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LASTRA3A dilatata. 
LASTED'A DILATA'TA. 
There has been much “ learned dust ” raised relative 
to this Fern, its alleged varieties, and its want of dis¬ 
tinct specific characters when compared with Lastraa 
spinulosa. The doubts aud “ dust” are occasioned, we 
think, by the admitted fact that L. dilatata varies very 
much in form and stature in accordance with the situa¬ 
tion where it grows. It has been called by botanists 
Aspidium dilatatum and A. spinulosum ; Lastraa multi- 
flora ; Lophodium multi/lorum; Polypodium aristalum, 
P. cristalum, and P. dilatatum; and Polystiehum multi- 
florum." In English it is known as Broad Sharp-toothed 
Shield Fern; Broad Prickly-toothed Buckler Fern; 
Broad Prickly Fern; Great Shield Fern; and Dilated 
Shield Fern. 
Root black, tufted, not at all creeping, but large, erect, 
and almost entitled to be described as tuberous. Fronds 
varying in size fro u a few inches to two feet, and in 
very favourable situations twice that heighth; they 
rise from the root-stock in a circular cluster, aud bear 
some resemblance to the capital of a Corinthian column 
They are erect, broad, spreading, light green, and spear¬ 
head shaped in their general outline ; their leaflets have 
a similar form, and are so deep cut, or pinnatifid, into 
long, blunt, parallel, deeply-toothed, sharp-pointed 
segments, that they seem doubly leafited; indeed, the 
lower pair are so. The stem is slender, slightly scaly 
throughout its length, but mostly so where there are no 
