COMMON PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 
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from a short thick stem or crown from one to two feet 
high. Their form is lanceolate, twice-pinnate ; the 
texture harsh and rigid ; the upper surface dark green 
and shining ; and the stalk or stipes, below the leafy 
part, from one to six inches long, very shaggy, with 
brown scarious scales. The veins are alternately 
branched, and do not join together, but extend free to 
the margin. There is nothing remarkable in the 
fructification, which is generally abundant, beyond the 
regularity of arrangement in the sori, which lie in 
lines on each side of the mid-rib of the upper leaflets. 
The root is large and woody. 
The European range of this fern extends to every 
country excepting Spain, where it has never yet been 
found. It is very commonly distributed throughout 
the United Kingdom, and is abundant on hedgerows, 
and in shady places in England. It seems to delight 
in cultivated districts, and is seldom found on open 
heaths or downs. This fern is easily managed in 
cultivation and bears exposure pretty well. It requires 
good drainage, and a fair allowance of sand and peat, 
and thus treated it forms a satisfactory member of the 
fernery. 
The young fronds make their appearance in April, and 
attain their full expansion in July, while in August they 
are loaded with dark masses of fructification. They 
retain their green colour throughout the year, and the 
old fronds of one year,may be seen contrasting with 
the delicate green of the young ones as they develop. 
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