Aspidium .] 
FERNS. 
37 
Fig.— E. B. 1019.— Flo. Dan. 1121.— Bolt. 22, f. 1 and 2. 
Des. — Root tufted, large, black, scaly, fibrous. Fronds several, 
growing in a circle from a crown, finely lanceolate, tapering at both 
ends. Racliis covered with fine hair on the upper part, and with a 
few scattered scales on the lower, delicate green, with a deep channel 
on the upper side. Pinnae extending nearly all along the rachis, 
more or less alternate, sessile, deeply pinnatifid, tapering to a fine 
point, on the upper side smooth, on the under side hairy, particu- 
larly about the main rib, and covered with yellowish, shining glands, 
smelling of turpentine. Segments very numerous, flat, blunt, and 
. entire. Sori marginal, at length confluent, covering all the pinnae. 
Cover thin, white, kidney-shaped, soon shrivelling up. 
The fresh plant may instantly he known from all its congeners by the smell 
emitted when drawn through the hand, or by holding it up to the light, in 
which situation it shows very plainly translucent, minute points, very similar 
to those seen in Hypericum perforatum ; though, be it observed, that unfavorable 
situation and cold weather will often prevent the formation of, if not obliterate, 
these odorous pores. They are most abundant when the plants grow in sunny ; 
but not too dry localities. This Fern can only be mistaken for As. thel. or 
Asp. Fil.-mas. It has already been distinguished from the former in describing 
that plant ; from the latter it may easily be known by its more elegant shape, 
its smaller size and more delicate structure, no less than by its greater smooth- 
ness in every part, particularly its rachis. The segments of the pinnae also are 
not crenate, as in Filix-mas, and the sori, which in that are large, distinct, and 
confined to the lower half of the segment, are in this plant small, closer together, 
more numerous, and continued throughout the whole length of the segment, very 
near the margin. 
Sit. — On heaths and in shady lanes, not uncommon in the North. 
Has. — Scot. : Glen Isla, Forfarsh., Mr. TV. Brand. Common in Sutherland, 
Dr. Johnston. Banks of Loch Tay, Mr. T. H. Cooper. Aberdeenshire, but not 
common, Dr. Murray. Foot of Craig Chailleach, &c., Mr. TV. Wilson. — Eng. : 
Near Chapel Weardale, Durham; and Cawsey Dean, near Newcastle, Mr. R. B. 
Bowman. Keswick, and near Lodore Waterfall, Cumbl., Mr. II. C. Watson. 
By the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Coleshill 
Heath and Corley, Warw., Rev. W. Bree. Near Warrington, Mr. TV. Wilson. 
Dethick Moor, and near Riley, Derbys., Dr. Howitt. Isle of Man, Mr. Forbes. 
Dallington Heath, near Northampton, Mr. Anderson. N. side of Shotover Hill, 
Oxfordsh., Mr. Baxter. Oxton and Eddingley Bogs, Notts ; and Hartswell, near 
Farnsfield, Mr. T. H. Cooper. Somerset, Mr. A. Southby. Bradwell, Suffolk, 
Mr. Turner. Sussex and Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Bailey’s Hill, between 
Brasted and Tunbridge (1835), Mr. Pamplin.— Wales : Near Wrexham, Denbigh- 
shire, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Llanberris and Nant Gwynedd, Caernarvonsli., Mr. C. 
C. Babington. Frequent in Caernarvonsli., Mr. TV. Wilson. — Ire.: I’owerscourt 
Deer Park and Waterfall, Mangerton Mountain, Dr. Osborne. Lough Corril, 
Galway, Mr. Shuttleworth. Plentiful in Ireland, Mr. Mackay. 
Geo.— Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Prussia, &c. 
