BEAUTIFUL FERNS. 
29 
than ill var. vulgare, though there are fronds in which they 
are only once pinnatifid. The secondary pinnae are usually 
distinctly stalked, and are spreading like the primary ones. 
The tertiary pinnae, or segments, are oblong-ovate, obtuse, and 
spinulosely toothed on the sides and at the apex. The under 
surface of the rachises and pinnules are minutely glandular 
with unicellular cylindrical or capitate glands. The venation 
is the same as in var. vulgare, and I see no difference in 
the position of the sori, which are dorsal if on the veins, or 
either dorsal or sub-apical if they are formed on branches of 
the veins. The indusium is sprinkled on the surface and at 
the margin with stalked and sessile glands. 
Mr. Davenport has endeavored to elevate this variety to 
the rank of a species, under the name of Aspidium Ameri- 
canuni, rejecting the name of intermedium because Willdenow’s 
description “ does not contain a word in regard to the gland- 
ular indusiums and under surface, while, on the other hand, 
his description of A. spimilosum does, thus exactly reversing 
the usual arrangement.” To the first objection it may be 
replied that neither does Willdenow speak of the glandular 
lower surface and indusia of A. rigidum, where the glands 
are much more conspicuous ; to the second that A. spimdosum 
is often glandular in European specimens. Willdenow had 
no American examples of the true spimdosum. Milde, who 
had examined the specimens of intermedium sent by Muhlen- 
berg to Willdenow, says it is “ nothing but a common form of 
A. spimdosum'.' But our intermedhmi he refers to his 
