Lastrea Filix-Mas, Moore. 
Dryopteris Filix-Mas, Newman. 
Aspidium, Hooker and Arnott. 
MALE FERN, 
Root — R adicles strong and wiry, of a dark brown colour ; 
caudex stout and tufted. 
Frond — Oblong, lanceolate, pinnate ; the pinnae gradually 
narrowing from the fourth or fifth pair, as they near the 
base ; length from one to four feet. 
Stipes — Short, and more or less thickly covered with 
brown or auburn scales, which are continued the whole 
length of the rachis. 
Pinnae — Numerous, alternate, nearly linear, pinnate, 
acute. 
Pinnules — Somewhat obtuse, dentate at the extremi- 
ties, mostly serrate at the margin. 
Venation — Lateral veins forked half-way between the 
costa and the margin, to which they do not quite extend. 
Fructification — Clusters of capsules generally in pairs 
near the base of the pinnules, more thickly set on the 
middle and upper portions of the frond, so much so some- 
times as to cause the upper pinnae to assume the appearance 
of a terminal spike of fruit : the six or seven lowermost 
pinnae often being barren. Involucre roundish kidney- 
shaped. 
Habitat — Common in dry shady or open places. 
2 
