ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM. 51 



has medial sori, and is evergreen; the latter is herbaceous, 

 deciduous, and lax. 



The present species is subject to much variation. Mr. Moore 

 describes five distinct varieties, namely: — 



1. — Lonchitidioides. Somewhat resembles A. loncJiitis. 



2. — Lohatum. Has narrow lance-shaped fronds from one to 

 two feet long, and sub-bipinnate. 



3. — Multifidurrii Wollaston. Apex multifid. 



4. — Proliferum, Wollaston. Produces bulbils in axils of the 

 lower pinnae. 



5. — Argutiim. Broadly lanceolate, the pinnules being narrow 

 and elongate, terminate in an acute spiny point, and have long 

 spines to the marginal teeth. 



A. aculeatum is best known under the name of Polystichum 

 aculeatum. 



Situation appears to exert great influence over this species, 

 the common form growing near Beeston, is very different to 

 that at Chaigely, Lancashire; or Rydal, "Westmorland. 



The variety Lonchitidioides, I am indebted to Mr. Stansfield, 

 of Todmorden, for plants of; others I have gathered wild in 

 Patterdale. A dwarf form is very abundant on a moist shady 

 bank at Chaigely Manor, Lancashire, and an intermediate variety 

 almost connecting A. aculeatum with A. angulare I have received 

 plants of, from Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of Rolleston Hall, 

 near Burton-on-Trent, in whose Pernery I have seen most of 

 the varieties of A. aculeatum flourishing most luxuriantly. 



This common Fern can be procured of all the Nurserymen; 

 the varieties Lohatum and Lohatum-incisum of W. Cutbush, of 

 Highgate: Lohatum of J. Young, of Taunton; Lohatum of Yeitch, 

 of Chelsea; Lohatum and Lonchitidioides of E. G. Henderson, 

 of St. John's Wood; Lohatum and Proliferum of R. Sim, of Foot's 

 Cray; Lohatum and Lonchitidioides of A. Stansfield, of Todmor- 

 den; Lohatum and Lohatum-incisum, of W. Rollisson, of Tooting; 

 and Lohatum and Lonchitidioides of R. Kennedy, of Covent 

 Garden. 



The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. 



