ASPIDIUM.] FILICES. 465 



seriate on each side the midrib, dorsal on the veins. DISTRIB. Europe 

 from Belgium southwards, W. Asia, N. America, S. temp, regions. 



Sub-sp. LOBA'TUM, Sw. ; frond 2-pinnate, pinnules very rigid sessile decurrent 

 confluent below, upper basal longest. VAR. lonchilidoi'des ; narrower, ap- 

 proaching A. Lonchitis. 



Sub-sp. ACULEA'TUM proper ; rather flaccid, pinnules sessile, lower free, serra- 

 tures spinulose. 



Sub-sp. ANGULA'RE, Willd. ; submembranous, pinnules small petioled lax with 

 large awned teeth. 



12. NEPHRO'DIUM^ Rich. 

 Sori subglobose, dorsal or terminal on the venules; involucre reni- 



form, superior, attached by the sinus. DISTRIB. All regions; species 224. 



ETYM. ve(pp6s, from the kidney -shaped involucres. The British species 



all belong to the sub-genus Loslrea, Presl, with free veius. 



1. N. Fi'lix-mas, Rich. ; rootstock tufted, stipes and rachis with 



lanceolate scales, frond sub-2-pinnate (rarely .pinnate), pinnules deeply 



obtusely lobed contracted at the base, involucre convex .eglaudular. Male 



Fern. 



Woods and shaded places ; ascending to 2,400 ft. in Yorkshire ; frt. July- 

 Aug. Rootstock sometimes 6-10 in., solid and woody. Fronds 1-3 ft., and 

 stipes more or less scaly beneath, oblong-lanceolate, rather rigid ; segments 

 entire or serrate at the tip ; veins simple or forked. Sori large, 1-seriate. 

 Involucre smooth, firm. DISTRIB. N. temp, regions, India, N., trop., and 

 S. Africa, Andes. 



VAR. 1, Fi'lix-mas proper ; frond 2-pinnate, pinnae long crowded acuminate, 

 pinnules obtuse serrate, lower distinct. A. cristatum, Sw.' VAR. 2, ajfi'ne, 

 Fisch. (sp.); pinnules oblong- lanceolate incised less crowded (var. indium, 

 Newm. VAR. 3, Jiorre'ri, Newm.; rachis very scaly, frond bright golden 



yellow, pinnules very obtuse almost truncate less serrate. VAR. 4, 



a turn, DC. (sp. ) ; frond pinnate, pinnae pinnatifid or crenate oblong obtuse 



with one row of sori along the midrib. 



2. N. crista'tum, Rich. ; rootstock shortly creeping, stipes with 

 ovate or oblong scales, rachis naked, frond oblong-lanceolate sub-2-pin- 

 nate, pinnules deeply obtusely lobed toothed attached by a broad base, 

 involucre flat eglandular. 



Bogs and marshes in the E. counties, Nottingham, Chester, and Lanark ; 



absent from Ireknd ; frt. Aug. Rootstock and stout pale stipes clothed 



with large bullate acuminate pale scales. Frond 1-l^ft., narrow, glabrous; 



pinnae shortly petioled, oblong, base truncate obtuse apiculate, teeth short 



not awned, veins forked. Involucre quite glabrous, entire. DISTRIB. Europe, 



W. Siberia, N. America. 

 VAR. uligino'sum, Newm. (sp.); pinnules more divided, teeth slightly spinu- 



lose; (intermediate between spinulowm and wistatum.) Occurs with the 



typical form. 



3. N. rig'idum, Desv. ; rootstock tufted and stipes scaly below, frond 

 oblong-lanceolate, lower pinnae rhomboid lobed to the rachis with mucro- 

 nate pinnules flat subglandular beneath, involucre gland-ciliate. 



Rocks and mountain districts of Lancashire, York, and Westmoreland, rare, 



ascending to about 1,500 ft. ; absent from Ireland ; frt. July-Aug. Ruot- 



H H 



