232 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
and three feet ; but, under favourable circum- 
stances, it sometimes grows to a height of four 
feet. Then, indeed, it is a really beautiful object : 
its fronds thrown up shuttlecock fashion around 
its fine tufted crown, and so neatly and closely 
arranged as to present inside a circular wall 
densely clothed with scales, and resembling very 
much in that respect the appearance presented 
by the Soft Prickly Shield Fern. But the tips of 
the fronds of the Male Fern have not the same 
drooping habit as Polystichum angulare ; being 
on the contrary, thrown up, as it were, defiantly. 
Perched on the open side of a high embankment, 
a grand specimen of the Male Fern, fully developed, 
with ail its fronds mature, presents a peculiarly 
striking appearance. 
The frond of the Male Fern is lance-shaped — 
broadly so — tapering up and down ; towards its 
point, and towards its base. It is, therefore, 
broadest at its centre. The basal tapering is 
not carried to a point as at the top of the 
frond ; but merely admits of the lowest leaflets 
being somewhat shorter than those in the centre. 
