rinna of mature Frond— under side. 



ASPIDIUM DELTOIDEUM. 



SWAKTZ. 



PLATE XLT. 



lAislrea dilaiata, MooEE. 



.Aspidium — Shield Fern. Deltoideam — Deltoidal. 



In the Section Lastrea of Authors. 



A singular -looking Fern, as yet rare in cultivation. 



An evergreen stove species. 



Native of the West Indies, and imported from Jamaica. 



The fronds, which are stiff, are erect, smooth, thicldbh- 

 textured, and pinnate; the pinnse on the lower half of the 

 frond are very small and deltoidal, descending, and making 

 the lower half of the frond remarkably narrow; the pinnfe 

 on the upper half of the frond very large in jsroportion to 

 those below, ascending, profoundly pinnatifid, and narrowing 

 to the apex. Pinnae at the base, and also upper portion of 

 the frond, rounded at the apex, the large pinnte pointed. 

 The largest pinnaj four inches in length, below where deltoid 

 only half an inch. Stem very hirsute; base scaly. 



Ehizoma very slow creeping, (decumbent,) and stout. 



Veins forked. 



