36 
FERNS. 
[ Aspidium . 
decumbent, forming a flat, cup-shaped plant. Leaf-stalk scaly, clothed 
vith pinnae nearly to its base. The pinnae are numerous, crowded, 
stalked, alternate, smooth above, slightly scaly beneath, crescent- 
shaped, with an auricle on the upper side of the base of each, serrated, 
with the serratures ending in a bristle, that part of the pinna above its 
midrib much larger than the lower portion, in position rather declining 
and bent forwards, so that they very often approach those on the oppo- 
site side of the rachis, the back of the leaf being outwards. Sori 
confined to the upper third of the leaf, arranged in single rows, 
black or brown, and very large. Indusium orbicular, notched, at- 
tached at the centre, and soon becoming shrivelled. 
Sir J. E. Smith says, that “this plant dwindles rather than becomes luxuriant 
when cultivated,” as it often is on rockwork, &c., forming a curious, rigid, and 
pretty plant, not in any way altered from its original characteristics, except 
becoming less spinous. The American is more spinous than our plant. 
IIab. — In situations above 1000 yards, probably 1100 yards above the sea 
level, on the Breadalbane mountains, Perthshire, and plentiful almost everywhere 
in the Highland valleys, and on the declivities of the mountains. Scarce in 
England, nor have I ever seen it here. Craig Chailleach, Pcrths., and Clova 
Mountains, Forfarsh., Mr. II. C. Watson. Falcon Clints, near Caldron Spout, 
Teesdale, Mr. It. B. Bowman. Glen Isla, Forfarsh., Mr. W. Brand. Aberdeen- 
shire, Dr. Murray. Moray and Ross-shire, Rev. G. Gordon. Base of Benmore, 
Sutherland, Dr. Johnston. Yen' large in Glen Phee, Mr. W. Wilson. Clogwyn-y- 
Garnedd, Snowdon, Mr. C. C. Babington. Higher part of the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. 
Common about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. — Ire. : In a glen E. of Lough 
Eske, Donegal ; and on Glenade Mountain, Leitrim, Mr. E. Mac/cay. Brandon 
Mountain, Mr. W. Wilson. 
Geo. — Silesia, Bavaria, the Tyrol, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and the 
Aleutian Islands. 
2.— ASPIDIUM LOBATUM. 
CLOSE-LEAVED, PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate II, fig. 5.) 
Cha. — Leaf bipinnate. Pinnules decurrent, spinulose, elliptical, 
that next the rachis very large. 
Syn. — A spidium lobatum, Swz., Gray , Willd., Schk., Smith, Hook, in Br. 
Ft., not in Flo. Scot., Hook, and Arnott, Forst., Galp., Mack. — Poly- 
podium lobatum, Iluds. — Polypodium aculeatum, Boll., With. — Polystichum 
aculeatum, var. lobatum, Bab., 1851, Moore, 1853, Newm., 1854. 
Fig. — E. B. 1563. — Bolt. 20, f. 1 (a full-grown), f. 2 (a young plant). 
Dus. — Ttootstoek tufted. Leaves growing in a circle, rigid, 
glaucous green, from 15 inches to 2 feet high, evergreen, perfectly 
ovate. Lower pinnae crowded, so as to overlap each other ; some- 
times, however, the leaf is elongated at the lower part, when the 
pinnae are proportionably distant. Leaf-stalk stout, scaly, and with 
pinnae to the very base. Pinnae short, alternate, lanceolate, pointed, 
