FERNS. 
45 
Aspidium. ^ 
is much darker in colour than the spinulosum, as it is also than the cristatum. It 
is intermediate between the last and next species in the number of its divisions, 
but does not resemble either of them in habit or appearance. Mr. Newman and 
the late Professor Don both support me in the identity of this species with the 
Aspidium rigidum of Schkuhr, specimens from whom I have seen. Mr. Newman 
justly remarks that, “ when cultivated, it assumes a more diffuse and lax appear- 
ance, and is not so like Schkuhr’s figure as the plant from Settle.” 
Hab. — Found by Rev. TV. Bree, in 1815, on Ingleborough, on a natural 
platform, near the foot of the mountain, and towards the neighbouring village. This 
was, I believe, the only situation recorded for this fern, at the publication of my 
first edition in 1837. Since then it has been sought after and found in three or 
four places, considerably distant from each other; and there is reason to suppose 
that it is pretty generally distributed all over the Ingleborough range, towards the 
foot of the hills. Thus Mr. W. Wilson finds it at Wharnside. Mr. Charley 
has kindly communicated to me specimens from near Settle, where he and 
Mr. J. Tatham find it abundantly. Also other leaves of the true plant have 
reached me from Miss Beever, a young and enthusiastic botanist, who finds it at 
Arnside Knot, not far from Silverdale. 
Geo. — Switzerland, Prussia, Germany, &c. 
9.— ASPIDIUM SPINULOSUM. 
PltlCKLY SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate III, fig. 6.) 
Ciia. — Leaf bipinnate. Pinnules opposite, pinnatisect, the seg- 
ments almost separate in the lower part, spinulose. Leaf-stalk 
nearly smooth, white, with few ovate membranous scales. 
Syn. — Aspidium spinulosum, Willd. — Polypodium spinulosum, Swz., Retz . — 
Polypodium cristatum, Hoffm., Schreb. — Polypodium spinosum, Schr. — 
Polypodium dentatum, Moench. — Aspidium spinulosum a, Hook, and Arnott. 
— Lophodimn spinosum, Newm. 1854. 
Fig. — E. B. 1460. — Flo. Dan. 707. — Pluk. Phyt. 181, f. 2 (a young plant). 
— Schk. Fil. 48. 
Des. — Leaf ovate or oblong, always erect and flat. Pinnae very 
nearly opposite, smooth, and distinct, as are also the pinnules, which 
are rarely convex. Segments oblong, pointed, deeply serrate, and 
spinulose. Leaf-stalk nearly smooth, swollen at its ramifications, of 
a whitish colour, and generally covered with black dots ; with few 
ovate membranous scales. Sori scattered, small. Indusium small, 
brown, soon shrivelling up. 
This plant goes by various names among British botanists. It is repeatedly 
considered and sent as Aspidium cristatum (which see, page 39), and is such 
of some authors, but not of Smith, Hooker, or Mackay. It is also confounded 
with the much rarer Aspidium rigidum, the diagnostics of which are very distinct ; 
and with the next species, Aspidium dilatatum, it is often considered identical, 
though sufficiently different, both wild and cultivated, in habit, texture, and colour. 
Our present plant is narrower than the dilatatum, of a less number of pinnae, flat, 
erect, rigid in habit, of a very light green colour, the midrib of the pinnules more 
