












220 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
cially of the fertile fronds, are unusually thick, and deeply chan- 
nelled in front. The plants have quite an exotic character, and 
the fertile fronds have been not inaptly compared to those of 
Lomaria nuda. The plant above described was found at Parra- 
combe, in Devonshire, and at Culborne, by Mr. J. Dodds. Others 
have been obtained in Devonshire: Barnstaple, C. Jackson. Somer- 
setshire: Nettlecombe, C. Elworthy (longer and rather less dense). 
Lancashire: Walsden, near Todmorden, J. Horsfall; Staups 
Valley, Todmorden, A. Stansfield. Staffordshire: Lichfield, J. 
Young. Pembrokeshire: near Castle Malgwyn, W. Hutchison. 
Perthshire: Glen Almond, J. McNab. One of the slightly vary- 
ing forms has been called crassicaule, but, at least until these have 
been thoroughly tested, it seems best to consider them as varia- 
tions of one variety. 
7. parvulum (M.). A remarkably neat form, having fronds four 
to six inches high (sterile), and scarcely half an inch wide in 
the broadest part, much tapered at the base; the segments small, 
crowded and overlapping, nearly ovate in the upper part of the 
frond, rounded towards its base. It has been sent from—Devon- 
shire: Barnstaple, C. Jackson. Lancashire: Todmorden, A. 
Stansfield. 
8. strictum (Francis). This elegant and permanent variety has 
the sterile fronds lanceolate, narrowed more towards the base than 
the apex, six to eight incheslong, or sometimes more, the segments 
rather distant, linear obtuse, dilated at the base, the lower ones 
shorter and rounded, and the margins throughout crenate-toothed 
in a somewhat uneven and irregular manner. When well developed, 
the fronds are tolerably symmetrical, the slight differences occurring 
in the width and length of the segments, not affecting the general 
outline; but they are sometimes more irregular, and occasionally 
a good deal interrupted, with short rounded segments among the 
longer ones, as in the sketch originally published by Mr. Francis. 
The margins of the segments are recurved, and often somewhat 
crispy. The fertile fronds are of the same outline, but taller, a 
foot to a foot and a half in height, with very narrow obtuse 
distinct linear segments, dilated at the base, and obscurely crenate 
on the margin. Sometimes the fertile fronds are much narrowed 

