42 ASPIDIUM FILIX-MAS. 



Aspidium paleaceum, Don. "^ 



" patentissim-um, Wallich. 



" Donianum, Sprengel. 



" Wallichianum, Sprengel. 



Nephrodium ajfflne, Lowe. 



Dichasium patentissimum, Braun. Fee. J 



■■ ''TheYdkV.paleaceum. 



Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Filix-mas — Male Fern. 



In the Section Lastrea of Authors. 



Although so common a species, still it is a noble Fern, and 

 being hardy and easily grown in almost every situation, it is a 

 favourite amongst cultivators of plants. 



It is to be found lining the sides of ditches, the margins of 

 rivers and lakes, the edges of cliffs and crevices of rocks, be 

 they moist or dry, no matter what their geological construction, 

 becoming a principal undergrowth in many woods, and even 

 growing where the salt waves of the sea can occasionally wash 

 over them. Subject to great variety when raised from spores, 

 and many of the varieties permanent, and some of them ex- 

 ceedingly handsome. The variety Cristaturriy of which a coloured 

 illustration is given on Plate XIY., is a glorious object when 

 well grown. Mr. Moore, in the "Nature -Printed Ferns," has 

 given an excellent description of the principal varieties, to which 

 the reader is referred, as the limited space devoted to each 

 species will not allow of a more than brief extract from Mr. 

 Moore's descriptions. The varieties given are the following: — 

 Lastrea Filix-mas, Moore. Varieties: — 



1. — Paleacea, Moore. (Var. Borreri, Johnson, Newman; var. 

 Pseudo-mas, Wollaston.) Mr. Wollaston considers it a distinct 

 species. It is by no means uncommon, and differs from the 

 ordinary form of Filix-mas in having a somewhat yellow appear- 

 ance, slightly glaucous beneath, stipes and rachis shaggy, scales 

 golden brown, ribs and veins purple. 



2. — Multifida, Wollaston. Apex of frond, and of some of the 

 pinnse bifid or multifid. 



3. — Cristata, Moore. (Plate XIV.) This glorious variety has 

 the apices of all the pinnss beautifully and uniformly tasselled. 

 The pinnse are shorter, and narrow rapidly towards the tassel. 



