34 
FERNS. 
[Aspidium . 
Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Common about Settle, Yorksh., Mr. J. Tatham. 
Pottery Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S. Appleby. Matlock, Derbysh., Dr. Hoivitt. 
At Studley, Sambourne, Overley, and Weatherly, Warwicksh., Rev. W. Dree. 
Lane leading to the Vaohe from Chalfont, Bucks, Mr. A. Halley. Near Bristol, 
Miss Wars ley. Near Dorking, Surrey ; in Hants, &c. Mr. W. Pamplin. Near 
Yarmouth, Mr. Paget. Sussex and S. Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Wal. : Near 
Wrexham, Denbigh, Mr. J. E. Bowman. — Ire. : Collinglen, near Belfast, Mr. 
J. Templeton. Hermitage, County Wicklow, Dr. Osborne. County of Derry, 
Mr. D. Moore, fl Glen Fee, Clova Mountains, Mr. W. Wilson. Braid Woodg, , 
near Edinburgh, Mr. H. Cooper. /2)/rrttCrtr . ret* 
Cha, — Frond bipinnate, broadly lanceolate. Lobes petioled, 
ovate, distinctly auricled, aristate. Racliis scaly. 
Syn. — Aspidium aculeatum, Swz. , Willd., Hook, in B. FI. ed. 4, Smith, 
Galp., Mack., Gray . — Aspidium lobatum, Hook, in FI. Scot., Schk . — 
Polypodium aculeatum, Linn., Huds., Lightf., Ehrh . — Polystichum 
aculeatum, Roth., Decan. 
Fig .—E.B. 1562.— Pluk. Phyt., 180/. 1. {not good.) 
Des. — Root tufted. Fronds numerous, perfectly lanceolate, 
evergreen, bipinnate. Pinnae alternate, gradually tapering, close 
together, their midribs covered with hair-like scales. Lohes ovate, 
distinctly petioled, serrate, spinulose, and with an auricle on the upper 
side at the base of each ; that next the rachis larger than the rest, 
but not so much so as in the last species ; all remaining distinct from 
each other nearly to the point of the pinna, although sometimes so 
crowded as to overlap. Rachis clothed with pinnae to its base, and 
very scaly. Sori distinct, brown, small. Cover orbicular, fixed by 
its centre, soon withering. 
• As many gentlemen, distinguished for their botanical knowledge, consider the Aspid. aculea- 
tum and A. angulare as distinct species, it is necessary that I should state the reasons why I have 
blended these two plants together. I have not been guided by any desire of innovation, believing 
unsteadiness of nomenclature and of classification to be the bane of science, but because after 
the most careful examination of specimens from all parts of Great Britain where they grow, and 
after consulting all the most celebrated practical botanists that I have the honor to be acquainted 
with, I have found it absolutely impossible to draw the line of demarcation between the plants. 
To delineate extreme states of any variable plant is easy enough, but where there is so regular 
a gradation from the robust pointed pinnules to the blunt and delicate ones, the difficulties of 
discrimination are insurmountable. Also, upon writing to various gentlemen for specimens and 
habitats, I have received the same plant repeatedly under the two names, and it is very re- 
markable that the habitats received invariably refer to both varieties, though they have not 
always been received from the same person. Thus Dr. Johnston says, that both grow at Pease 
Bridge, Berwickshire; Mr. Bowman says of Aculeatum, near Richmond, Yorkshire; while 
Mr. J. Tatham notes the same place as a station for the Angulare. Thus doubts arise if the 
same or different plants are indicated, The name Angulare appears, however, by far the more 
commonly given to it, and I should for this reason have preferred it to Aculeatum, in deference 
to the opinion of my countrymen ; but foreigners give the name Angulare to an Hungarian Fern 
very different from ours, and as Aculeatum is the specific name of all authors who have 
Geo. — Germany, Switzerland, &c. 
3.— ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM* 
COMMON PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN. 
(Plate 2, fig. 6.) 
