CRYPTOGAMIA— FILICES. Aspidium. 285 



In the fissures of alpine rocks. 



On the highest rocks of Carnarvonshire. Mr. Lhwyd. About the 

 church of Llanberris. Dr. Richardson. In Breadalbane. Rev. 

 Dr. Stuart. Near Stirling. Dr. Buchanan Hamilton. Not un- 

 common among the Highland mountains. Hooker. 



Perennial. May, June. 



Fronds about a span high, tufted, linear-lanceolate, firm, rigid 

 and harsh, deep green, whether evergreen, that is biennial, or 

 annual, I know not. Stalk short, clothed below the leafy part 

 with large, broad, taper-pointed scales ; with smaller ones 

 above. Leaflets numerous^ short, crowded, stalked, alternate, 

 about three-quarters of an inch long, acute, simple ; smooth 

 above j rather scaly at the back, broad at the base, with a lobe 

 at the upper edge, while the corresponding part of the lower is 

 .sloped or cut away, the whole leaflet assuming a crescent shape j 

 the margin beset with unequal bristly serratures. Masses of 

 capsules in simple rows, between the midrib and margin of 

 each leaf of the upper half of the frond, crowded, light brown. 

 Cover orbicular, with a notch at one side, strongly fixed in the 

 centre, separating all round, and finally almost obliterated by 

 the elevation of the abundant capsules. 



Some small mountain varieties of A. aculeatum are often mistaken 

 for this, and'hence it has been supposed a dwarf state of that 

 common species. The true Lonchitis, however, is very distinct 

 in appearance and characters, much less inclined to be lobed, 

 and never separately auricled : its masses are thrice the size of 

 the aculeatum. It is not easy of culture, and rather dwindles 

 away, instead of growing more luxuriant, in a garden. 



** Frond more or less doubly pinnate. 

 2. A. Thelypteris. Marsh Shield-fern. 



Frond pinnate ; leaflets linear-Janceolate, deeply pinnatifid, 

 smooth, somewhat crenate; their lowermost segments 

 elongated. Masses globular ; at length confluent. Cover 

 central, lax. Root trailing. 



A. Thelypteris. Sw. Sijn. Fil. 50. Willd. Sp. PL v. 5. 249. Fl. Br. 



1119. Hook. Scot. p. 2. 154. 

 Polypodium Thelypteris. Linn. Mant. 505. Syst. Veg. ed. 14.937. 



Engl.Bot.v.\b.t.\0\S. Fl. Dan.t.760. Dicks. H. Sice. fasc. 



6.15. Ehrh. Crypt. 32. 

 P. n. 1697. Hall. Hist. V. 3. i2. 

 Polystichum Thelypteris. Roth. Germ. v. 3. 77. 

 Acrostichum Thelyjiteris. Linn. Sp.Pl. 1528. Bolt.Fil.78.t.43,44. 

 Thelypteris palustris non ramosa. Rupp. Jen. 322. Schmid. Ic. 45. 



t.l]. 

 Filix minor palustris repens. Raii Syn. 122. 



