456 filices. [Aspidium. 



10. A.unitum, Sto.; Willd. Spec. v. 241. Fronds 1 to 3 ft. high, 

 pubescent and simply pinnate, with semipinnatifid pinnae as in the last, but 

 the pubescence, although more rigid, is much less conspicuous, and the whole 

 frond is firmer and usually larger. Pinnae often 5 in. long or more ; the lobes 

 very regularly ovate, the lowest of each pinna usually smaller, giving its base 

 a rounded appearance. Pinnate veins very conspicuous, the lowest of adjoin- 

 ing lobes anastomosing as in A. molle. Sori usually in a close row along the 

 margin of the lobes. 



Hongkong, Bill, Urquhart, Wright, Widely spread over tropical Asia, and closely allied 

 to (if really distinct from) the common tropical American A. serra, Sw. 



11. A. opacum, Hook. Fronds broad, twice pinnate or the lower pin- 

 nules again pinnate at the base, often 6 to 8 in. long, all tapering rapidly to 

 the pinnatiiid apex ; the stipes and rhachis with subulate black scales. Seg- 

 ments somewhat coriaceous but not glossy, lanceolate-falcate, with a broad 

 truncate or adnate base, often 1 to 2 in. long, pinnatifid or crenate. Veins 

 scarcely conspicuous. Sori large, in 2 rows. Indusium peltate, but often 

 excentrically so, with a more or less indented sinus. — Lastrea opaca, Hook, 

 in Kew Joum. Bot. ix. 339. 



Hongkong, B o wring ; in the Tank Ravine, Urquhart. On the China coast and in Japan. 



12. A. (Lastrea) Champion!, Benth., n. sp. Fronds broadly lanceo- 

 late, twice pinnate, the stipes and rhachis covered with brown lanceolate scales. 

 Lowest pinnae 4 or 5 in. long, not longer nor more compound than the 2 or 

 3 next pairs, which afterwards pass gradually into the short pinnatifid apex. 

 Segments lanceolate-falcate, distinct, sessile and broadly rounded at the base, 

 but not adnate, seldom 1 in. long, serrate-crenate or the lowest pinnatifid, the 

 inner lowest lobe rather larger. Veins scarcely conspicuous, pinnate with 

 forked veinlets. Sori rather large, in 2 rows in each segment. Indusium 

 peltate, or rarely reniform. — Polystichum vestitum ?, Hook, in Kew Journ. 

 Bot. ix. 339. 



Hongkong, Champion, Urquhart. Not known out of the island. Col. Urquhart's speci- 

 mens are old and Col. Champion's too young, hut on carefully examining them with Sir W. 

 Hooker, we have heen unahle to match them with any known species. They evidently belong 

 to Lastrea and are allied to the A. opacutn, hut differ in the scales and in the general shape 

 of the frond as well as in that of the segments. 



13. A. aristatum, Sw. ; Willd. Spec. v. 264. Fronds 1 to 2 ft. high, 

 broadly ovate-triangular in outline, twice pinnate or the lower pinnae again 

 pinnate at the base, firm but thin, light-green and glossy ; the stipes slender, 

 with a few black scales. Segments veiy obliquely oblong or lanceolate, \ to 

 1 in. long, narrowed or cuneate and acute at the base, bordered at the end 

 with a few teeth often ending in short stiff bristle-like points. Sori small, not 

 numerous, loosely arranged in 2 rows. Indusium small, reniform. — Polysti- 

 chum aristatum, Presl; Hook, in Kew Journ. Bot. ix. 340. 



Among rocks, in ravines, Urquhart, Bowring, Lorrain, Wilford. In New Zealand, the 

 Pacific islands, China, and Japan, and closely allied to some Indian forms as well as to 

 A. drepanum from Madeira. 



17. GRAMMITIS, Sw. 



Sori oblong or linear, straight, more or less oblique with reference to the 

 midrib, proceeding from a branch of the forked or anastomosing veins. In- 

 dusium none. — Rhizome usually creeping. Fronds simple or pinnate. 



