ASPIDIUM. 



453 



long and about 1ft. broad, spear-shaped, and simply pinnate (once only 

 divided to the midrib) ; they are borne on stalks Gin. to lOin. long, densely 

 clothed below with spear-shaped scales of a reddish -brown colour, and proceed 

 from an underground, creeping rhizome (prostrate stem). The lower pinnae 

 (leaflets), Gin. to Sin. long and 3in. to 4in. broad, are divided into leafits 

 which sometimes are again pinnatifid. They are of a sub-coriaceous (almost 

 leathery) texture, have both surfaces glossy, and the sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed singly on their under- surface. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 36, 

 t. 237. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 126. 



A. Footii — Foot'-i-i (Foot's). A variety of A. angulare proliferum. 



A. (Poly sti chum) frondosum — Pol-ys'-tich-um ; fron-do'-sum (leafy), 

 Lowe. 



A beautiful, evergreen species, native of Madeira. Its fronds, 1ft. to 2ft. 

 long and 9in. to 12in. broad, are of a rich, shining green colour ; they are 

 borne on strong, straw-coloured or pale brown stipes (stalks) 1ft. to 2ft. long, 

 of a polished nature in general, but densely scaly below. The lowest pinna) 

 (leaflets), which are by far the largest, measure from 6in. to 12in. in length 

 and 3in. to 4in. in breadth, and are borne on comparatively long footstalks. 

 Their pinnules (leafits), of a somewhat leathery texture, are spear-shaped, 

 very unequal-sided, pinnatifid (divided only half-way to the midrib), with 

 rounded lobes terminating in sharp -pointed teeth, and obliquely truncate at 

 the base below. The sori (spore masses) are plentifully produced, and are 

 disposed principally in two rows close to the midrib. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, iv., p. 31. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 126. Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, vi., t. 43. 



A. (Polystichum) glandulosum — Pol-ys'-tich-uin ; glan-dul-o'-sum 



(furnished with glands), Hooker and Greville. 

 This small, stove species, native of Cuba and Jamaica, is very distinct 

 from all others on account of its fronds, about 6in. long by lin. broad, being 

 covered on both surfaces with fine glands of a hairy nature ; they are borne 

 on very short stalks, are oblong-spear-shaped, tapering at both ends, and are 

 cut down nearly to the midrib into bluntly -undulated, oblong lobes of soft 

 texture and bright green colour. The sori (spore masses), of which there are 



