ASPIDIUM. 



425 



proliferous Australian form ; A. vestitum, Swartz, has the rachis densely 

 clothed to the point both with reddish-brown fibriltose and large lanceolate 

 dark brown scales ; A. Maris faturri, Blume, has the frond narrowed suddenly 

 upwards, and large rhomboid al pinnules, aristate principally at the point and 

 auricle ; the Cape A. luctuosum, Kunze, has the scales of the rachis fibrillose 

 and nearly black ; A. Tsus-Simense, Hooker, is probably a slender form ; and 

 A. ordinatum and Moritzianum, Kunze, and Polypodium muricatum, 'Linnaeus, 

 are luxuriant forms from South America. We have non-indusiate forms 

 from New Zealand {Polypodium sylvaticum, Colenso), Britain (var. plumosum, 

 Moore) ; and there is a wide range of forms in South America included 

 under Polypodium rigidum (Hooker, ' Species Filicum,' iv., p. 246) which 

 correspond to the various forms of this species, differing only by the want 

 of an involucre." 



All the above-named Ferns, and many others besides, are usually treated 

 as species by nurserymen and amateurs, whereas they are but variations 

 of A. aculeatum. 



A. acutum — ac-u'-tum (sharp-pointed). A variety of A. angulare. 



A. alatum — al-a'-tum (winged). A variety of A. angulare. 



A. (Polystichum) amabile — Pol-ys'-tich-um ; am-a'-bil-e (lovely), Blume. 



This remarkably pretty species, which thrives equally well in the inter- 

 mediate or in the warm house, is a native of Nepaul, Ceylon, the Malaccas, 

 Formosa, and Japan. It is of medium growth, for its lanceolate (spear- 

 shaped) fronds, lft. or more long and Gin. to 9in. broad, are borne on 

 slender, polished stipes (stalks) slightly scaly below. The rachis (leafy 

 portion) is composed of a long terminal pinna (leaflet) and from six to nine 

 lateral ones, disposed on each side of the midrib ; these are of a sub-coriaceous 

 (almost leathery) texture, of a pleasing soft green colour, 6in. to Sin. long 

 and lin. to l jin. broad ; sometimes the lowest are slightly compound at the 

 base. The sub-divisions of the pinnce, ^in. to fin. long, are of a peculiar 

 shape, having at least half their lower side cut away, the upper side and the 

 outer part of the lower one being lobed and sharply serrated (toothed like 

 a saw). The sori (spore masses) are sub-marginal (disposed close to the 

 margin of the fertile leaflets). — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 25, t. 225. 



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