PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN. 63 



The specific name lonchitis is from the Greek, and indicates 

 a supposed resemblance in shape between the frond and a 

 spear. 



Prickly Shield-fern (Aspidium aculeatuni). 



The Prickly Shield-fern at a distance may be taken for the 

 Male-fern, for the frond is similar in shape, and the erect 

 shuttlecock habit is the same in both species. A closer 

 inspection, however, or a comparison of a frond from each, will 

 at once dispose of any liability to confuse them. It is a fern 

 of the woodland and the hedgerow ; in the former situation 

 growing more erectly, and in the latter partly or wholly 

 horizontally. 



The rootstock is short and stout, and in old specimens very 

 hard and woody. The fronds are lance-shaped, from one foot 

 to three feet in length, and from 4 to 12 inches across at the 

 broadest part. The stipes is from 2 to 4 inches, and both that 

 and the entire tough rachis is densely clothed in rust-coloured 

 scales. The pinnas also are lance-shaped, set close together, 

 and pinnate, the pinnules obliquely oval with an acute-angled 

 base, deeply cut at their free ends, the long teeth ending in 

 fine points which give them the spiny appearance suggesting 

 the names. It is important to note that in the typical form the 

 pinnules are attached to the midrib of the pinna without the 

 intervention of a footstalk, and there is a well-developed "ear" 

 to each pinna, owing to the lowest pinnule being larger than its 

 fellows. The leafy portions of the frond are of a hard leathery 

 texture with a glossy dark-green upper surface, paler and dull 

 beneath. The sori form a row along each side of the midrib 

 of the pinna. (Plates 60, 68.) 



There is a sub-species of this known as the Narrow Prickly 

 Shield-fern (Aspidium lobatum), with narrower fronds, shorter 

 and less scaly pinnae, larger, stiffer, and darker-green pinnules, 



