Aspidium. ] 
FERNS. 
27 
Sit. — On shady banks and damp hedge rows, chiefly in the North. 
Hab. Eng. : Sussex and S. Kent, Rev c G. E. Smith. Leicestcrsh., Rev. 
A. Bio x am. Keswick, Mr. H. C. Watson. Matlock, Derbysh., Dr. Howitt. 
Common about Settle, Yorksh., Mr. J. Tathani. Cawsey Dean, Durham, 
Mr. R. Bowman. Pottery Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S Appleby. Banks of 
the Eye, Rev. A. Baird. Near Yarmouth, Mr. Paget. Banks of the White 
Adder, opposite Edrington Castle, Dulow Dean, &c., Durham, Dr. Johnston. 
At Studley, Sambourne, Overley, and Weatherley, Warwicksh., Rev.W. Bree- 
Near Bristol, Miss Worsley. Near Dorking, Surrey; Hants; Kent; &c. Mr. 
W. Pamplin. — Wal. : Near Wrexham, Denbigh, Mr. J. E. Bowman.— 
Scot. : By the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Braid Woods, 
Edinburgh, Mr. Brand. Rosslyn Woods, Mr. II. C. Watson. — Ire. : Collinglen 
near Belfast, Mr. J. Templeton. Hermitage, County Wicklow, Dr. Osborne. 
County of Derry, Mr. D. Moore. Most plentiful in the northern counties, 
Mr. Mackay. 
Geo. — Germany, Switzerland, &c. 
3.— ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM * 
COMMON PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate 2, fig. 3, 4, 5.) 
Ciia. — Frond bipinnate, broadly lanceolate. Pinnules petioled, 
ovate, distinctly auricled, aristate. liachis scaly. 
S y n . — A spidium aculeatum, Swz., Willd., Hook, in B. FI. ed. 3., Smith, 
Galp., Mack., Gray. — Aspidium lobatum, Hook, in FI. Scot., Schk . — 
Polypodium aculeatum, Linn., Huds., Light/., Ehrh. — Polystichum 
aculeatum, Roth., Decan. 
Fig .—E.B. IbM.—Pluk. Phyt., 180 /. 1. (not good.) 
Des. — Root tufted. Fronds numerous, perfectly lanceolate, 
evergreen, bipinnate. Pinnae alternate, gradually tapering, close 
together, their midribs covered with hair-like scales. Lobes ovate, 
distinctly petioled, serrate, spinulose, and with an auricle on the 
upper side at the base of each ; that next the rachis larger than 
the rest, but not so much so as in the last species, all remaining 
* As many gentlemen distinguished for their Botanical knowledge consider the Aspid. Aculea- 
tum and A. angulare as distinct species, it is necessary that I should state the reasons why I have 
blended these two plants together. I have not been guided by any desire of innovation, believing 
unsteadiness of nomenclature and of classification to be the bane of science, but because after 
the most careful examination of specimens from all parts of Great Britain where they grow, and 
after consulting all the most celebrated practical Botanists that I have the honor to be acquainted 
with, I have found it absolutely impossible to draw the line of demarcation between the plants. 
To delineate extreme states of any variable plant is easy enough, but where there is so regular 
a gradation from the robust pointed pinnules to the blunt and delicate ones, the difficulties^ of 
discrimination are insurmountable. Also upon writing to various gentlemen for specimens and 
habitats, I have received the same plant repeatedly under the two names, and it is very re- 
markable that the habitats received invariably refer to both varieties, though they have not 
always been received from the same person. Thus Dr. Johnston says that both grow at Pease 
Bridge, Durham ; Mr. Bowman says of Aculeatum, near Richmond, Yorkshire; while Mr. J. 
Tatham notes the same place as a station for the Angulare. Thus doubts arise if the same or 
different plants are indicated. The name Angulare appears, however, by far the more com- 
monly given to it, and I should for this reason have preferred it to Aculeatum, in deference to 
the opinion of my countrymen ; but foreigners give the name Angulare to an Hungarian Fern 
very different from ours, and as Aculeatum is the specific name of all authors who have com- 
bined the two Ferns, and is besides more expressive, I have adopted it. 
c 2 
