ASPIDIUM. 



445 



it needs no further proof of its excellence than the great esteem in which 

 it is held by the public as a plant of first-class quality for indoor 

 decoration. It is quite as hardy and quite as free a grower as the species 

 from which it has issued, although of smaller dimensions, as its fronds, 

 which are also tripinnatifid (three times divided to the midrib) and of an 

 equally leathery texture, seldom attain more than lift, in length ; their 

 leafy portion, nearly trapeziform, is of a dark, glossy green, with a whitish 

 band running all along the centre of each leaflet (Plate, for which we are 

 indebted to Messrs. W. and J. Birkenhead). The pinnules (leafits) are 

 very sharply toothed on their edges, and the fronds, as in the original 

 species, are produced from thick, underground rhizomes (creeping stems). — 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 126. 



It is worthy of special notice that this variety reproduces itself freely 

 and quite true from spores, and also that, although the contrast between 

 the colours of the centre and of the sides of the pinna; is much more 

 marked in specimens which have been subjected to a little heat, this plant 

 succeeds admirably in the greenhouse, and is even perfectly hardy in several 

 favoured counties, such as Cornwall, Devonshire, and Somersetshire : it has 

 withstood 20deg. of frost in the East of France. 



A. (Polystichum) auriculatum — Pol-ys'-tich-um ■ aur-ic-ul-a'-tum 

 (eared), Swartz. 



This vigorous -growing, greenhouse Fern, of medium dimensions, has 

 a very extensive range of habitat, for it is found throughout India and 

 Ceylon ; on the Himalayas it has been collected up to 9,000ft. high, and, 

 according to Beddome, it is also very common on the higher ranges of the 

 Neilgherries and other lofty mountains on the Western side of the Madras 

 Presidency. Its leathery fronds, 1ft. to lift, long and 2in. to 4in. broad, 

 are borne on tufted stipes (stalks) 4in. to 6in. long, and are scaly below 

 and sometimes throughout. The numerous pinna; (leaflets), sub-sessile 

 (almost stalkless) and closely set, are l$in. long and about fin. broad ; 

 they are somewhat falcate (sickle- shaped) and very sharp-pointed, their 

 edges not being lobed, but simply finely toothed: the upper one shows 

 a prominent auricle (ear), while the lower one is truncate in a horizontal 

 line at the base. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in two distinct 



