated upper portion 
being replaced by an ordinary sized pinna; and the apices of the 
pinne are variously bifid or ramose, but not crispy. The frond is 
bipinnate; the pinnules oblong, close-set, and deeply and sharply 
serrated, the toothing being conspicuous. 
20. Jervisii (M.). This is a tasselled state allied to the typical 
form of the species. Like that it has a broadly lanceolate frond, with 
an acuminated apex. The pinne are elongated and rather irregular 
at the margin, distinctly divided below into oblong serrated acutish 
pinnules, but towards the apex merely cut into shallow acute lobes, 
which point forwards and extend to the base of the tassel, which is 
dilated and subcristate, but less tufted than in the other cristate 
forms. The plant is very elegant, and has a peculiar and distinct 
aspect, resulting from the mode in which the upper part of the 
pinna is lobed. The plants, while young, are often not very 
characteristic, but they become so as they get older. This is the 
polydactyla of most collections of living plants, the parent having 
been at first identified with that variety, from which it proves to 
be materially different. It was found by Mr. Swynfen Jervis, in 
the vicinity of his residence, Darlaston, near Stone, Staffordshire. 

