

112 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
8. ramosum (Woll.). This is a much ramified form, so nearly 
constant under cultivation as to claim a place among the permanent 
varieties. The rachis is two or three times forked, and the apical 
lobes, as in bifurcum, are frequently enlarged and bifid or multifid. 
When there are many divisions of the rachis, the pinne sometimes 
become irregular and depauperated, and they are often strongly 
crenate. It has been found in Devonshire, at Newte's Hill, near 
Tiverton, and in some abundance near Ilfracombe, by Mrs. Chanter ; 
also by Dr. Kinahan on Quin Abbey, Clare, Ireland; and by Mr. 
F. Clowes, near Windermere, Westmoreland. A very beautiful 
form, analogous to these, but branching lower down the rachis, has 
been sent from the neighbourhood of Keswick by Miss Wright; 
this forms our illustration. [Plate LXXVI bis, C.] 
9. multifidum (M.). This is ramosely forked in the rachis some . 
distance below the apex of the frond, usually twice, sometimes three 
times, and the apices of the branches are all dilated and multifid- 
erisped, forming spreading tufts, but the branching is irregular. 
In a fine example now before us, cultivated by Mr. Clapham, there 
are about a dozen of these dilated apical tufts of confluent segments. 
It is a free-growing handsome variety, and proves constant, having 
been abundantly reproduced from the spores. This was found by 
Mr. Dick at St. Mary's Isle, Kirkeudbright, and has been commu- 
nicated and distributed by Mr. J. McNab, from the Edinburgh 
Botanic Garden. [Plate LXXVI dis, B. ] 
10. eristatum (Woll.). This very graceful and uncommon form 
has the apex of the frond spread out into a beautiful symmetrical 
tuft or tassel, but it seldom if ever ramifies except at the apex of the 
rachis. It has a free and vigorous habit of growth, and is invari- 
ably reproduced from the spores, and constant under cultivation. 
The early history of this variety is lost, but some seedling plants 
made their appearance in a mass of Hymenophyllum unilaterale sent : 
to the late Mrs. Delves of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, ER the Glasgow 
Botanie Garden. [Plate LXXVI bis, D.] 

