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The fronds are ovate, lance-shaped in outline, on a stipes
of moderate length, which stipes is much thickened at the
base, and densely clothed with entire, lance-shaped, pointed
scales, of a very dark brown colour in the centre, but nearly
transparent at the margins. They are bipinnate, with elongate
triangular or tapering pinnæ, placed nearly opposite,
and having more or less of obliquity from the larger development
of the inferior side. The pinnæ are pinnate, and
the pinnules near their base often so deeply divided as to he
again almost pinnate ; the rest are pinnatifid, or in the
upper parts merely deeply toothed, hut the margins, whether
deeply or shallowly lobed, are set with teeth which end in
short spinous points.
The veining is very similar to the more compound parts
of the allied species spinulosa ; and the fructification is produced
in great abundance, the sori being ranged in two
lines crosswise the pinnæ on the larger lobes, or lengthwise
o n . the less divided parts ; so that they have apparently a
less regular distribution than occurs in spinulosa. The
sori are covered by kidney-shaped scales or indusia, which
are fringed around the margin with projecting glandular
bodies.
One of the varieties of this Fern has the fronds shorter.
almost triangular in outline, and remarkably convex; it has,
moreover, usually a dark green colour, often with a brownish
tinge. It is found in more exposed places than the normal
form, and is not uncommon.
Another is met with on the hills of the north of England;
and this, which it has been proposed to call Lastrea collina,
is probably a distinct species. The form of its fronds is
ovate, drawn out to a long narrow point, and the pinnules,
which are obtusely ovate and have a broad attachment at
the base, have the serratures on their margin less spinulose
than in the common form. It was first noticed by the
Eev. Mr. Pindar in Westmoreland.
Mr. Newman proposes to separate a form of this plant,
which differs in having its surface covered with glands, and
in the scales of the stipes being broader, under the name of
Lastrea glancMosa. Of its distinctness as a species we are,
as yet, unprepared to decide. It appears, however, to connect
L. spinulosa with dilatata, and is apparently the same
as had been previously named L . maculata by Dr. Deakin.
This species, though found in drier places than its near
ally spinulosa, is nevertheless partial to moisture, being
iound in damp, shady hedge-banks and woodlands. It is
hardy, and easily cultivated.