














46 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
division of the pinnze at their apices is one of the chief characteristics 
of the plant. The more normal pinnules are mostly ovate, various 
in size, and very unevenly pinnatifid, the lobes being toothed. The 
multifid apices of the pinne are remarkable for the crowded mass 
of caudate segments, and for the flattened or fasciated rachis, all 
distinction between pinnules and segments being lost. The frond 
terminates in a compact multifid mass, and this together with the 
crowded masses which terminate the pinne must have a crispy 
charaeter when growing. It was found at Chambercombe, in Devon- 
shire, by the Rev. J. M. Chanter. 
47. polyclados (M.). This form of variation includes several large 
much-divided ramose plants, which are undescribable in general 
terms, no two fronds being alike in their divisions. In some examples, 
the frond is three-branched at the top of a long stipes; the branches 
being bipinnate and dichotomous at the end; the pinne unequal, 
sometimes bifid; the pinnules also unequal in size, and irregular in 
shape and division. The pinnæ are in some fronds excessively 
developed, and become branch-like about the middle of the frond, 
while those at the base, as well as the apex of the frond itself appear 
as if arrested ; the pinnules on these larger pinn® are often an inch 
and a half long, pinnately divided, the secondary pinnules pinnatifid 
with inciso-ladiniate lobes. Sometimes the branched rachis is the 
only peculiarity, the branches whatever their number being nearly 
or quite normal. In some fronds the peculiarity consists in the 
apex being formed of three or four normal looking but considerably 
enlarged pinne ; or with a nearly normal outline, the pinne may be 
very unequal in size, having the pinnules here’ crowded, there 
distant, and the apex caudate or sometimes forked. Very marked 
forms having the above peculiarities have been found in Devonshire, 
near Ilfracombe, by the Rev. J. M. Chanter, and in Guernsey by 
Mr. C. Jackson ; and we have others agreeing generally with them, 
from—Lancashire : Eccleston, R. Morris; Manchester, J. Horsfall, 
communicated by Messrs.. Stansfield. Devonshire: Barnstaple, C. 
Jackson. Westmoreland : Windermere, F. Clowes. Some other 
branched forms may be conveniently included as subvarieties— 
— polyclados minus (M.). This has been found near Scarborough, 
Yorkshire, by Mr. Clapham. Itis ramose both in the stipites and 

