s perfect state of the species broadly lanceolate, 
:ry narrow’ ’ ’ *“ 
"Slf . 
* 1 scales. The fronds are bi- 
pmnate, with alternate pinnae, these pinnae being again 
. more or less perfectly divided into a series of pinnules, 
which are either decurrent, that is, insensibly merging 
in the substance of the rachis which supports them, or 
else, are tapered to a wedge-shaped base and attached to 
the rachis by the point of the wedge. The general form of 
e pinnules is somewhat elongately crescent-shaped, the 
ir base being extended into a small auride, or enlarged 
r base as it were cut away; while the 
apex is tapered off to an acute point, and the mar gin is 
serrated with spiny teeth. The vi' 
and do n * ' * 
bet; 
midrib of the pinnules, and also on the larger pinnules 
~"~ u midvein of the basal lobes or auriclee. 
1 attached by a little depression 
differs chiefly in the morrow outline of the frond, anXin the 
pinnules being much more decidedly decurrent—that is, run 
together at the base; every possible variation in the consoli¬ 
dation of the pinnules is to be met with, between the typical 
bipinnate form of Polystichum aciUeatum, and a simply pin¬ 
nate form of the species, which, from its resemblance to P. 
Zonehitis has been called lonchitidoides. This latter form, 
wing its origin to the^peculiar circumstances of ^growth 
intermediate state—that is, the plant called lobatum —which 
is the most common of these aberrant forms, is at least 
sufficiently different to be noticed as a varietv. 
This common and free-growing Fern 
Fern is found in hedge- 
d being abundant, easily 
withal possessing consi- 
cultivated, nearly evergreen, i 
derable elegance of growth, has much to recommem 
admission to a prominent position in the Fern garden. 
[Plate iv.] 
