Polystichum Aculeatum, Roth. 
Aspidium Aculeatum and Lobatum, Smith. 
PRICKLY FERN. 
Root — Radicles long and wiry, caudex large and tufted. 
Frond — Erect, linear-lanceolate, bipinnate ; of a darker 
green than P. Angular e. 
Stipes — Short, thickly clothed with broad chaffy scales. 
Pinnae — Pinnate, lanceolate, alternate. 
Pinnules — Ovate-lanceolate, straight, spinous at the 
apex; the first upper pinnule longer than the rest, and 
auricled ; all at an acute angle with the common stalk. 
Venation — Lateral veins alternate, forked, terminating 
in the serratures. 
Fructification — Clusters upon the anterior branch of 
the vein. 
Habitat — Frequent in woods and lanes. The frond 
figured in “ Our Native Ferns,” Vol. I., f. xx, represents the 
narrow form so frequent about Matlock. When dwarfed 
by situation on exposed rocks, the pinnules are combined, 
and the frond simply pinnate. This is Ray’s “ Filix lon- 
chitidi affinis,” and not always distinguishable from P. 
Lonchitis. 
