58 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



there is a very short stipes which is thickly 

 covered with scales. The leaves of the Holly 

 Fern are once pinnate, the pinnae being ovate 

 and having a curious ear-shaped enlargement at 

 their bases on the upward side. The edges of 

 the pinnae are adorned with a number of sharp 

 teeth, and this gives a singular spiny appearance 

 to the whole plant. On this account the Fern 

 has probably received its popular name of 



Polystichum lonchitis. The Holly Fern. 



Holly Fern. The colour of the foliage is of a 

 very pretty bright green tint. 



The Holly Fern, as indeed are all the species of 

 Polystichum, is very distinct from a Nephrodium 

 in the matter of its indusium. This is quite 

 circular, and has no notch ; moreover, it is 

 attached to the pinnules by a short stalk in the 

 centre. Thus it is proper to describe the 

 shape of the indusium as peltate. The son 

 are chiefly confined to the upper portion of the 

 back of the frond, and are situated on either 



