THE SHIELD FERNS. 
125 
The Holly Fern 
(Polystichum Lonchitis). 
This is a true mountain Fern, and is never found wild, except 
at very high elevations. It is easily recognised as a Poly- 
stichum hy its spiny pinnae, hut its distinctive characteristic 
is that these are quite undivided, the edges of the pinnae 
being merely scalloped and prickly, like small holly leaves, 
whence its name. It is a thorough evergreen, and a rock 
Fern; hence it demands good drainage, plenty of moisture, 
and a humid atmosphere, its natural home being in or near 
the clouds. Should the beginner number this Fern, as he 
probably will, amongst his finds in some lowland lane, he will 
be wise to anticipate experience, and call it P. aculeatum; he 
will then have the advantage over more obstinate confreres 
of being correct from the beginning. It has been very chary 
of varieties so far — possibly, we think, on account of its com- 
parative inaccessibility — having only recently presented us 
with its first decided sport, viz., 
P. L. cristatum (crested). A good crested form, found 
on Ben Qui by Dr. Craig. 
The Hard Prickly Shield Fern 
{Polystichum aculeatum). 
This bold-growing, handsome, evergreen Fern is very generally 
distributed, but by no means so lavishly as its very close 
relation the Soft Prickly Shield Fern (P. angular e), from 
which it can be discriminated, as its common name indicates, 
by its harder texture, and also the more prickly nature of its 
pinnae. In its young state it frequently confers considerable 
temporary gratification upon novices, who, misled by its appear- 
ance, record the discovery of the Holly Fern (P. Lonchitis) in 
many localities where it does not exist. For the benefit of 
such, it should be noted that in P. Lonchitis the pinnae are 
never divided, while in P. aculeatum, even in a young state, 
the basal pinnae at any rate will be found more or less split. 
It is found growing in its greatest luxuriance on the sloping 
sides of glens and deep ravines, in such situations forming 
