32 
FERNS. 
[Aspidium . 
of the genus, as their indusiums, though orbicular, have a deep lateral notch, 
which occasions them to appear somewhat reniform, and hence also they in some 
degree cease to be peltate ; but the variation is not so great as to render it advis- 
able to separate them into two genera. 
1.— ASPIDIUM LONCHITIS. 
ROUGH ALPINE SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate II, fig. 4.) 
Ciia. — Frond pinnate. Pinna; lunate, bristly-serrate. Rachis scaly. 
Syn. — Aspidium lonchitis, Swz., Willd., Hook., Smith, Mack., Galp., Spreng., 
Schk. — Aspidium asperum, Gray. — Polypodium lonchitis, Linn., Bolt., With., 
Huds., Light f. — Polysticlium lonchitis, Roth., Decan., Hoffm., Newm. 
Yig.—E. B. 797. — Bolt. 19 .—Flo. Dan. 497 .—Park. 1042.— Ger. 979. 
Df.s. — Root tufted, black, fibrous. Fronds 6 to 12 inelies high, 
numerous, dark green, arranged in a circle around the crown of the 
root, very rigid, not growing upright, but generally half decumbent, 
forming a flat, cup-shaped plant. Rachis scaly, clothed with 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 opposite 
side of the rachis, the back of the frond being outwards. Sori 
confined to the upper third of the frond, arranged in single rows, 
black or brown, and very large. Cover orbicular, notched, attached 
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. 
Hab. — 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 1 ever seen it here. Craig Chailleach, Pcrths., and Clova 
Mountains, Forfarsh., Mr. II. C. Watson. Falcon Clints, near Caldron Spout, 
Teesdale, Mr. R. B. Bowman. Glen Isla, Forfarsh., Mr. W. Brand. Aberdeen- 
shire, Dr. Murray. Moray and Ross-shire, Rev. G. Gordon. Base of Benntore, 
Sutherland, Dr. Johnston. Very large in Glen Fee, Mr. W. Wilson. Clogwvn-y- 
Garnedd, Snowdon, Mr. C. C. Babington. Higher part of the Tees, Mr. ,/. Hogg. 
Common about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. — Ire.: In a glen E. of Lough 
Eske, Donegal ; and on Glenade Mountain, Leitrim. Mr. E. Mackay. Brandon 
Mountain, Mr. W. Wilson. 
Geo. — Silesia, Bavaria, the Tyrol, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and the 
Aleutian Islands. 
