236 
ASPIDIACEiE. 
pair of pinnae being much longer instead of shorter than the 
second, by these being much more distinctly stalked, by the 
very great length of the first in- 
ferior pinnule of its first pinnae : 
the absence of stalked glands 
distinguish it from multijlora, 
the presence of sessile glands 
from spinosa, and the long, li- 
near, laciniated scales of the 
stem distinguish it from both. 
In addition to these, Mr. Yar- 
rell, author of the admirable 
Histories of our British Fishes 
and Birds, has pointed out to me 
another character of this elegant 
plant, namely, the rapidity with 
which it withers after being ga- 
thered. While fronds of L. mul- 
tiflora retain their life and na- 
tural freshness for some hours, 
those of the present species fade 
in a much shorter time ; in this respect being almost equally 
evanescent with the species of Athyrium and Cystopteris. 
In the above cut the left-hand figure represents spinosa^ the 
middle multijiora^ and the right-hand recurva. 
spinosa. 
mulLiflora. 
recurva. 
