ASPIDIUM, § POT.YSTICHTJM. 31 



longer or more compound than the 2-3 next pairs wliich 

 afterwards ])ass gradually into the short pinnatifid apex, seg- 

 ments lanceolate-falcate distinct sessile and broadly rounded 

 at the base but not adnate seldom 1 inch long serrato-crenate 

 or the lowest pinnatifid, the inner lowest lobe rather larger, 

 veins scarcely conspicuous pinnate with forked veinlets, sori 

 rather large in two rows on each segment, indusium peltate 

 or rarely reniform." Aspid. (Lastrea) Championi, Benth. in 

 Fl. Hongkong, p. 456. Polystichum vestitum ?, Hook, in Kew 

 Garil. Misc. ix. p. 339. 



llab. Hongkong, Chamjrion, Urquhart, in Herb. Nostr. — " Not known out of 

 the island. Colonel Urquhart's specimens are old, and Colonel Champion's too 

 young. They evidently belong to Lastrea, and are allied to Jxpid. opacum 

 (varium, nobis), but differ in the scales and in the general shape of the frond as 

 well as in that of the segments," Benth. — Unfortunately my specimens of this 

 plant are mislaid, and I can offer no remarks other than Mr. I?entham has given, 

 further than to say that the involucre, as stated by Mr. Bentham, being "peltate 

 in both, with an occasionally indented sinus," I prefer retainiuc the two species, 

 in the Polysfichum-group, to which they naturally belong, rather than that of 

 Lastrea (Nephrodium, nobis). 



36. A. (Polystichum) frondosum, Low; caudex (sub-) re- 

 pent, stipites 1-2 feet long angled when dry pale brown densely 

 crinite below with long subulate ferruginous scales, rachises 

 beneath with ovato-subulate smaller scales, fronds 1 ^-2 feet 

 long broad subtriangular-ovate coriaceo-membranaceous sub- 

 glossy 3- below 4-pinnate, primary and secondary pinnae 

 long-petiolate ovato-lanceolate narrowly acuminate, pinnules 

 all approximate oblong acute or subobovate sessile subdecur- 

 rent mucronately serrate mostly on the upper margin about 

 J of an inch long, sori biserial on the pinnules soon conflu- 

 ent, involucres large orbicular or subreniform peltate vari- 

 ously reflexed by the copious capsules. — Low, Primit. Faun, 

 et FL Mad. p. 6. Metten. Aspid. p. 6G. Poly podium fron- 

 dosum, Sol. MSS. in Herb. Banks. Polystichum, ./. Sm. Cat. 

 Cult. Ferns, p. 60. P. semulum, Pr. Tent. Pterid. p. 83. 

 Aspidium Webbianum, A. Braun, Flora, 1841, 79. 711 [fide 

 Metten.). Lastrea [fide Moore). 



Hah. Madeira, rocky places, R. de St. Jorge, elev. 3500 feet, Masson, Loiv, 

 Lema)m,etc. — This handsome species is, as far as I know, peculiar to the island of 

 Madeira ; not extending south to the Canary Islands, nor am I aware it has ever 

 been seen on continental Africa. It is true that Mettenius gives " Canary Islands " 

 as a locality, but there is no authority for it, that 1 am aware of, nor is it included 

 in Webb's Vl. Can. It must rank near to the coniifolium-iorm of Aspid. aris/a- 

 tum, with which it has altogether the habit in stipes and fronds; but here the 

 rachises l)eneath have rather copious bullatc scales, terminating in a subulate 

 point : such are never seen in coniifolium. 



