Aspidium .] 
FERNS. 
37 
and curved upward, therefore somewhat lunate. Smaller pinnules 
running much into each other, the larger slightly auricled, decurrent, 
and that next the rachis so much larger than the rest as to project 
over its next neighbour, and also partly to conceal the base of the 
pinna next above it ; the inner edge of all the larger pinnules running 
parallel to the rachis, and at a little distance from it, so that if held 
up, a line of light will appear on each side of the rachis, except near 
the base, where the first pinnules are set very close to the main stem, 
whence perhaps its name of close-leaved. Sori large, in single rows, 
confined to the top of the leaf. Indusium circular, fixed by the centre, 
persistent, but easily knocked off. 
/3 ( lonchitidoicles ). Pinnules combined, forming nearly a pinnate leaf. Filix 
lonchitidi affinis, Ray. A. aculeatum f3, Smith in E. FI. A. lobatum, 
Hook, in Br. FI. Fig. — Pink. Phyt, t. 180, f. 3 {good). 
This species is distinguished from the following, for which alone it can be taken, 
by the decurrent lobes; and as Sir J. E. Smith very rightly observes, “by the 
much shorter, more crowded, and less scaly pinna;.” Added to which, the pinnules 
are more entire, being but slightly auricled, very convex, thick, and of a glaucous 
colour, furnished with a less number of and smaller bristly serratures, sometimes 
wanting them entirely at the sides. The sori also are more confined to the top of 
the leaf, and larger than in A. aculeatum. The variety lonchitidoides is not 
very scaly, and in form and size exactly intermediate between this species and 
A. lonchitis. 
Sit. — On shady banks and damp hedgerows, chiefly in the North. 
FIab. — E xtremely common in Scotland and in the north of England, 
gradually losing itself towards the south, and becoming more and more inter- 
mingled with A. aculeatum, which in its turn is superseded still more southerly 
by A. angulare. In the middle and south of England, its recorded habitats are 
Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Common about Settle, Yorksh., Mr. J. Tatham. 
Pottery' Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S. Appleby. Matlock, Derbysh., Dr. Hoivitt. 
At Studley, Sambourne, Overley, and Weatherly, Warwicksh., Rev. W. Bree. 
Lane leading to the Vache from Chalfont, Bucks, Mr. A. Halley. Near Bristol, 
Miss Worsley. Near Dorking, Surrey; in Hants, &c., Mr. W. P amp tin. Near 
Yarmouth, Mr. Paget. Sussex and S. Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. — Wales : Near 
Wrexham, Denbighs., Mr. J. E. Bowman. — Ire.: Colin Glen, near Belfast, Mr. 
J. Templeton. Hermitage, County Wicklow, Dr. Osborne. County of Derry, 
Mr. D. Moore. 6. Glen Fee, Clova Mountains, Mr. W. Wilson. Braid Woods, 
near Edinburgh, Mr. II. Cooper. 
Geo. — G ermany, Switzerland, &c. 
3.— ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM.* 
COMMON PUT C ELY SHIELD-FEKN. 
(Plate II, fig. G.) 
Cha. — Leaf bipinnate, broadly lanceolate. Pinnules stalked, 
somewhat rigid, ovate, acuminate or acute, distinctly auricled, 
aristate. Leaf-stalk scaly. 
* As many gentlemen, distinguished for their botanical knowledge, consider the Aspid. 
