FERNS. 
35 
Aspidium.] 
This plant varies much in the sharper or blunter shape of the lobes of the leaves, 
for which reason it is sometimes extremely difficult to decide if a frond be of this 
species or the former. Luxuriant plants assume much the appearance of Lobatum, 
as the large pinnules become slightly decurrent : but in this state they become 
somewhat deeply cut, or even compound, while in the last species they are truly 
entire, losing their serratures instead of becoming more cleft by culture. 
(angulare.) Pinnules short, blunt, distinctly auricled. Rachis very chaffy. 
Aspidium angulare, Smith in E. Ft., Hook., Mack., Willd. A. aculeatum fi. 
Smith in FI. Br. Fig. — Plate 2, f. G/3. E. B. Supp. 277G. 
y (linearis) Pinnules linear and very sharp pointed. Fig. PI. 2, f. G y. 
These are well marked varieties, yet not sufficiently distinct either in habit or 
character to constitute separate species. The var. /3 has, when luxuriant, its kwer 
and larger pinnae compound ; when it becomes of course subtripinnate, and larger, 
(but not comparatively more robust,) thereby differing from the first or normal 
state of the plant, which alone approaches the last species in occasionally decurrent 
and convex pinnules. 
Sit. — Common in hedge rows, damp banks, &c., chiefly in the south. 
Hab. — Sco. : Peasebridge, Dr. Johnston. Eng. : Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. 
J. Tatham. Burton Wood, near Warrington, Lane. ; and in Cheshire, Mr. Ry lands. 
Ulverscroft Priory, Charnwood Forest, Rev. A. Bloxam. Isle of Man, Mr .Forbes. 
Derbyshire, Dr. Ilowitt. Warwickshire, Rev. W. T. Bree. Somerset, Mr. A. 
Southby. Little Worley Common, Essex, Mr. R. Castles. About Tonbridge 
Wells and elsewhere, Kent, (abundant,) and near Bramshot, Hants, Mr. W. 
Pamplin. Osterley Park, Lampton Lane, and Sion Lane, near Brentford, Midd., 
Mr. J. Bevis. Near Hastings, Mr. W. C. Trevelyan. Sussex, Rev. G. E. Smith. 
Kingsteignton, Mr. Anderson. Near Gurnet Bay, Isle of Wight, Prof. Henslow. 
— Wal. : Near Wrexham, Denbighs., Mr. J. E. Bowman. Cickle, near Beau- 
maris, Anglesea, Mr. W. Leighton. Near Bangor and Caernarvon, Mr. W. Wilson. 
Ire. : Colin Glen, Belfast, Mr. Mackay. Hedgebanks, near Carrickfergus, 
Mr. F. Whitla. (3 Intermixed with and even more common in the extreme south 
of the kingdom than the first state of the plant. — y Near Clonmell, Mr. G.S. Gough. 
Geo. — Europe generally, Arabia, Cape of Good Hope, North Africa, on the 
Green Mountains, Vermont, and other places in North America. 
4.— ASPIDIUM THELYPTERIS. 
MARSH SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate 3, fig. 1.) 
Cha. — Frond pinnate, erect. Pinnse linear, lanceolate, smooth. 
Segments mucronated. Sori small. Root creeping. 
Syn. — Aspidium thelypteris, Swz., Willd., Smith, Hook., Galp., Mack., 
Pursh. — Polypodium thelypteris, Linn., E. B., Dicks., Ehrh., With., 
Light/., (not of Huds.) Acrostichum thelypteris, Linn., Bolt. — 
Athyrium thelypteris, Spreng. — Polystichum thelypteris, Roth. — Lastnea 
thelypteris, Presl., Newm. 
Fig. — E.B. 1018. — Flo Dan. t. 7G0. — Bolt. 43,44. — Newm., page 46. 
Des. — Root creeping, furnished with long, black, slender, rather 
smooth runners, giving rise at various points along their surface to 
black radical fibres, and erect, light green, smooth ovate, or (when 
fertile) oblong fronds, each from 6 to 12 inches long, having a 
