560 THE FERN FAMILY. Aspidium. 
by a very short stalk; the lobes or segments entire, obtuse or scarcely 
pointed. Sori in lines near the edges, distinct at first, with an indusium ~ 
attached near the edge, but soon covering nearly the whole under surface 
and concealing the indusium. Lastrea Thelypteris, Presl. Nephrodium 
Thelypteris, Desv. 
In boggy or marshy places, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, except 
the extreme north, and in North America, and New Zealand. In Britain 
local, but dispersed over England, Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fr. 
summer and autumn. - 
4, &. Oreopteris, Sw. (fig. 1285). Mountain Shieldfern, Sweet 
Mountain Fern.— The stature, mode of growth in circular tufts, and the 
general shape of the frond’ are those of 4. Filix-mas, from which it may 
be distinguished by a lighter colour, especially of the stalk, and by the 
lobes or segments of the pinnas all quite entire, with the small sori in a 
line near the margin as in A. Thelypteris. From the latter it differs in 
its larger size, the stalk bearing brown scarious scales, the pinnas so closely 
sessile as almost to lap over the central stalk; and from both this species 
may be known by the minute resinous or glandular dots on the under side 
of the fronds, from whence a fragrant smell is imparted to the plant 
when rubbed. Lastrea Oreopteris, Presl. Nephrodium Oreopteris, Desv. 
In mountain heathy districts, and moist open woods, in temperate 
Europe, from northern Spain and Italy to Scandinavia, and eastward to 
Moscow. Generally dispersed over Britain, especially in Scotland, northern 
and western England, and in Jreland. fr. summer and autumn, 
5. A. Filix-mas, Sw. (fig. 1286). Male Shieldfern, Male Fern.— 
Rootstock short but thick, woody, and decumbent, or rising sometimes 
obliquely a few inches from the ground. Fronds handsome, in a large 
circular tuft, 2 or 3 feet high, stiff and erect, broadly lanceolate, with the 
lower pinnas decreasing, as in most Aspidiwms, regularly pinnate, the 
pinnas deeply pinnatifid or pinnate ; the segments regularly oblong, slightly 
curved, very obtuse, slightly toothed, connected at the base or the lowest 
ones distinct; the main stalk very shaggy with brown scarious scales. 
Sori rather large, near the base of the segments, with a conspicuous, nearly 
peltate or kidney-shaped indusium. Lastrea Filiz-mas, Presl. Nephrodium 
Filix-mas, Rich. 
In woods and shady situations, along moist banks, etc., throughout 
Europe and centraland Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic 
regions, and in Africa and the Andes. One of the commonest of British 
Ferns. Fr. swmmer and autumn. The barren fronds of young plants often 
resemble those of 4. spinulosum, but the fruiting ones are almost always 
very distinct. | 
6, A. cristatum, Sw. (fig. 1287). Crested Shieldfern.—Resembles 
in some respects A. Filix-mas, but the frond is less erect, the pinnas less 
regular, the segments broader, thinner, more wedge-shaped on the lower | 
side, much more toothed, and the lower ones sometimes almost pinnatifid, 
the plant then forming some approach to 4. spinulosum, from which it 
differs in the much narrower frond, with the segments much broader and 
much less divided. Sori large asin A. Filixz-mas, with a conspicuous 
indusium. Lastrea cristata, Presl. Nephrodium cristatum, Desv. 
In moist or boggy places, in temperate Europe and western Asia, from’ 
