36 
FERNS. 
[Aspidium. 
slender, and generally smooth racliis. Pinnae linear-lanceolate, 
pointed, deeply pinnatifid, petioled, opposite. Segments oblong, 
obtuse, occasionally with a very small point ; the first upper segment 
on each pinna much longer than the others. Sori in continued 
longitudinal lines near the margin of each segment, small, brown or 
black, at first distant, afterwards confluent. Cover thin, white, 
round, kidney-shaped, fastened near the centre, and soon lost among 
the growing thecte. The barren fronds differ much from those 
which are fertile ; they are altogether wider, shorter, and flatter, 
with the pinnae horizontal, and racliis void of pinnae half way up. 
The fertile fronds have two thirds of the racliis covered with pinnae, 
which are more numerous, deflexed, and curled, particularly at the 
point. 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 
frond not contracting so much below, the folded segments of the pinnae, and its 
creeping root. This last character will distinguish it from all our other species 
of this genus, it being the only one of which the root is not tufted. It is by no 
means easily cultivated, nor frequent in fruit when wild, as the fertile fronds 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. Learmouth Bogs, Northum., 
Mr. Winch. Near Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Allesley, Warw., Rev. IF. Bree. 
Knutsford Moor and New Church Bog, near Over, Cheshire, Mr. W. Wilson. 
Oxton Bogs, Notts, Dr. Howitt. 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 Macruss, 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 SHIEL1)-FERN. 
(Plate III, fig. 2.) 
Cha. — Frond pinnate, lanceolate. Pinnae glandnlous, deeply 
cleft. Segments blunt, entire. Root tufted. 
Syn. — Aspidium oreopteris, Swz., Willd., Smith , Hook., Galp., Sprang., Mack., 
Schk. — Aspidium odoriferum, Gray. — Polypodium oreopteris, Ehrh., 
Dicks., With., Hull, Sibth., Hoffm., Linn. — Polypodium thelypteris, 
Jluds., Bolt., Light/., Hedw. — Polystichum montanum, Vecan. — Lastraea 
oreopteris, Prcsl., Newm. 
