. THE LADY FERN. á 43 
— erosum minus (M.). A small elegant form, of the same general 
features as erosum. The fronds are narrow, a foot high, irregular, 
the pinne tapered but not acuminate, the pinnules unequal and 
irregular, and when here and there nearly normal, small, oblong, 
and pinnatifid. It was found near Windermere, by Mr. F. Clowes. 
38. abruptum (M.). A singular monstrosity, with somewhat the 
aspect of marinum, but having the fronds variable in form. Those 
of them which are most marked, have the pinne crowded, partially 
depauperated, roundish, or oblong, and unequally cut into coarse 
lobes or teeth ; the few pinnules here and there, which bear some- 
thing like a normal character being bluntly oblong, with broad 
shallow-toothed lobes. At the apices of most of the pinnae there 
are one or two larger pinnules, but the normal gradually tapering 
apex is wanting, and this, together with the dilatation of the apex 
of the fronds, gives the latter an appearance of peculiar abruptness. 
Sometimes the frond is narrower, with the apex lengthened out, and 
here and there the pinn® are terminated by a somewhat elongated 
pinnule set endwise, the rest terminating abruptly. Occasionally a 
normal frond is produced, which may be compared to those of molle, 
but with the pinnules narrower and more deeply lobed, and the 
lobes smaller and more finely notched, This was found by Dr. 
Allchin at Port Erin, in the Isle of Man. 
39. tortile (M.). This is another of the curious forms in which, 
while the general outline of the frond is preserved, the pinnules are so 
varied or distorted as to produce an appearance of great irregularity. 
The pinne are rather unequal in length, and their points are fre- 
quently curved or twisted, which, together with the various directions 
taken by the pinnules on account of their irregular development, 
has suggested the name. The pinnules are rather distant, here and 
there oblong and pinnatifid, but with unequal lobes, but the majority 
are either shortened by an arrest of development, or narrowed by the 
abortion of the lobes, or curved by the unequal growth of the two 
sides, or otherwise variously and irregularly distorted. It is altogether 
a very odd-looking curious variety, and quite constant. The plant 
was found at Skipworth, in Yorkshire, by Mr. Stansfield. 
40. interruptum (Woll). This is a curious form with abbre- 
viated pinne. The fronds are dwarfish and sometimes branch 

