210 
ASPIDIACEiE. 
This fern appears to be ubiquitous in the moist woods and 
marshes of England, as far as I have had an opportunity of vi- 
siting them. In Wales it does not occur so commonly, and I 
have not yet seen it in Scotland or Ireland. As this species is 
so little known, and so seldom recognized as distinct from the 
following, I cannot quote with confidence any information I have 
received from correspondents as to its distribution. 
It certainly occurs in Germany, Sweden, and Hungary ; but 
beyond these countries I am unable to trace its geographical 
range. I am indebted to Mr. Boott for two allied but apparently 
distinct species from the United States. 
I am unacquainted with any figure of this fern. 
The nomenclature of this species is involved in much ob- 
scurity. I hesitate to pronounce a positive opinion upon the 
subject; but, as already stated, I entertain no doubt that Lin- 
neus included it under his Polypodimn cristatum, which he 
describes as growing “ sylvis scepe uligmosis.''^^ There is some 
difficulty in fixing an exact meaning to these words, but if we 
translate them literally, “ frequently in marshy woods,” we shall 
have a very correct definition of the usual locality of L. spinosa ; 
but it also occurs frequently in marshes, and there mingling with 
cristata, so closely approaches it in appearance, that I have 
found the greatest difficulty in separating them. The Linnean 
character serves equally well for both species ; and the descrip- 
tio7i, confining the fructification to the upper fronds, throws no 
light whatever on the subject, that character being possessed by 
both species, and distinguishing them from the two next follow- || 
ing. Under L. cristata, I have shown why I restrict the Lin- I 
nean name to that species. It seems to me that Mullerf had | 
neither the merit of separating the two plants, nor any inten- P 
tion of giving a new name, but again describes them as one J 
species, and merely adopts and misprints Weiss’ prior name of 
spinosa.% As for his figure, cited by Withering, it represents but #! 
the apical portion of a frond, the decurrent and united pinnulesg 
of which resemble L, cristata, while the creeping rhizoma alsoM 
* Linn. Flor. Siiec. p. 308 of 1st edition only, f Flora Danica, 707. 
X P. Filix-femina y. spinosa, Weiss. Crypt, p. 316. 
