WILLDENOW’S FERN. 
177 
ones often deeply pinnatifid, that next the main rachis scarcely 
larger than the rest (excepting in var. i3.), stipes and rachis very 
chaffy, fructifications copious. ^ ^ Of this plant I 
possess specimens from Mr. Wigham, of Norwich, who was so 
much in the habit of consulting Sir J. E. Smith, when any diffi- 
culty occurred in the naming of a species, that I have every rea- 
son to believe the present to be the plant so called in E. Flora. 
It is, too, what is generally considered A. aculeatum by British 
botanists, and has hence only been placed in opposition to A. 
lobatum Sm., from which, at first sight, and in essential charac- 
ter, it certainly appears distinct ; but after a most careful exa- 
mination of numerous specimens I am compelled to say that 
there is a third kind, the A, aculeatum of E. Fh, which does par- 
take of the characters of the other two, and which some refer to 
A. lobatum^ and others as confidently to A. aculeatum. Hence, 
as it appears to me, they must all be united, or, as Smith has 
done, they must constitute three species. In Scotland the A. 
lobatum is very common, but I am not aware that the present 
species or variety is ever found there.”^' 
Mr. Babin gton considers the three forms as referrible to a sin- 
gle species, Polystichum aculeatum^ yet gives to each form the 
rank of a variety. His description is copied below. 
Polystichum aculeatum. Fronds bipinnate lanceolate, pin- 
nae linear-lanceolate, pinnules stalked or decurrent ovate acute- 
I ly-serrate. — Newm. 37. — A very variable species. — a. aculeatum ; 
I fronds broadly lanceolate, pinnules ovate acute nearly all stalked 
I their base auricled on the upper edge oblique on the lower, lobe 
I next the main rachis longer. In this plant only a few of the 
I uppermost pinnules of each pinna are confluent, most of the 
pinnules have a small auricle on the upper or outer side of their 
base, and the pinnule next the main rachis is nearly always con 
|| siderably longer than the others. Aspidium aculeatum Sm. — 
angulare ; fronds broadly lanceolate, pinnules rather blunt 
I nearly all stalked their base auricled on the upper edge oblique 
on the lower, pinnule next the main rachis scarcely longer than 
the others. Here a few of the uppermost pinnules are conflu- 
I * Brit. Flor. 438. 
N 
