BRITISH FERNS 
LIII 
POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM, var, PULCHERRIMUM (Jones) 
Jno. Bevis, Hawkchurch. Dorset. 1876. 
23 
Perhaps “the greatest discovery of modern times”; had this 
plant fallen to the lot of the most aspiring hunter that ever bore а 
vasculum, he could scarcely have helped feeling at the moment of 
discovery that he had not lived quite in vain ;—but it was pulled 
out of the hedge in a ploughed field by a common labourer who 
knew nothing of Ferns. The whole find,—a goodly clump of six 
or seven crowns,--was handed over to Mr. Wills, and by him 
(with a rare liberality) very soon dispersed in about as many 
different directions. * 
* Many and hot have been the discussions as to the species to which this 
variety belongs. Mr. Wills, who knows the exact circumstances of its 
discovery, and whose keenness of сус and instinctive knowledge in such 
matters are well known, stoutly maintains that it is aculeatum, —and it has yet 
to Бе proved that it is not either the plumose or pulcherrimum form of that 
species ;—the slight tendency to crest at the extremity of the pinnze is rather 
in favour of the latter Supposition. It is a fact that not one of the plants has 
yet produced the Sign of a spore. Mr. Wollaston, who confesses it is ка; 
puzzler,” admits that it has the aculeatum pinnule, and suggests that it may be 
a natural hybrid. Мг. Wills, writing with reference to it, says, “T am inclined 
to think it aculeatum, from its having a greater resemblance to it than to 
angulare, —rigidity, though the parts are slender,—““sheen or gloss on upper 
surface of pinnules, —shape of frond,--the same angle at parting from rachis, 
—pinna also tending to diminish in length from middle of frond downwards,” 
Mr. Fox adds that it has also the peculiar shade of green of angulare, 

