SHIELD FERNS 647 
under side of the upper, smaller pinne entirely occupied by the sori. 
Native of North America. Hardy. The var. grandiceps has the tips of 
the rachis branched, giving a tasselled appearance to the frond. The 
var. incisum has the pinnules more deeply cut and sharply lobed. 
A. ACULEATUM (sharp - pointed). Prickly Shield Fern. Stipes 
tufted, 6 to 12 inches, more or less scaly. Fronds 1 to 3 feet long, 6 to 
12 inches across, oval, lance-shaped. Lower pinnz 4 to 6 inches long, 
lance-shaped; the pinnules somewhat rhomboid, toothed, and eared, 
the tips and ear ending in a spiny point. Sori on the pinnules in a row 
on each side of mid-vein. Hardy native. Plate 3044. The sub- 
species, angulare, the Soft Prickly Shield Fern, is of softer texture, the 
lower pinne larger, and the pinnules stalked and more equal in size. 
The var. subtripinnatum is less deeply divided. Plate 3048. 
_ A. ARISTATUM (awned). Rootstock creeping; stipes scattered, 9 to 
18 inches long, covered with scales at base. Fronds 1 to 2 feet long, 9 
to 12 inches broad, triangular-oval, three or four times divided. Lower 
pinne and lowest pinnules much the largest ; teeth numerous, ending in 
long points or awns. Sori small,in two rows near mid-vein. Native of 
Tropical Asia, but succeeding in greenhouse. 
A. CAPENSE (Cape of Good Hope). Rootstock creeping, covered with 
dark brown scales. Stipes scattered, 1 to 2 feet long, densely scaly 
below. Fronds 1 to 3 feet long, 12 to 18 inches broad; lowest pinnze 
the largest, 6 to 9 inches long. Pinnules lance-shaped. Sori large and 
numerous. Native of the Southern Temperate zone. Greenhouse. 
. FALCATUM (hooked). Stipes tufted, 6 to 12 inches long, densely 
scaly below. Fronds 1 to 2 feet long, 6 to 9 inches broad. Pinne 
numerous, elliptical, lance-shaped, blunt-toothed or entire-edged, dark 
green. Sori small, numerous, and scattered. Native of Japan, ete. 
Evergreen in sae oe though hardy, shedding its fronds if 
wintered outside. Plate 
. LASERPITIIFOLIUM "date Stipes 4 to six inches 
long, scaly at base. Fronds 12 to 18 inches long, 6 to 9 inches broad, 
triangular-oval, tripinnate. Lowest pinne the largest; the lower 
pinnules longer than upper, bluntly lobed, overlapping. Sori very 
numerous, in two rows. Native of Japan. Greenhouse. 
A. Loncnitis (spear-like). Holly Fern. Stipes densely tufted, 
stout, and scaly, 1 to 4 inches long. Fronds 1 to 2 feet long, 1 to 3 
inches broad, narrow-oblong, leathery, pinnate. Pinnz numerous, smooth, 
rhomboid, with hooked tip and spiny teeth; base eared. Hardy native. 
A. MUNITUM (armed). Stipes tufted, 4 to 9 inches long, densely 
scaly. Fronds 1 to 2 feet long, 4 to 8 inches across, pinnate. Pinne 2 
