subbipinnato ; pinnæ broad oblong, acutisli ; pinnules elongate oblong,
obtuse, deeply lobod, tlic base narrowed but dcourrcut with the wing
of tbo racbis, the Lasal ones only being distinct ; scales fimbriate.
Var. crispa: fronds dwarf, crisp}!, scarcely bipinnate; pinnæ
crowded, overlapping, wavy, the points curving upwards ; segments
imbricated, convex, serrate.
L a st e ea F il ix -mas, v . ckispa , Sim, Cat. Perns, 1859, 10.
Var. cristata : fronds and pinnæ symmetrically multifid-crispod
at the apex ; pinnæ narrowed gradually towards, and much constricted
noar the large ramosely multifid-crispod tassel ; pinnules
blunt, subglaucous, as in paleacea. [Plate XXXVI.]
L a s t e e a F i l i x -m a . s , v . c e i s t a t a , Moore <t Hoiilst., Gard. Mag. Pot. iii. 317.
Moore, lla n d b . Brit. Perns, 2 ed. 106 ; 3 ed. 104 ; Jd ., Perns o f Gt. Brit.
Nature Printed, t. 16 A.
Var. polydactyla : fronds and pinnæ multifid-orisped at the
apex ; pinnæ much and suddenly narrowed just behind the crispy
tassel ; pinnules or lobes divided noarly to tho raohis throughout,
linear-oblong, dilated or acute, serrated. [Plate XXXVII.]
L a s t e e a F i l i x -m a s , v . p o l y d a c t y l a , Moore, Perns o f Gt. Brit. Nature Printed,
t. 16 B ; Id ., Handb. Brit. Ferns, 3 ed. 104.
Var. Clowesii : fronds and pinnæ multifid-crisped at the apex ;
pinnæ narrowed gradually to the tufted apex, pinnate below,
pinnatifid above with deep bluntish lobes.
Var. Jervisii ; fronds oaudate-aouminate and as well as the pinnæ
muhifid and subcristate at the apex ; pinnæ narrowed gradually, not
suddenly contracted ; pinnules or lohcs oblong aoutish, serrate,
those towards the apices of the pinnæ shallow, so th a t the portion of
the pinna below the tuft is not much divided, hut acutely serrate.
L a s t e e a F i l ix -m a s , v . J e r v i s i i , Moore, Ilandh. B rit. Ferns, 8 ed. 112.
Var. Schofieldii : fronds dwarf (3-6 inches), frequently ramose
or multifid, sometimes crisped, pinnate ; pinnæ oblong, lohed or
serrated. [Plate X XX VIII.]
L a steea F il ix -mas, v . Sc h o f ie l d ii, Sim, Cat. Ferns, 1859, 10,
L a s t e e a d i l a t a t a , v . S c h o e i b l d i i , Stansfield MS. Moore, Ferns o f Gt. Brit.
Nature Printed, u n d e r t. 22 ; Id ., Handh. B rit. Perns, 3 ed. 138.
L a s t k e a s p i n u l o s a , v . S o h o b i e l d i i , Sim, Oat. Perns, 1856, 5.
Caudex largo, tufted, scaly, erect or decumbent, often in ago
becoming considerably elongated, consisting of tho bases of the old
fronds persistent around a woody axis, from tho apex of which
appoar tho growing fronds. Scales like thoso at tho base of the
stipites. Fibres protruding from among tho bases of the fronds at
the lower part of the caudex, strong, coarse, dark-oolourod, deeply
poiiotratiiig.
Vernation circinate, the apex of the frond becoming liberated
before the whole raohis is unouiied, and at this stage bout downwards
with a curve resembling th a t of a shepherd’s, crook.
Stipes short, stout, from three to six inches long, terete, shghtly
channelled in front, densely clothed with large scales of a narrow
lanceolate attenuate outline, membranaceous chaffy texture, and
pale brown colour, intermixed with smaller and shorter ones;
terminal, and adherent to the caudex. Baclm clothed sparingly
with small subulate scales.
Fronds averaging two or throe feet in height, hut varying from
a foot to four or six feet, according to age, variety, and looahty ;
and when the crown is vertical, arranged in a circlet around it ;
erectish, herbaceous, smooth, of a lively rather deep green, somewhat
paler beneath ; broadly lanceolate with a graduaUy tapering
apex, or sometimes oblong lanceolate ivith a sudden acumination
at the apex; hipinnate. Pinnæ numerous, alternate or nearly
opposite, linear, gradually narrowing towards the apex, ’Yhioh is
acute ; the lower ones decreasing in length from about the middle
of the frond, the lowermost measuring an inch or rather more in
length in fronds of a foot and a half long, those about the middle
being throe or four inches long ; the lower pinnæ are also more
distant than those higher up. Pinnules at the base of the pinnæ
distinct, notched on both sides at the base hut with a broad attachment,
or sometimes slightly connected, the first pair somewhat
larger; the rest generally attached hy the entire width of their
base and more or less combined, with a very narrow sinns ; oblong
obtuse, 4 . A, of equal width throughout, with the apox rounded,
slightly crenate or orenate-lobed at the margin, serrated around tho
blunt apex, the teeth acute hut not spinulose. ^ ^
Venation of tho pinnules consisting of a flexuous costa or midvem
ii