10 CRESTED SHIELD 



CRESTED SHIELD FERN. 



ASPIDIUM CRISTATUM. 



\Swartz, Smith, Hooker.'] 

 (Fig. 7.) 



SYNONYMS. 



LASTREA CRISTATA. Babington, Presl. 



POLYPODIUM CEISTATUM. UnnCBUS. 



POLYPODIUM C ALLIPTERIS. Ehrliart. 

 LOPHODIUM CALLIPTEEIS. Newman. 



THIS fern is not very common in England, but 

 is easy to distinguish from other species. The fronds 

 are but few in number, and rise from the crown 

 of each growing branch of the rhizome, which is 

 stout and strong. They attain a height of two or 

 more feet under favourable circumstances, and are 

 peculiarly erect, narrowing towards the upper part. 

 Rather more than a third of the stem is bare of 

 pinnae, and covered with pale brown membranous 

 scales. The sori are in two single rows, between the 

 margin and the centre of the frond, and generally on 

 the upper pinnules. The fronds appear in May, and 

 the fructification is matured about August or Septem- 



