Descriptions of the Species. 
181 
with large, ovate, pointed, scarious, yellowish brown scales. Frond 
deltoid, herbaceous, four-pinnatifid, one to four feet long, one to 
three feet broad, with a stout rounded stipe one to two feet long, 
which is abundantly paleaceous toward the base, and with 
scattered large scales upward, as also on the rachis and secondary 
rachises. Pinnae widest at the base ; lower pinnae much the 
largest, unequally deltoid, having larger pinnules on the lower side; 
secondary pinnae lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate ; the larger ones 
cut below into separate, ovate, sharply toothed pinnules, which are 
closer or confluent above. Smaller pinnae cut only halfway to the 
mid-rib ; pinnules and segments all rounded, and with several 
sharp-pointed teeth, of which one pointing upward is generally 
largest. Sori numerous, rather large ; indusium not hairy. 
This species is much stronger growing than the next, and when 
fully mature is easily distinguished ; but young plants are difficult 
to separate. The frond is more triangular in outline, the lower 
pinnae are largest, the colour of the underside is less glaucous, and 
the rhizomes do not run, but produce four to twelve fronds each. 
The crown is clothed with large yellowish scales, and this is about 
the only point in which this plant resembles the well-known male 
fern, N. Filix-mas, of Europe ; but I have adopted the above name 
on the authority of Mr. Baker, who finds intermediate and 
connecting forms in other countries. It is included by Buchanan, 
M‘Ken, and Wood in N. inaequale, SchL; and Lady Barkly’s 
specimens of N. inaequale all belong to this species. 
Schlechtendal’s description and figure leave no room for doubt 
that he also included both, or at least this, in his A. inaequale ; 
while Kunze makes this A. inaequale, Schl., and our next species, 
A. inaequale, Schl., var. montanum. It appears also to be Pappe 
and Rawson’s Lastrea pentagona ; while Kuhn makes it a separate 
species as Aspidium elongatum, Sw., and also maintains Lastrea 
pentagona, Moore (as from Natal). 
Nephrodium Filix-mas, Rich. 7. elongatum. Hk. and Bkr. Syn. Fil. 2 72. 
Aspidium elongatum. Sw.; Schrad. Jour. 1800 II. 38; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 
132. 
Nephrodium elongatum. Hk. and Gr. icon.' 234. 
