ASP ID I UM. 



433 



The midribs of the fronds, and all their divisions and branches, are of 

 a yellowish colour, and of a thick, fleshy, and semi-transparent nature. — Lowe 

 Our Native Ferns, L, p. 151, fig. 128. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 126. 



A. a. grandidens — gran'-did-ens (strongly toothed), Moore. 



This singular variety, with the various forms which have been found 

 wild in so many different habitats — in Devonshire, in Somersetshire, near 

 Whitby, at Weston-super-Mare, at Linaskea, in Ireland, &c. — may be said 

 to form a perfectly distinct group in the classification of the varieties of 

 A. angulare. The original A. a. grandidens was found in Devonshire, and 

 may be described as a rather dwarf form of what is popularly called 

 Polystichum angulare, with narrow, spear-shaped fronds. These are from 

 ljft. to 2ft. in length, 2in. to 3in. wide, of a thick texture and dark green 

 colour, and in most instances are truncate (terminating abruptly). Their 

 pinnae (leaflets), which are equally truncate, are of various lengths, and the 

 small and obliquely wedge-shaped pinnules (leafits) are copiously and deeply 

 toothed or cut into two or three sharp, gaping teeth. — Lowe, Our Native 

 Ferns, i., p. 85, fig. 52. 



This curious variety, even when reproduced from spores, is comparatively 

 constant. Among the several forms which, however, have by competent authori- 

 ties been considered as sub-varieties, the following are the most striking : 



A. a. g. angustatum — an-gus-ta'-tuni (narrow), Lowe. 



In this sub-variety the fronds, 1ft. long, scarcely fin. broad at the base, 

 and only 2in. in their widest part, are provided with basal leaflets which 

 consist of a pair of stalked, diminutive, cup-shaped leafits. The next few 

 pinnae have two or three pairs of stalked, rather larger pinnules, and an 

 undivided upper portion. The sori (spore masses) are, in this form, confined 

 to the extremity of the frond and situated on the edge of the pinnules, which 

 are thus almost suprasoriferous (bearing spores on their upper surface). — 

 Lowe, Our Native Ferns, i., p. 187. 



A. a. g. Bailey anum — Bail-ey-a'-num (Bailey's), Lowe. 



A very elegant form, of dwarf habit, and very pleasing in shape. Its 

 fronds have their pinnules (leafits) variously cut and show a few large, 



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