BRITISH ЕЕКМ5 
LASTREA THELYPTERIS (THE MARSH BUCKLER FERN) 
(Plate XX) 
This species is the only British one which actually grows in 
boggy, water-logged soil, and it differs widely from the other 
Lastreas in forming no definite crown, but in having a thin, creeping 
rootstock, almost on Polypody lines, these forming mat-like masses, 
whence the long, slenderly made fronds spring singly. These 
fronds (Fig. 183) are erect, and have very long, naked stalks, bearing 
somewhat distant pinnze, very much on attenuate L. montana lines, 
ZF 
VIM e 
(27 
WR 
e 16 
[27 
у VES 4 
ээ Әу УЛ 2 4 
чо 
кс) 
Y i ` N 4 х 
7 
V 
қ 

Ж 4) SAG 
ORES 55215122 
ООС 
Ч N 
Fig. 183. Z. thelypteris (pinna). 
but without the short lobes commencing near the base which are 
characteristic of that species. They are of a delicate green, and tall, 
attaining in favourable situations over a yard in height. Its 
culture is easy if boggy, peaty conditions and plenty of moisture 
be provided. We produced a rampant specimen by planting a 
piece of the creeping caudex in peaty soil, over а good-sized glazed 
earthenware pan sunk in the ground and filled with pieces of 
broken brick, over which moss was laid to prevent admittance of 
the soil. Every rainfall or watering was caught by this pan, and 
obviously the roots proper of the thirsty Fern obtained admission 
to this supply, for the creeping rootstocks spread, and even emerged 
in all directions, and had eventually to be drastically checked to 
prevent monopoly of valuable space. Peaty soil, in pans, kept well 
watered, suits the Fern admirably, though owing to its tall growth 
and slender stalks it does not rank among the decoratives. No 
variety has been found in this country, but a very good crested 
form, L. 2. polydactyla (Pufferee), was found some years ago by a 
lady in the United States, and figures in our collection as, if not 
a British find, at any rate a “ sport ” of a British species, and there 
are some very promising grandiceps forms raised by the writer. 



