ASPIDIUM. 23 



LOBATUM, p. 18 "1 ashavingtheindu- 



LOXCHITIS, p. 19 J slum round, &c. 



OREOPTERIS. (Mountain or Heath 



Shield-Fern,} Fig. 5. From 2 to 3 feet. 

 Growing in roundish masses. Very brittle. 

 Delicate green. Pinnae generally opposite, 

 nearly to the bottom, and much narrowed 

 there, more so than towards the apex. 

 Pinnulets smooth, simple, rounded, undi- 

 vided, and unnotched; at first turned 

 backward in the margin, so that the head 

 before evolved seems like a knot of twisted 

 points, afterwards becoming only rather 

 convex throughout, oblong, and bluntly 

 rounded. On their under surface are 

 small, yellow, shining, glands, emitting 

 (like those of the Polypodium Calcareum) 

 a pleasant flavour when drawn through the 

 hand. Drooping. Somewhat corresponding 

 with Thelypteris, as if that were the female, 

 and this the male, plant; more robust; 

 thicker and larger in its pinnulets. In- 

 jured by the wind. To a hasty eye, like 

 the preceding, but detected by the colour, 

 plain edge of pinnulet, &c. &c. Sori 

 marginal. End of May. Early deciduous. 

 Not uncommon on mountainous heaths. 

 Not hardy. Difficult of cultivation. Pre- 

 fers a sheltered, dry, situation. Best trans- 

 planted young and small, and when but 



