THE BUCKLER FERNS. 243 



of the branches is observable as in the Broad 

 Buckler Fern. The broadness of the lowest pair 

 of branches is occasioned by the leaflets below the 

 mid-vein of the branches being considerably longer 

 than those above ; and this inequality, as in the 

 case of Laslrea dilatata, diminishes towards the 

 point of each branch, and towards the apex of the 

 frond. Indeed, the description of the cutting, 

 indentation, and general arrangement of the leaflets 

 and lobes, is very similar to that of Dilatata, the 

 difference in the case of Spinulosa being that the 

 leaflets, instead of being curled back, as in Dilatata, 

 are straight. The edges of the lobes, too, are 

 spiny and sharply serrated. The fronds do not 

 attain anything like the same length as those of 

 Dilatata. One peculiarity which will be easily 

 noted about Spinulosa is, that the tops of the inci- 

 pient fronds, in making their appearance just above 

 ground, are naked and green in colour, instead 

 of being covered with chaff-coloured scales, as in 

 the case of Dilatata. 



The Prickly-toothed Buckler Fern grows in boggy 

 situations, delighting in an atmosphere of moisture, 



