40 
FERNS. 
\_Aspidium. 
up. The fertile leaves have two thirds of the stalk covered with 
pinnae, which are more numerous, deflexed, and curled, particularly 
at the point, while the edges of the pinna, folding over the lines of 
sori, give it an acute appearance. 
The only British Fern with which it is possible to confound this is Aspidium 
Oreopteris, from which it differs in its smaller size, lighter colour, more ovate 
leaf not contracting so much below, the folded segments of the pinnae, and its creep- 
ing rootstock. This last character will distinguish it from all our other species 
of this genus, it being the only one of which the rootstock is not tufted. It is by 
no means easily cult ivated, nor frequent in fruit when wild, as the fertile leaves do 
not rise till late in the season. While undergoing the process of desiccation for 
the herbarium, the elasticity of the annulus of the theca is very apparent, 
bursting with violence, and scattering the spores in all directions, and to a 
considerable distance. 
Hab. — Common in Scotland, Sir W. J. Hooker. Learmoutli Bogs, Northum., 
Mr. Winch. Near Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Allesley, Warw., Rev. W. Bree. 
Knutsford Moor and New Church Bog, near Over, Cheshire, Mr. W. Wilson. 
Oxton Bogs, Notts, Dr. Ilowitt. Windsor Park and Sunning Hill Wells, 
Berks, Mr. J. Bevis. Valley below Caesar’s camp, on Wimbledon Common, 
planted there some years ago’ by Mr. Tyton. Bog on Waterdown Forest, near 
Tunbridge Wells (1835), Mr. Pamplin. Somersets., Mr. Southby. Belton, 
Suffolk, Mr. Paget. Sussex, Mr. Borrer. Border of lake near Red Wharf, 
Anglesea, Mr. W. Wilson. Beaumaris, Anglesea, Mr. J. Bowman. Marshes 
at Glencree, county of Wicklow, and Mucruss, Killarney, Mr. Mackay. 
Geo. — Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, North and South 
Africa, and in all the United States, but seldom with fruit. 
5. — ASPIDIUM OREOPTERIS. 
HEATH SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate III, fig. 2.) 
Cha. — Leaf pinnate, lanceolate, much attenuated below. Pinnae 
glandular, deeply pinnatisect. Segments blunt, entire. Rootstock 
tufted. 
Syn. — Aspidium Oreopteris, Swz., fVilld., Smith., Hook., Galp., Sprang., Mack., 
Schk. — Aspidium odoriferum, Gray. — Polypodium Oreopteris, Ehrh., Dicks., 
With., Hull, Sibth., Iloffm., Linn. — Polypodium Thelypteris, Huds., Bolt., 
Light/., Heclw. — Polystichum montanum, Decan. — Lastrma Oreopteris, 
Presl., Newm. — Lastrsca montana, Newm., 1854. 
Fig.—E. B. 1019.— Flo. Dan. 1121.— Bolt. 22, f. 1 and 2. 
Des. — Rootstock tufted, large, black, scaly, fibrous. Leaves 
several, growing in a circle from a crown, finely lanceolate, tapering 
at both ends. Leaf-stalk covered with fine hair on the upper part, and 
with a few scattered scales on the lower, delicate green, with a deep 
channel on the upper side. Pinnee extending nearly all along the 
stalk, more or less alternate, sessile, deeply pinnatisect, tapering to 
