pinnatifidly lobod, witb distinct blunt teeth. TVTion first found
these confluent pinnules were also considerably reduced in size, and
the frond was smaller. The more perfect and vigorous fronds now
produced, have the pinnules more regular in position, and mostly with
a narrow attachment, though connected by the margined rachis
The perfect basal anterior pinnules are stipitate, ovate, deeply pin
natifid, the segments rather obovate, with a few coarse acute teeth
the other pinnules arc similarly lobod and toothed but smaller
and in some oases dopauporately so. The sori are scattered and
irregular, and produced on the lobes near the base of their anterior
margin, but distant from the midrib. Occasionally, as seen in our
figure, a pinna is met with reduced to an awl-shaped rib. This
very remarkable form was found by Mr. A. Tait, of Edinburgh, “ in
the seam of a perpendicular rook, on tbe side of one of tbe pine-
covered mountains near Dunkeld,” in 1863. [Plate LIII B ;
LIII Ms, A.]
2. alatum (M.). A dwarf variety, witb something of the aspect of
marinum, but much more confluent. The fronds are of drooping
habit, delicate in texture, lanceolate, with small deflexed lower
pinnæ ; the pinnæ rather more than an inch long in the centre of the
fronds, narrowing from the broad base to tbe blunt rounded apex ;
pinnatifid nearly to tbe rachis at the base, more confluent upwards,
so that the pinnules or segments are everywhere connected by a broad
distinct wing to the raohis. The pinnules are crowded, and even overlapping,
as broad above as below, tbe apex rounded, and the margin
notched witb acute prominent teeth. The sori are short, and in the
specimens we have seen confined to the lowest veins in each segment.
It was found a year or two since on Looh-na-gar in company with
Pohjpodimn alpestre, and is in the possession of Mr. A. Tait, of
Edinburgh. [Plate LIII Us, B.]
3. marinum (M.). This variety, sometimes called Dickie’s Lady
Pern, is a small plant, generally to be known by the elliptic-lanceolate
outline of its fronds and by its crowded oblong pinnules, which are connected
at the base, and notched witb blunt shallow teeth, which latter
in many fronds are, for the most part, simple and regular. It differs
also from the usual forms of the species in having the fronds spreading
or decumbent in habit. The scales produced at the base of the
stipites are of a very dark brown, almost black. The fronds are from
a foot to a foot and a half long, spreading or sub-decumbent, rigid,
scarcely bipinnate ; they are exactly lanceolate, the shortening of
the pinnæ from the centre of the frond being equal towards both
the base and apex. The pinnæ narrow but little for about two-
tliirds of their length, but beyond this they contract into a somewhat
acuminate point; the upper pinnæ are spreading, the lower ones
deflexed. The pinnules, often largest next the main raohis, are
oblong, blunt and rounded at tbe ends, crowded or slightly overlapping,
connected by a narrow wing, set on at a right angle, or
sometimes a little roflexed ; the margin is rather toothed than lobed,
the indentations being shallow, and the projections in the upper
half being seldom more than blunt simple or somewhat retuse
notches, though below they are generally two or three-toothed ;
sometimes the lobes become rather more developed. The sori are
lunate, or with a strong tendency to assume the arcuate or horse-
shoe-shapod form, and are ranged near the costa in a double line
along the pinnules, sometimes distinct, but often becoming confluent.
This variety is a very neat-growing plant, constant to the above-
mentioned peculiarities. It was originally found by Dr. Dickie in
a cave by tbe sea, in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen ; and a plant
almost exactly resembling it, has since been gathered by Dr. Allchin,
in the Isle of Man. [Plate L III A.—Folio ed. t. XXXI C.]
4. minimum (M.). A remarkably dwarf form, tbe fronds being
not more than six inches long and less than an inch and a half
broad. They are bipinnate, the lower pinnules being tolerably
distinct, the upper ones more or less decurrent and confluent at the
base ; the pinnæ are rather irregular, and taper-pointed ; the
pinnules are oblong, narrowed and aoutish upwards, deeply pinnatifid
witb toothed lobes below, and inoiso-dentate above, tbe teetb narrow
aud acute. Tbe narrow prominent teeth produce a fringed appearance.
The anterior basal lobe is sometimes larger, and the pinnules
are altogether irregular in size and development, but not sufficiently
so to produce a depauperated aspect. The sori are short and irregular,
produced chiefly at the base of tbe pinnules. It was found at
Ilfracombe, and bas been cultivated for several years by Mr. Young
of Taunton.
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