24 ASPIDIUM. 



slightly embedded in the soil, as on 

 sloping banks. Of no particular interest, 

 nor, excepting collocation of son, beauty. 



RECUIIVUM. (Triangular Prickly- 

 toothed Shield-Fern.} Fig. 16. From 12 

 to 18 inches. Growing in circular masses. 

 Dark green. Frond oblong-triangular. 

 Pinnae commencing about half way up, 

 mainly opposite, and concave. Pinnules 

 thin, small, and rather narrow, deeply and 

 frequently divided, and toothed; the in- 

 ferior the greatest; the larger slightly 

 stalked, and sometimes running into 

 secondary pinnae ; the lesser mere pinnu- 

 lets ; a trifle curved forwards in their 

 margins, so as to present a prickly-looking 

 surface, like that of the holly, when viewed 

 slantingly. Scales on the stem split at the 

 top, and of a pale uniform brown. Sori 

 full-sized in proportion, numerous, in a 

 double row. End of May. Indeciduous. 

 Succeeds fairly. Not common. Devon- 

 shire. Scotland. Ireland. Very pretty 

 and compact. 



RIGIDUM. (Rigid Shield-Fern.} Fig. 6. 



From 1 to 2 feet. Growing in masses. 

 Dull yellowish green. Rather thick in 

 texture. Frond somewhat upright, nar- 

 row, and acutely tapering to its apex. 

 Pinnae mostly alternate. Pinnulets nearly 



