GENERA -AND SPECIES. 93 
PraTEe XXXII. 
ASPIDIUM CRISTATUM. Swartz. 
CRESTED SHIELD FERN. 
This is a tall fern with somewhat linear or lanceolate 
fronds, often two and a half feet high, pinnate, with slightly 
stalked pinne, triangular-ovate, and deeply pinnatifid, the 
lobes serrate or finely toothed. ‘The short triangular pinne 
and the well defined fruit-dots, arranged in two rows on 
the lobes, distinguish it at once from all other Shield Ferns. 
Hooker remarks that its outline is quite distinct from that 
of the A. spinulosum, in being narrowed below. It seems 
to be rare, even in Europe, where it is found on boggy 
heaths. 
Riddell has stated that it is common in Central Ohio, 
without attributing it to Kentucky, from which it may be in- 
ferred that Dr. Short had not found it in this State; indeed, 
the latter makes no mention of it in any of his published cat- 
alogues of Kentucky plants. From my own experience in 
collecting, I should consider it much less common than the 
other Shield Ferns which I have described. I have never 
met with it, but it will doubtless be found in swampy local- 
ities in the mountain counties. It was found by Miss Rule 
near Rockcastle Springs, Laurel County ;* but Prof. Hussey, 
who botanized very thoroughly over Edmonson and ad- 
joining counties, was not able to discover it in that region. 
The Plate shows a small frond natural size. 
* See Bot. Gazette, vol. ii. p. 62. 
