THE LASTREAS 143 
especially when fading, and even when dead, have a strong scent 
of new-mown hay or Tonquin bean. Culture requires moist, peaty 
soil and a damp atmosphere. It is not nearly so plentiful as 
L. dilatata, only appearing in very congenial Fern districts, and 
then rarely in abundance. One pretty variety was found in 
Devonshire. 
Crisrarum.—Very neatly and thoroughly crested. The original 
find was lost, but a seedling came up, a fertile frond of which was 
secured by Col. Jones and given to the writer, who, after eradicating 
two monopolizing batches of stray Ferns from the pan, secured as a 
third batch several hundreds of Ше L. emula cristata, all true, 
many of which Col. Jones distributed. The Colonel's own sowing 
was placed in a greenhouse, and was frustrated by an invasion of 
exotic Pteris, etc., spores in similar fashion, which, not being 
eradicated as they appeared, gave Ше L. emula no chance. 
LAsTREA CRISTATA (THE CRESTED BUCKLER FERN) 
(Plate XIV) 
This Fern (Fig. 147), as already stated in our introductory remarks 
concerning the Lastrea family, is considered by good authorities 
not to be a species proper, but one of the sub-species Gui ume JL, 
Fig. 147. Lastrea cristata (pinna). 
dilatata section. In our plate it differs materially and is in any case 
an extreme form. Why it should have been named “ cristata” we 
have never been able to discover; there is certainly no trace of a 
“ crest as the word is understood in Fern circles nowadays. Our 
illustration obviates description. As а bog Fern moist conditions 
must be afforded, and a peaty compost provided. 
LASTREA DILATATA (THE BROAD BUCKLER FERN) 
(Plate XV) 
This is a robust-growing species which is very widely distributed, 
and affects moist woods, glens, ditches, and similar habitats where 
some shade is afforded, and an open leafy or peaty soil is found, 
though it is by no means dainty in this respect. It is made on 
very different lines to most of the other Lastreas, having dark green 

