THE SHIELD FERNS. 
colour of the leaflets in Angulare is also in general 
much lighter — oftentimes, in fact, a yellowish or 
golden kind of green — than is the case with 
Aculeatum. More than this, the bristles on the 
points of the leaflets are not so sharp-set or so 
prominent in Angulare as in Aculeatum. The 
fronds of the Soft Prickly Shield Fern are, too, 
more closely set together around the crown, more 
regular in their arrangement, and more gracefully 
and compactly placed shuttlecock fashion. So 
closely, indeed, are the frond-stems set together, 
and so densely clothed with rust-coloured scales, 
that, in well-grown specimens, they form quite 
a cup or hollow, and give the appearance of a cir- 
cular wall rising on the crown of the plant, and 
completely clothed with a beautiful drapery of 
reddish scales. 
Under cultivation the same conditions will apply 
to Angulare as those which apply to Aculeatum. 
The latter, however, appears more hardy and 
better able to withstand the frosts, doubtless on 
account of the more evergreen, rigid, and vigorous 
character of its fronds. Both Ferns are beautiful; 
but there is a soft beauty and a gracefulness of 
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