THE COMMON BUCKLER l<M-:i;\ 41 



smooth, of a lively green, somewhat paler underneath, 

 averaging a height of from two to three feet, but vary- 

 ing from twelve inches to even six feet, according to 

 age, variety, or locality. The stipes is short, stout, and 

 densely scaly. The fronds are broadly lance-shaped ; 

 bipinnate, though less decidedly so than some other 

 species, only those pinnules which are nearest the main 

 rachis being quite separate ; the pinnse are narrow and 

 tapering, with a few of the lowest pinnules distinct, 

 the rest united at the base, these pinnules of an 

 obtusely oblong form and serrated, or notched, on the 

 margin. The sori are usually confined to the lower 

 half of the pinnules, but they are very crowded and 

 abundant. 



This is one of the best of our Ferns to be studied 

 in order to understand the fructification, for here the 

 indusium, in almost fully developed fronds, is remark- 

 ably prominent, closed over the spore-cases and seen 

 to consist of a lead-coloured tumid kidney-shaped scale, 

 which in due time is raised on one side for the dis- 

 persion of the spores. This may be seen by watching 

 the fronds just as they are reaching their full growth. 

 The veins also of this species are very manifest, each 

 pinnule having a flexuous midvein, with alternate 

 venules, simple, forked, or sometimes three-branched 

 in different parts of the pinnule, the three-branched 

 occurring at the base and the unbranched at the apex. 

 The sori are borne on the branch toward the apex of 

 the pinnule and form a line of dots on each side of the 

 mid- vein and at a little distance from it. 



The variety L. INCISA is a magnificent Fern, growing 



