
THE COMMON MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT. 111 
C. Elworthy. Kent: Tunbridge Wells, Mrs. Dewes. It is appar- 
ently near the var. umbrosum, Milde. [Plate LXXVI B.] 
5. depauperatum (Woll.). This curious form is remarkable for 
its interrupted or depauperated character. The pinn in the most 
marked examples are very narrow, serrate or laciniate, and towards 
the apex of the frond they become depauperated so that the spore- 
cases protrude and appear to come from the margin or upper surface 
of the frond, giving the plant a very curious appearance; sometimes 
a portion of the pinn® are wanting, and in other cases the apex is 
reduced to a mere winged rib. This very marked form, which was 
found in 1853, by Dr. Allchin, at Black Head, Clare, Ireland, and in 
1855, by Mr. Wollaston, at Rydal, in Westmoreland, is very rare. l 
Other forms evidently closely allied to this, though less or sometimes 
scarcely at all depauperated, and then having the pinnæ distinctly 
crenated, were found at the same place by Dr. Allchin. Between 
these two extremes, various plants referrible to this variety have 
been met with, e. g. Yorkshire: Firby, C. Monkman. Westmore- 
land: Whitbarrow, F. Clowes. The more perfect examples merge 
into subæquale. [Plate LXXVI C.] 
6. ramo-depauperatum (Claph.). This resembles depauperatum in 
its general character, so far as respects the irregular diminution, or 
here and there the absence of the pinnæ. It differs in having the 
rachis divided, sometimes near the base, sometimes higher up, into 
several branches, the branches again dividing, so that the frond con- 
sists of an irregular tuft of branchlets, varying, in the fronds before 
us, from six to twelve in number. The apices of these branchlets 
become developed into dilated obtuse lobes, scarcely crispy, but giving 
a cristate appearance to the fronds. This variable form, which is 
sometimes nearly.normal below, and usually most depauperated on 
the branchlets, appears to be of garden origin. It was sent to us by 
Mr. A. Clapham, of Scarborough. 
7. bifureum (Woll.). This is a neat and pretty variety, differing 
from the normal plant in having the apical lobe enlarged or dilated, 
and two or three times forked. This, which is rare, and constant 
under culture, was found near Maidstone, in Kent, by Mr. Wollaston. 
A similar plant has been gathered on the wall of Hoddam Kirkyard, 
in Dumfries-shire, by Mr. W. G. Johnstone. [Plate LXXVI A.] 

