THE SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 147 
at the apex, obseurely serrate, but terminating in a sharp mucro- 
nate or setiferous tooth, the auricle also being tipped by a similar 
tooth ; the basal anterior pinnule is larger, lobate-serrate, distinctly 
stalked, while the upper ones are connected with the rachis by a 
short somewhat winged decurrent petiole. This remarkable variety 
is one of those which possess the property of producing bulbils or 
gemme on the stipes of the larger fronds. It was found near 
Nettlecombe, in Somersetshire, by Mr. Elworthy, gardener to Sir 
W. C. Trevelyan, Bart. [Plate XXI.—Folio ed. t. XII E.] 
11. rotundatum (M.). A very remarkable form. The fronds are 
narrow lanceolate; the pinne short, and terminating in a blunt 
confluent lobe ; the pinnules roundish oblong, or often nearly round, 
quite obtuse, the margins obscurely crenate, not at all spinulose or 
setaceous. The fronds are rather small. It has been only recently 
found, by Mr. Elworthy, near Nettlecombe, in Somersetshire. 
19. decurrens (M.). This is a very distinct and handsome variety. 
The fronds are ovate or lanceolate, bipinnate, rather thick in 
texture, sometimes multifid at the apex. The lower pinne are the 
more normal in character, while the upper ones, which are fertile, 
are more or less contracted and altered in form. The pinnules 
are distant, those of the lower pinne oblong acute, with a large 
anterior auricle, wedge-shaped at the base, and nearly all of them 
decurrent with the rachis; they are deeply and rather distantly 
lobate-serrate with spiny serratures. The pinnules of the upper 
pinne are more decidedly decurrent, smaller, more distinct, generally 
with the auricle developed, but the remaining part of the pinnule 
much reduced in size. It is a native of Somersetshire, and was 
found at Nettlecombe by Mr. Elworthy. 
13. alatum (M.). This is a most remarkable variety. Its pecu- 
liarity consists in the pinnules being all connected by a very obvious 
wing which borders the little footstalks, as well as the secondary 
rachides, on which they are thus decurrent. The fronds grow 
a couple of feet high, and are broadly lanceolate, bipinnate. The 
pinnules are short, but acute, with the anterior basal lobe or auricle 
much developed ; and the margin is divided into shallow rounded 
lobes, which are indistinctly serrate, but tipped by a bristle; the 
under surface is also densely covered with hair-like scales. It was 
L2 

