THE SHIELD FERNS. 207 



oftentimes to a length of four or five feet under 

 favourable circumstances. In the Soft as well as 

 the Hard Prickly Shield Fern, the branches of 

 the frond are alternately placed along the rachis. 

 The leaflets, too, are cut and stalked very much 

 in the same manner in both ferns, and, in both, 

 are of a wing-shaped form. In both, also, the 

 branches of the frond are narrow and taper to a 

 point. 



But now for the distinctions we have noted. 

 In a finely grown specimen of Angulare, the cha- 

 racter which gives appropriateness to the designa- 

 tion of this fern is immediately recognised. The 

 hard rigid appearance of Aculeatum is absent. 

 Angulare is, in fact, much less stiff in its mode of 

 growth, and looks much more graceful and droop- 

 ing. Its stipes is more densely covered with rust- 

 coloured scales than is the case with Aculeatum, 

 and these rust-coloured scales are scattered, also, 

 over the whole of the back of the frond, being 

 very prominently displayed on the rachis, and on 

 the midribs of the branches. There is, conse- 

 quently, a rich reddish tinge on the backs of the 



