THE BUCKLER FERNS. 
243 
of the branches is observable as in the Broad 
Buckler Fern. The broadness of the lowest pair 
of branches is occasioned by the leaflets below the 
mid- vein of the branches being considerably longer 
than those above ; and this inequality, as in the 
case of Lastrea dilatata, diminishes towards the 
point of each branch, and towards the apex of the 
frond. Indeed, the description of the cutting, 
indentation, and general arrangement of the leaflets 
and lobes, is very similar to that of Dilatata , the 
difference in the case of Spinulosa being that the 
leaflets, instead of being curled back, as in Dilatata , 
are straight. The edges of the lobes, too, are 
spiny and sharply serrated. The fronds do not 
attain anything like the same length as those of 
Dilatata. One peculiarity which will be easily 
noted about Spinulosa is, that the tops of the inci- 
pient fronds, in making their appearance just above 
ground, are naked and green in colour, instead 
of being covered with chaff-coloured scales, as in 
the case of Dilatata. 
The Prickly-toothed BucklerFern grows in boggy 
situations, delighting in an atmosphere of moisture, 
