THE SHIELD FERNS. 
liabit. It is a somewhat rare plant, but is found 
in certain localities in Scotland — some of the 
mountainous districts — and in Ireland, being in 
these countries more plentiful than in England 
and Wales. In England its distribution is con- 
fined to the northern counties. 
A tufted root-stock ; a short scaly stem ; a 
frond narrowly lanced-shaped, consisting of two 
rows of wing-shaped serrated leaflets, diminishing 
in size by gradation towards the tip of the frond. 
Such is the Holly Fern. Its peculiarity is that it 
has no branches like the other two species of its 
kind, Aculeatum and Angular e ; but one simple 
rachis clothed on each side with a row of spiny 
leaflets. In fact, it has a sort of general resem- 
blance to a single branch of Polystichum aculeatum. 
One peculiarity about the leaflets of this Fern 
must be noticed. The upper portion of each one 
next the rachis projects a little over the leaflet 
immediately above it. The leaflets are attached 
to the rachis by a narrow point ; but without the 
intervention of a stalk. 
The fronds of the Holly Fern are robust and 
evergreen in character — dark green in colour— 
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