34 
FERNS. 
[Aspidium. 
Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Common about Settle, Yorksh., Mr.J. Tat ham. 
Pottery Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S. Appleby. Matlock, Derbysh., Dr. Ilowitt. 
At Studley, Sambourne, Overley, and Weatherly, Warwicksh., Rev. TV. Bree. 
Lane leading to the Vache from Chalfont, Bucks, Mr. A. Halley. Near Bristol, 
Miss Worsley. Near Dorking, Surrey ; in Hants, &c. Mr. W. Pamplin. Near 
Yarmouth, Mr. Payet. 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. /3 Glen Fee, Clova Mountains, Mr. TV. Wilson. Braid Woods, 
near Edinburgh, Mr. II. Cooper. 
Geo. — Germany, Switzerland, &c. 
3. — ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM.* 
COMMON PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate II, fig. G.) 
Ciia. — Frond bipinnate, broadly lanceolate. Lobes petioled, 
ovate, distinctly auricled, aristate. Rachis scaly. 
Syn. — Aspidium aculeatum, Swz. , Willd., Hook, in B. FI. ed. 4, Smith, 
Galp., Mack., Gray. — Aspidium lobatum, Hook, in FI. Scot., Schk . — 
Polypodium aculeatum, Linn., Iluds., Light/., Ehrh. — Polystichum 
aculeatum, Roth., Decan. 
Fig. — E. B. 1562. — Pluk. Phyt. 180 f 1 ( not good). 
Des. — Root tufted. Fronds numerous, perfectly lanceolate, 
evergreen, bipinnate. Pinnae alternate, gradually tapering, close 
together, their midribs covered with hair-like scales. Lobes ovate, 
distinctly petioled, serrate, spinulose, and with an auricle on the upper 
side at the base of each ; that next the rachis larger than the rest, 
but not so much so as in the last species ; all remaining distinct from 
each other nearly to the point of the pinna, although sometimes so 
crowded as to overlap. Rachis clothed with pinnae to its base, and 
very scaly. Sori distinct, brown, small. Cover orbicular, fixed by 
its centre, soon withering. 
* As many gentlemen, distinguished for their botanical knowledge, consider the Aspid. 
aculeatum and A. angulare as distinct species, it is necessary that I should state the reasons 
why 1 have blended these two plants together. I have not been guided by any desire of inno- 
vation, believing unsteadiness of nomenclatureand of classification to be the bane of science, 
but because after the most careful examination of specimens from all parts of Great Britain 
where they grow, and after consulting all the most celebrated practical botanists that I have 
the honour to be acquainted with, I have found it absolutely impossible to draw the line of 
demarcation between the plants. To delineate extreme states of any variable plant is easy 
enough, but where there is so regular a gradation from the robust pointed pinnules to the 
blunt and delicate ones, the difficulties of discrimination are insurmountable. Also, upon 
writing to various gentlemen for specimens and habitats, I have received the same plant 
repeatedly under the two names, and it is very remarkable that the habitats received inva- 
riably refer to both varieties, though they have not always been received from the same person. 
Thus Dr. Johnston says, that both grow at Peasebridge, Berwickshire; Mr. Bowman says of 
Aculeatum, near Richmond, Yorkshire ; while Mr. J. Tatham notes the same place as astation 
for the Angulare. Thus doubts arise if the same or different plants are indicated. The name 
Angulare appears, however, by far the more commonly given to it, and I should for this 
reason have preferred it to Aculeatum, in deference to the opinion of my countrymen j but 
foreigners give the name Angulare to an Hungarian Fern very different from ours, and as 
Aculeatum is the specific name of all authors who have combined the two Ferns, and is 
besides more expressive, I have adopted it. 
