THE SHIELD FERNS. 



habit. It is a somewhat rare plant, but is found 

 in certain localities in Scotland some of the 

 mountainous districts and in Ireland, being in 

 these countries more plentiful than in England 

 and "Wales. In England its distribution is con- 

 fined to the northern counties. 



A tufted root-stock; a short scaly stem; a 

 frond narrowly lanced- shaped, consisting of two 

 rows of wing-shaped serrated leaflets, diminishing 

 in size by gradation towards the tip of the frond . 

 Such is the Holly Fern. Its peculiarity is that it 

 has no branches like the other two species of its 

 kind, Aculeatum and Angular e ; but one simple 

 rachis clothed on each side with a row of spiny 

 leaflets. In fact, it has a sort of general resem- 

 blance to a single branch of Polystichum aculeatum. 

 One peculiarity about the leaflets of this Fern 

 must be noticed. The upper portion of each one 

 next the rachis projects a little over the leaflet 

 immediately above it. The leaflets are attached 

 to the rachis by a narrow point ; but without the 

 intervention of a stalk. 



The fronds of the Holly Fern are robust and 

 evergreen in character dark green in colour 



