

142 BRITISH FERNS 
sufficiently marked specific differences to determine them as such, 
if not as species proper. These three he named L. filix-mas, the 
Common Male Fern, L. pseudo-mas, which we will name the Hard 
Male Fern, and L. propinqua, a form distinct from either, and these 
three we will therefore treat of under separate headings. The dis- 
putable species, viz. L. cristata, L. uliginosa, L. sbinulosa, we cannot 
help considering as varied forms of L. dilatata, and Dr. F. W. Stans- 
field, one of our foremost authorities on British Ferns, agrees with 
us in this view. He states: “ L. dilatata, spinulosa, uliginosa, and 
cristata form a chain of sub-species in the order named ; the extreme 
forms are as distinct as any two species in the genus, but the inter- 
mediate forms merge into each other. L. cristata is a real bog Fern, 
dilatata does not grow in bogs, though it is found on islands in bogs.” 
L. remota must be judged by itself; we gravely doubt its actual 
specific distinction. We shall, however, with this reservation, 
treat of them separately, and illustrate their, as we consider, sub- 
varietal differences. As there are material differences between the 
species, constituting the genus here, as to natural habitats and 
cultural requirements, deciduous nature, or otherwise, we will 
also reserve our remarks on these points in this introduction, as 
we cannot treat of them generally as with the other genera. 
LASTREA /EMULA (THE HAY-SCENTED BUCKLER FERN) 
(Plate XXII) 
This is a very pretty species, closely allied to L. dilatata, but 
distinguished from it, and from its recognized sub-species, by 
greater delicacy of make in the fronds, the segments of which are 





Fig. 146.  Lastrea emula (pinna). 
prettily curled and crisped. А further difference is seen in the y 
caudex, which is smaller and of a more tufted character, the whole | 
plant, indeed, being more compact. The fronds (Fig. 146), too, 

