Filices—A sprdium. 549 
9, ASPIDIUM (Polyslichum). 
Tufted evergreen Ferns with pinnate fronds, globose sori, and 
a peltate orbicular indusium. Upwards of fifty species are 
described, dispersed nearly all over the world. The name is 
derived from dons, a shield, the form of the indusium. 
1. A. aculedtum, syn. Polgstichum aculeatum.—This is one 
of our commonest hedgerow Ferns, and one of the best for 
general planting. It has large lanceolate bi- or tri-pinnate fronds, 
of which the stipes and rachis are more or less clothed with 
ferruginous scales. The pinnules are obliquely rhomboid, 
auricled and mucronate or awned, and the sori are arranged in 
a single row on each side of the midrib. There are three 
tolerably distinct forms :—A. lobdtum, with bipinuate fronds 
and rigid sessile decurrent pinnules, confluent below ; the variety 
lonchitidoides is still narrower, approaching Lonchitis; A. 
aculeatum proper has larger looser fronds with free sessile 
pinnules furnished with spinulose teeth; and A. angulare is 
somewhat membranous with small stalked loose pinnules having 
bristly teeth. This species is found in Europe, Western Asia, 
North America, and the south temperate regions. 
2. A. Lunchitis.—The fronds of this species are linear- 
oblong and simply pinnate, with obliquely faleate spinulose 
pinnules ; and the sori are arranged in two or three rows on each 
side of the midrib. 
Aspidium faledtum, syn. Cyrtomium faledtum, is a very 
distinct hardy Fern, from China, Japan, etc., with simply 
pinnate rigid coriaceous shining fronds and large obliquely 
ovate-acuminate pinnules and numerous scattered sori. A. 
caryotidéwm is a variety with larger pinnules, opaque above, 
A, Fortinet, syn. A. anomophyllum, has narrower, more 
numerous opaque pinnules and shorter stipes. 
10. NEPHRODIUM (Lédstrea). 
This genus differs from the last in its reniform indusium, 
which is attached by the sinus. The sori are either dorsal or 
terminal on the free venules in the British species. As defined 
by Hooker and Baker, this genus comprises upwards of 200 
species. The name is from ve¢pds, a kidney, the shape of the 
indusium. , 
1. N. Filia-mas, syn. Lastrea Filia-mas. Male Fern.--A 
very common British Fern with bipinnate tufted fronds from 1 
to 3 feet long, springing from a short thick rootstock, sometimes 
