1 2 CilYPTOG AMIA FILICES. 



ric, for the cure of tape-worm. The secret was purchased 

 for a considerable sum of money by Louis XV. ; and the 

 physicians then discovered that the same remedy had been 

 administered for the same purpose by Galen. Its reputa- 

 tion has been very variable, but it is now seldom prescri- 

 bed, and it is certain we possess more efficacious and equal- 

 ly safe remedies. 



3. A aculeatum^ stalk chaffy, bipinnate ; leaves linear-lanceo- 

 late, chaffy, leaflets shortly stalked, equal on both sides of the ra- 

 chis, ovate, serrated, the serratures tipped with a bristle ; masses 

 biserial, with a circular cover. 



Far. 1. Leaflets longer, rather acute, scarcely lobed at the base, 

 slightly inclined. A. aculeatum^ SMITH. (PL iii. f. 1.) 



Var. 2. Leaflets short, obtuse, erect, distinctly lobed. A. an- 

 gulare, SMITH. (PI. iii. f. 2.) 



Hob. In the fine wooded dean above and below the Pease 

 Bridge ; both varieties plentiful. July. If. 



Fronds from 1 to nearly 3 feet in height, lanceolate, disposed 

 in circular tufts, generally of a very dark green colour, bi- 

 pinnate. Stalk very chaffy, as well as the ribs of the leaves 

 and leaflets. Leaves linear-lanceolate, elegantly and regu- 

 larly alternate, the lower pairs narrow and deflexed. Leaf- 

 lets close, equal on both halves, stalked, ovate, bluntish, 

 more or less distinctly lobed at the base, which is parallel 

 with the rachis, serrated, the serratures tipped with a 

 bristle. Clusters of capsules biserial, sometimes crowded and 

 confluent ; sometimes distinct and distant ; with a circular 

 deeply umbilicate cover. This appears to be the Asp. loba- 

 tum of Dr HOOKER in Flor. Scot. ii. 154, and Brit. Flora, i. 

 4-13. Although admitted into the Flora Scotica, and also 

 into the Flora Edinensis of Dr GREVILLE, there is* reason 

 to believe that, previous to its discovery in the above 

 station, there was no certainty of its being a native of Scot- 

 land ; nor as yet has any other Scottish habitat been dis- 

 covered. 



4 A. lobatum, stalk chaffy, bipinnate ; leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 chaffy ; leaflets decurrent, ovate-acute, oblique, equal on both 

 sides, the lower pair erect and disproportionably large, serrated, 

 the serratures bristly : masses biserial, distinct or confluent, with 

 a circular cover, f PL iii. f. 3.) 



