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BRITISH FERNS. 
Its foreign homes extend over the same regions as its 
compeer, but include some extra leagues southward. 
When placed in the fernery it requires a compost 
prepared, as for the last species, with the same care in 
drainage and the same protection around the caudex. 
ASPIDIUM. 
Gen. Char. Sori round, covered with a round involucre at- 
tached by the centre. Veins simple or forked. Fronds lanceo- 
late, rigid, spiny. 
9. Aspidium Lonchitis. Alpine Ski eld-fern, or 
Holly-fern. 
Caudex thick, firm, oblique, scaly. Stem short and scaly. 
Fronds 6 to 18 inches high, narrow, erect, rigid, densely tufted, 
pinnate. Leaflets sickle-shaped. Sori in two rows on the leaf- 
lets, on the upper part of the frond. 
The name is derived from the Greek lonchitis , QC re- 
sembling a spear ” 
The root is large, black, and 
strong; the caudex thick and 
tough ; the fronds spring from 
the crown of the caudex in a 
circular form, bending outwards 
when growing freely, and form- 
ing an elegant basket shape. 
The stems are short, furrowed 
in front, they appear early in 
spring, and the fronds attain 
their full growth in September. 
The pinnae are dark green and 
glossy, crescent-shaped from an 
ear at the base, and beset with 
