418 BRITISH FERNS 
the whole of the divided or multilobed varieties will drop into their 
places very naturally. 
It may be said that this arrangement makes no provision for the 
plumose forms, which are certainly divided forms, but Mr. Padley’s 
suggestion that plumosum is but the plumose form of decompositum 
well deserves consideration—and it will probably be found that 
between plumosum and the higher forms of decompositum there is 
room for all the forms generally known as sub-plumose and foliose, 
and such as s¢ruthio, Parsonsit (Мооге), and others. 
No doubt the plumose class have other characters, so distinct as 
to entitle them to a place of their own in any system of classification. 
No more is attempted here than to draw attention to Mr. Padley's 
views regarding their relationship to the decomposite forms, and to 
point out that if these views be sound (and there is much to recom- 
mend them) the whole of the divided forms may be very easily and 
naturally connected. 
The expression “ gentle blood" has been used here more than 
once as expressive of that look of quality which seems to dis- 
tinguish the finely-divided forms of angulare from all others. Ёог 
whoever has once seen a real acutilobe or divisilobe—well grown,— 
half or two-thirds unfolded, with its wealth of feathery foliage 
spreading from a centre,—so finely cut and yet so evenly crowded 
together, the dark green of the unfolded part contrasting charm- 
ingly with the clear white of the curled-up heads of the fronds that 
turn gracefully back, crozierlike,— with the tips of the pinnz still 
folded up, and standing out like rows of little frosted-silver balls 
along the outer edge of the frond, —and the rich, thick, fox-coloured 
scales that cover the stem, running right up the centre of the frond 
like a bit of sable fur, —and the fine, hair-like spines. standing out 
from it everywhere, for the dew to rest on or the sun to shine 
upon ;—whoever has once seen this mixture of form, detail, and 
colour can hardly help regarding it ever afterwards as distinct 
from other Polystichums. And it isn't cultivation only that does it, 
for often has the eye of the fortunate angulare hunter been struck 
by a similar contrast,—as, for instance, when Mr. Wollaston came 
face to face with No. LXXVI, or when Mr. Wills (with that magical 
hooked stick of his) uncovered his Sidbury divisilobe from the 
common leaves that hid it ;—there they stood out, distinct among 
their fellows, just like bits of china among earthenware,—clearly 
enough Nature's gentlemen,—and we may be sure that it takes 




