THE SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN 
Fructification on the back of the frond, generally occupying the whole of the upper part to the 
extent of two-thirds, but sometimes confined on this portion to the upper part of the pinna. Sori 
small, numerous, round, indusiate, seated at the apex of the venule, forming a line on each side of 
the midvein, and also of the vein of the auricle, often crowded, and sometimes becoming confluent ; 
they are attached to the anterior venules of the fascicle, whenever the veins are forked, but in the 
auricle several of the simple venules bear sori. Zndusium firm, membranaeeous, orbicular, peltate 
umbilicato. Spore-cases numerous, brown, roundish, obovate. Spores roundish, ovate, muriculate 
Although as regards P. angulare and P. aculeatum there is so close an affinity, that instances do 
occur in which it is difficult to determine between th 
m, yet, confining our view to the plants as found 
in Great Britain, such instances are rare, at least to those who have made themselves familiar with 
the aspect and characteristics of the plants, As to the application of the names, there is doubtless a 
Plates X., XI, 
ХП, and ХИТ, may assist in correcting, Extending the inquiry, however, so as to include the exotic 
in amount of error and confusion, which it is hoped the antographic delineation: 
Ferns of this affinity, the limits of the species become obscure ; and it is perhaps doubtful whether in 
this more comprehensive view they can be defined,—at least by means of the mutilated examples alone 
rate, The 
nilable for examination in herbaria,—with sufficient clearness to be kept permanently se 
study of the living plants may, indeed, afford other distinctive marks than those derived from form and 
texture, as in th 
case of Polypodium Dryopteris and its ally, which have a different vernation, and in 
ур 7 
that of some forms of Lastrea Filiz-mas, in which the same kind of organic difference occurs, With 
our present information, however, there seems no mean between the two extremes of uniting the 
simply pinnate P. Lonehitis with the tripinnate P. angulare, an unbroken series being traceable ; or, on 
the other hand, retaining the three British species we have figured (Plates IX., X., and XII), as well 
some of the allied exotic ones, as distinct. We are not prepared to adopt the former alternative, 
and therefo 
> With all its difficulties, prefer the latter, 
The specific name of angulare, which has b 
n generally employed whenever the species has been 
kept distinct, is retained for this plant, from a suspicion that it may, after all, be found necessary to 
merge it in P. aculeatum, in which case any present change would be i 
politi. We have no doubt 
however, tl 
at both the P. setiferum of Forskal (17 
5) and the 
Iypodium appendiculatum of Hoffmann. 
(1795) a 
referrible here, and these names certainly claim priority over angulare (1810). The law of 
priority, which should take effect if our plant should finally prove distinct, would give the name of 
P. setiferum, which is a remarkably suitable one 
"The differences between the English P. angulare and P. aculeatum have been alre 
eX) 
pointed out. 
(See P 
In the gi 
‘den, this Fern will be found very ornamental, and of very easy management. It grows 
readily in free sandy loam, either in shady parts of the garden or shrubbery ; on rock-work ; or in the 
in-door Fernery ; and it is increased with tolerable 
cility by division. Some of the varieties, however 
propagate much more extensively by means of bulbils which 
or about the surface of the soil, or in the axils of the lower pinnæ, or in some instances on the veins of 
the fronds, This re 
rm either at the base of the stipes below 
served in several of the. 
kable proliferous or viviparous character has now been ol 
itish Ferns, including Polystichum Lonchitis; P. aculeatum, with its variety lobatum ; P. angulare 
three or four varieties; Lastrea Filiz-mas, two varieties; I. fænisecii; Asplenium lane 
E: 
bulbilliform mode of increase, Mr. Wollaston has observe 
ta=muraria ; Seolopendrinn vulgare, several varieties; and Blechnum Spicant, 
a different kind of developement in a variety of 
Polypodium vulgare nearly allied to cambricum, communicated by Mr 
Т. Bennett. In this ease the 
developement consisted of prothalloid growths on the apices 
serratures of the lobes, which had every 
indien 
on of being fertile, though unfortunately the frond was broken off before they were observed, so 
