THE SHIELD FERNS. 39 



iii the most perfect state of the species broadly lanceolate, 

 but in the variety lobatum very narrowly lanceolate. The 

 texture is harsh and rigid, the upper surface dark green and 

 shining, and the short stipes densely enveloped in rust- 

 coloured membranous pointed scales. The fronds are bi- 

 pinnate, with alternate pinnae, these pinnae being again 

 more or less perfectly divided into a Aeries of pinnules, 

 which are either decurrent, that is, insensibly merging 

 in the substance of the rachis which, supports them, or 

 else, are tapered to a wedge-shaped base and attached to 

 the rachis by the point of the wedge. The general form of 

 these pinnules is somewhat elongately crescent-shaped, the 

 upper base being extended into a small auricle, or enlarged 

 lobe, and the lower base as it were cut away; while the 

 apex is tapered off to an acute point, and the margin is 

 serrated with spiny teeth. The veins are alternately branched, 

 and do not join together or anastomose, but extend free to 

 the margin ; and the fructification, which is generally abun- 

 dant, and often crowded, is ranged in a line on each side the 

 midrib of the pinnules, and also on the larger pinnules 

 on each side the midvein of the basal lobes or auricles. 

 The indusium is circular, and attached by a little depression 

 or stalk in its centre. 



The variety lobatum, considered a distinct species by some, 

 differs chiefly in the narrow outline of the frond, ana in tho 

 pinnules being much more decidedly decurrent that is, run 

 together at the base ; every possible variation in the consoli- 

 dation of the pinnules is to be met with, between the typical 

 bipinnate form of Polystichum aculeatum, and a simply pin- 

 nate form of the species, which, from its resemblance to P. 

 Lmwhitis has been called lonchitidoides. This latter form, 

 7\ving its origin to the peculiar circumstances of growth 

 only, cannot be considered as a permanent 'variety, but tho 

 intermediate state that is, the plant called lobatum which 

 is the most common of these aberrant forms, is at least 

 sufficiently different to be noticed as a variety. 



This common and free-growing Fern is found in hedge- 

 banks, and similar situations; and being abundant, easily 

 cultivated, nearly evergreen, and withal possessing consi- 

 derable elegance of growth, has ^much to recommend its 

 admission to a prominent position in the Fern garden. 



SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. [Plate IV.] 



The Soft Prickly Shield Fern, sometimes called the Angular- 

 lobed Shield Fern, is. in scientific language, called Poly- 

 stichum, angulare. It has many synonymous names, among 



