24:2 POLYSTICHUM LOBATUM. 
/ POLY'STICHUM LOBA'TUM. 
THIS is considered by some botanists merely as a variety 
of PoJystichum aculeatum, but from Ray downwards 
it has been admitted as a distinct species by many 
autborities. Bay in his Synopsis Stirpium Britan- 
nicarum describes it as Fili-x aculeata major, pinnulis 
nurictdatis crebioribus,foliis integris rtngustioribus (larger 
prickly Fern, with closer and eared leafits, and witb the 
whole fronds narrower). Sir J. E. Smith, after quoting 
this description, adds, " Ray has well marked the dif- 
ferences between P. aculeatum and -P. lobatum." Mr. 
Francis sums up the distinctions very eft'ectively as 
follows : 
" This species is distinguished from aciihalum, for which 
alone it can be taken, by the decnrrem lobes ; and as Sir J. 
E. Smith very rightly observes, ' by the much shorter, more 
crowded, and less scaly pinnse (leaflets).' Added to which the 
pinnules (leafits) are more entire, being but slightly eared, 
very convex, thick, and of a glaucous colour, furnished with 
a less number of, and smaller, bristly serratnres, sometimes 
wanting them entirely at the sides. The sori also are more 
confined to the top of the leaf, and larger than in aculeatum. 
The variety lonchitldoides is not very scaly, and in form and 
size exactly intermediate between this species and loiichitis" 
It is the Polypodium lobatum of Hudson, and the 
Polypodium lonchitldoides of some other botanists. In 
English it was called by Ray Prickly Male Fern with 
narrower leaves, and by others Close-derived Prickly Shield 
Fern. 
