





148 BRITISH ЕЕКМ5 
consider justifiably, been split up into three sub-species, viz. 
L. filix-mas, L. pseudo-mas, and L. propinqua. Mr. G. B. Wollaston’s 
definition of the differences we may render into popular language 

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Fig. 158. Z. filix-mas (pinna). 
Lastrea filix-mas.—Partially deciduous, the fronds lying prostrate ` 
in winter (1.6. not dying absolutely in the autumn as with deciduous 
Ferns proper). Fronds lance-shaped, reaching five feet in length, 
pinne long and broad at base, once divided, pinnules oval, saw- 
toothed, lowest part the longest; spore cover, when young, does 
not cover the spore capsules, and later often drops off. : 
Lastrea pseudo-mas.—Sub-evergreen, fronds hard and leathery and 
do not drop in winter (and under glass are quite evergreen) ; fronds 
lance-shaped, twice divided, reaching five feet in length; pinnae 
long and widest at base, once divided; pinnules with almost 
parallel sides, slightly saw-toothed, scarcely any difference in the 
length of the lowest pair; spore cover, when young, covers the 
spore capsules and does not fall off. (The colour is also a yellowish 
green.) 
Lastrea propinqua.—Quite deciduous ; not found at so great an 
elevation as the others reach; fronds ovally lance-shaped, twice 
divided, reaching rarely four feet in length; pinne once divided, 
pyramidal, 1.6. of a long triangular form; pinnules doubly saw- 
toothed, crispy, and with a projecting ear-like one at the base, 
„База! pair distinctly stalked and much longer than the rest ; spore 
cover quite covers the capsules. 
A little study will show that these are definite differences, and 
as all three types occur in many places, and retain these peculiarities, 
it is obvious that Mr. Wollaston, one of our oldest and most reliable 
authorities on British Ferns, was not a mere hair-splitter in making 
the division. Іп the varieties, however, these differences are, 
naturally, sometimes masked by other characters, and hence, 
although we class the varieties under separate heads, we do so under 
some reserve in several cases. All three have been fairly liberal 
in *sports," the best of which we will now indicate, ignoring, as 
usual, such as have been recorded but owing to defects, irregularities, 
or indeterminate character have probably fallen out of cultivation, 
and in any case deserve to do so. We may, perhaps appropriately, 






