17 
LASTEEA SPINULOSA. Phesl. 
( Prickly Buckler Fern.) 
SYNOimiES.' 
Polypodium Filix-f^miya var Spixosa. Weiss. 
POLYSTICHUM SpIXOSUM. RotJl. 
Lastrea Spinosa. Newman. 
Lophodium Speyosl^m. Neivman. 
Aspidium Spixulosum. Hooker and Arnott. 
DESCRIPTIOX. 
Caudex stout, gradually increasing in length and becom- 
ing branched, with numerous nearly black rootlets. 
Fronds linear-lanceolate twice pinnate with the pinnules 
pinnatifid or only toothed with (generally) well-developed 
spines. The stalk is always as long and sometimes much 
longer than the frond, and covered with rery pale almost 
transparent scales. The fronds spring in May and are 
usually erect, growing from one to three feet high. 
Veins alternately branched, with the anterior branches 
bearing the circular clusters of 
Spore Cases covered by a kidney-shaped involucre. 
As far as my observation goes, an easily recognised fern. 
Its upright habit, pale green colour, and almost uniform 
flatness of the frond readily distinguish it in its native 
D. 
