


180 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
N. Highlands.—Ross-shire. 
Ulster.— Antrim : Colin Glen, Dr. Mateer ; Malone, near Belfast ; 
Carrickfergus. 
Connaught.—Galway : Connemara; Gort, J. R. Kinahan. 
Leinster.— Wicklow: Newtown Mount Kennedy. Dublin: Bo- 
hernabreena, J. R. Kinahan. 
Munster.—Clare. Cork: Clonmel; Glendine, near Youghal. 
Channel Isles.—Jersey. 
This Fern appears to be found over nearly the whole of Europe, 
its occurrence being recorded, northwards in the Scandinavian king- 
doms; through Central Europe, e. g. Switzerland, Germany, Holland, 
Belgium, and France, to the Spanish Peninsula; and extending from 
Italy, to Dalmatia, Croatia, Transylvania, Greece and Turkey. In 
Asia, it is found in the Russian dominions, from Colchis to Len- 
koran; and in various parts of British India—the Aspidium 
discretum of Don being the same with the British aculeatum, as 
appears from authentic specimens in the Herbarium of the Linnean 
Society. In Africa it occurs on the northern coast, at Algiers, and 
again in the south, as well as in the Island of Madeira. In Ame- 
rica, its range extends from the Eastern United States to Columbia 
on the north-west coast. The Indian Aspidium lentum of Don 
(A. ocellatum, Wall.) has a very close resemblance to the variety 
lobatum, but being freely proliferous, is perhaps distinct. There exist, 
moreover, several South American Ferns, which, if not specifically 
identical with the European P. aculeatum, are at least very intimately 
allied to it; such specimens have been gathered in Mexico, in 
Guatemala, and in Columbia. Others from Brazil, the Polystichum 
microphyllum of Klotsch, seem to be referrible here; as also does 
the Aspidium subintegerrimum of Hooker and Arnott, from Chili. 
In the same doubtful category must be placed the Aspidium vesti- 
tum; the Aspidium venustum of Hombron and Jacquinot, from the 
Island of Auckland, and New Zealand; the Aspidiwm proliferum of 
Tasmania; and the Aspidium setosum, and Aspidium rufo-barbatum 
which occur in various parts of the East Indies. 
There are various degrees of development in this species, some of 
the most distinct of which have been considered as varieties. One 

