BROAD SHIELD FERN. 



BROAD SHIELD FERN. 



ASPIDIUM SPINULOSUM. 



[Smith, Hooker, Eentham,.] 



(Fig. 15.) 



SYNONYMS. 



LASTREA DILATATA. 



LASTREA SPINULOSA. Presl, Babington, Moore. 

 LASTREA SPINOSA. Newman. 

 LASTREA F(ENISECII. Watson. 

 LOPHODIUM ULIGINOSUM. Newman. 

 ASPIDIUM DILATATUM. Smith. 

 ASPIDIUM EECURVUM. Bree. 



THIS is the most variable of all our Shield Ferns, 

 and is difficult to distinguish from others, of which, 

 indeed, it is regarded as a variety by many botanists, 

 and we find it described under various names in 

 different books. It is nearly allied to the Male Shield 

 Fern, but is not so tall, of a paler green, and very 

 much broader; the general outline is nearly ovate, 

 from one to two feet long, or rarely more ; the 

 lowest pair of pinnae not much shorter, and sometimes 

 longer than the others. The fronds are bipinnate ; 

 the segments of the pinnse deeply toothed, pinnatifid, 

 or thrice pinnate. Its chief characteristics are the 



