ASP I D III M. 



455 



masses) being quite that of an Aspidium. Its fronds, 2ft. to 3ft. long and 

 about 1ft. broad, soft and of a light green colour, are borne on upright, naked 

 stalks about 1ft. long. Their pinna? (leaflets), which at the base of the fronds 

 are diminutive and deflexed (bent downwards), gradually increase in length 

 towards the middle of the frond, where they measure from 6in. to Sin. 

 From that point and all along the upper portion of the frond they are auricled 

 and pinnatifid (eared and cut nearly to the midrib), and become gradually 

 smaller as they reach the summit of the frond (Fig. 67). The sori (spore 

 masses), covered by an orbicular involucre, reddish in the centre, are scattered 

 over the whole under-side of the upper half of the fronds. A. Hookeri 

 is also known as A. nephrodioides. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 42, 

 t. 235. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vi., t. 48. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 126. 



A. (Polystichum) ilicifolium— Pol-ys'-tich-um ; iMic-if-ol'-i-uin (Holly- 

 leaved), Don. 



A greenhouse species, native of various parts of Northern India — Nepaul, 

 Kumaon, Simla, &c. — where, according to Beddome, it is found at an elevation 

 of 9000ft. Although of comparatively small dimensions, this Fern greatly 

 resembles some of the forms of A. aculeatum and A. auriculatum. Its fronds, 

 of a particularly leathery texture, 6in. to 9in. long and lin. to 2in. broad, are 

 borne on slender, densely-tufted stalks 2in. to 4in. long only, and clothed 

 throughout with large scales of a light brown colour. Their pinnse (leaflets), 

 somewhat spear-shaped and about fin. long, are sharply pointed and cut 

 into spear-shaped and pointed lobes. The sori (spore masses) are principally 

 disposed in two rows near their midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 12, 

 t. 214. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 31. 



A. interruptum — in-ter-rup'-tum (interrupted). A name applied to 

 varieties of A. aculeatum and A. angular e. 



A. (Cyrtomium) juglandifolium — Cyr-tom'-i-um ; ju-glan-dif-oF-i-um 

 (Walnut-leaved), Kunze. 

 This stove species, of singular appearance, has a wide range of habitat, as 

 it is found wild from Mexico to Venezuela. According to Eaton, it is very 

 common in Western Texas, at Van Horn's Wells, and at the Huecco Tanks. 



