Descriptions of the Species. 
167 
is said to be the running rhizome of A. pungens, whereas A. 
aculeatum has a sub-erect crown, and that A. pungens is less scaly; 
but all our forms have the crown or rhizome procumbent, and in 
favourable conditions running ; while in quantity of scales they 
are alike, and even SchlechtendaPs figure shows scales to near the 
point of the frond. Among the numerous specimens named 
A. pungens in the various Cape Herbaria, none show rhizome or 
crown, but all are large, forest grown fronds. If this rhizome- 
producing form is specifically distinct from the almost cosmopo- 
litan A. aculeatum, Sw., then we have A. pungens only, and not 
A. aculeatum ; but I think them too close, and have put our plant 
as A. aculeatum, Sw., var. pungens, and do not find typical 
A. aculeatum in South Africa. 
The most distinct form is one with compact, narrow, upright 
fronds, which grows round stones and on steep banks near the top 
of the mountains, often in great masses ; but that also has the 
creeping rhizome, and merges gradually into the other where it is 
beside bush. This form is evidently what Buchanan considered 
A. aculeatum, while the bush-grown plant was his A. pungens. 
Aspidium pungens. Klfs. en. 242; Schl. Adum. 21, tab. 10; Kze. 
Linnaea, 13 ; Lowe Fil. VI., tab. 8 ; Hk. and Bkr. Syn. Fil. 252 ; 
Buchanan, 18 ; Wood, Natal Ferns, 25 ; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 140. 
Polystichum pungens. Presl.; Pappe and Rawson, 14. 
Polystichum angulare, Pappe and Rawson, 15 (not Willd). 
Aspidium aculeatum. Buchanan’s List, 18 ; Lady Barkly’s List, No. 95 ; 
Wood, Natal Ferns, 25 ; Sim, Kaff. Ferns, 46. 
Polypodium aculeatum. Thunb. Prod. 172 ; Flor. Cap. 735. 
Aspidium capense. Desv. Ann. Linn. VI. 250 (not A. capense, Willd). 
Abundant in bush everywhere over 2000 feet alt. 
95. Aspidium luctuosum. Kunze. 
Plate XC. Natural size. 
Crown procumbent or sub-erect, very scaly, with large, ovate, 
pointed, black scales. Frond coriaceous, two-pinnate or three- 
pinnatifid, two to three feet long, six to ten inches broad at the 
