156 HISTORY OF BEITISH FERNS. 



words -poly, and stichos, signifying many, and order ; .and it 

 is applied to these plants in allusion to the numerous re- 

 gular lines of sori, which are seen distributed over the fronds. 



POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM, Roth. The Common Prickly 

 Fern. 



This is a species almost evergreen in a sheltered situation, 

 and one of those which are well suited by boldness of cha- 

 racter for the decoration of rocky scenery. It is a stout 

 plant, having the fronds a couple of feet long, and springing 

 from a stout tufted stem or crown, whence they grow up 

 in a circle, about the month of April, and take, a somewhat 

 erect position. Their form is lanceolate, in the most perfect 

 state of the species broadly lanceolate, but in a variety 

 presently to be referred to, very narrowly lanceolate. The 

 texture is harsh and rigid, the upper surface dark green and 

 shining, and the short stipes densely enveloped in rust- 

 coloured membranous pointed scales. The fronds are bi- 

 pinnate, with alternate pinnse, these pinnae being again more 

 or less perfectly divided into a series of pinnules, which are 

 either decurrent, that is, insensibly merging in the substance 

 of the rachis which supports them, or else, are tapered to 

 a wedge-shaped base, and attached to the rachis by the 

 cuneate point. The general form of these pinnules is some- 



