POLYSTICHTJM ACULEATUM. 197 



Antrim, Gahvay, Wicklow, Dublin, Clare, Cork, Londonderry, 

 Sligo, and Channel Islands. 



Abroad it is a native of Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany, 

 Holland, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, 

 Turkey, Austria, Russia, Africa, Island of Madeira, and United 

 States of America. In 1860, whilst travelling amongst the 

 Spanish Mountains, along the spurs of the Pyrenees, I found 

 Polystichum aculeatum repeatedly. On the Villia Escusa, a 

 mountain a few miles south of Reinosa, this Fern was grooving 

 luxuriantly amidst the street-like rocks, so much so as to be a 

 shelter to the numerous wolves and foxes that inhabit this 

 mountain. A\Tiilst the asphodel, rock rose, iris, linum, and 

 many other splendid alpine plants, were richly strewn over 

 the open land, this Fern occupied every available space where 

 there was shelter and moisture. It was seen peeping out of 

 the Horodada, in the Congosto Pass, amongst the trees in the 

 Hoz de Barcena, on the Pena Castilla at Fuento del Mar, and 

 where lashed by the waves of the Bay of Biscay at Santander. 

 In the Highlands of Scotland it ascends upwards of two 

 thousand feet above the sea, and in Northern Spain I have 

 seen it most common above the height of three thousand 

 feet. 



A very easily-cultivated species in a loamy soil, and a some- 

 what shady situation. It is an elegant Fern, and, being 

 evergreen, is a desirable plant in a hardy fernery. This species 

 differs from Pohjstichum angulare in being more upright in 

 growth, stouter, and more rigid in texture. 



The fronds are from twelve to thirty-six inches in length, 

 and from four to seven inches in width, leathery in texture, 

 deep green on the upper surface, smooth, lanceolate in form, 

 and bipinnate. The pinnae obliquely lanceolate. The pinnules 

 ovate-falcate or elliptic, their apices aristate. Auricular on 

 the anterior side, the auricle being acute and mucronate. The 

 basal anterior pinnule on each pinna is usually much larger 

 than the rest. 



Veins branched from a flexuose mid-vein. 



Stipes brief, densely covered with broad scales; usual length 

 from three to four inches. 



Rachis stout and densely scaly. 



Fructification mostly confined to the upper half of the frond. 



