334 
THE FERN WORLD 
the same order as in Cristata. Instead of being oblong, how- 
ever, in general shape, the frond is somewhat triangular, being 
broadest at the base. The pinme are triangular and broadest 
at their bases. But the lowest ones in the frond have those 
pinnules nearest the main rachis distinctly stalked, which is 
not the case in Cristata. The same pinme, also, have their 
basal pinnules on the under side much longer than those on 
the upper side, and both upper and lower pinnules are more 
deeply cleft — -being nearly divided down to their mid veins — • 
than in Cristata. The lobes into which they are cleft, and 
also the pinnules generally throughout the frond, whether 
deeply or slightly cleft, are indented with sharp serratures 
fringed with sharp-pointed spines, whose points are turned 
towards the apices of the pinnules. Hence the specific name 
of spinulosrt. The veining and arrangement of the sori on 
the under surface of the frond are similar to Cristata. But 
in Spinulosa, the stipes is much longer than in Cristata, being 
generally half the length of the entire frond. The stipes is 
furnished at its base and throughout with a few light-brown 
scales, and it is particularly to be noticed that when rolled 
up in a little nest of balls before expanding, the heads of the 
rolled-up fronds have a green and naked appearance in this 
species. 
Distribution. — This Fern is found very generally through- 
out Europe, as well as in North America. In England it 
inhabits the following counties Bucks, Cambridge, Ches- 
ter, Cornwall, Cumberland, Derby, Devon, Dorset, Durham, 
Essex, Gloucester, Hants (including the Isle of Wight), Here- 
ford, Hertford, Kent, Lancaster, Leicester, Middlesex, Mon- 
mouth, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottingham, 
Salop, Somerset, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Warwick, 
Westmoreland, Worcester, and York. In Wales it is found 
in Brecknock, Carmarthen, Carnarvon, and Glamorgan. In 
Scotland it inhabits the counties of Argyle, Dumbarton, Dum-. 
