26 
Plate I, fig. 8. 
Dark-scaled Shield Fern. Lastrea dilatata. We are now 
come to a portion of the Shield Ferns which assume a 
feathery or plumose appearance. This and the two following 
species are a great ornament to our shady woods and deep 
gullies and hedge-banks. This plant grows in great lux- 
uriance in this locality. It thrives in rich, moist, and shady 
situations. None of our Ferns exceed it in height except 
the Common Brake (Pteris aquilina) and the Eoyal Flower- 
ing Fern. (Osmunda Eegalis) It is tripinnate, that is, not 
only the branches are divided, but the branches of the 
branches likewise. There is another peculiarity in this 
Fern, that the two or three lowest pinnae or branch- 
es are always shorter than those above. The scales 
on the lower part of the stalk have likewise a dark 
centre with transparent margins as represented in 
this woodcut. The root-stock is large, upright, 
sometimes a foot above the surface, covered with 
dark scales. The leaflets are deep green, generally 
drooping, never having the edge curled upwards. 
The lobes or divisions of the leaflets are blunt, with 
a little spine on each. The stalk is thick at the 
base and as long as the frond, covered with these 
dark centred scales. The frond is egg-shaped or lance- 
shaped, Plate I, fig. 8. The lower pinnas are triangular. The 
upper are less so. ^he uppermost are nearly linear. When 
the plant is in bud and not quite unfolded, it does not hang 
its summit down, like a shepherd’s crook or a rhinoceros’ 
trunk, as is the case with the Male Fern. The end of the 
bud turns to the right and left, and makes a loop or ring, 
and assumes with its dark scales a very grotesque and pecu- 
liar form. The covers of the fruit are circular with a slit in 
it, (the mark of the genus) and when seen through a lens 
or microscope, are found to have stalked glands on the edges, 
as represented in woodcut c. page 9. The frond is scarcely 
ever erect in growth. The branches are nearly opposite. 
The clusters of fruit are distinct. The veins are branched, 
and the fruit is always on the upper branch of the vein. 
As there is some difficulty in discerning the diflerence 
between this and the two following species, we call attention 
to the four following marks of distinction. 1. In no case. 
