THE RIGID BUCKLER FERN. l 205 
attenuate, and linear-lanceolate, or subulate. Fibres long and wiry? 
branched, dark-coloured. 
Vernation circinate. 
Stipes short, about one-third of the length of the entire frond, 
sometimes more; lateral and adherent to the caudex; thickened at 
the base, glandular; densely clothed with long subulate or linear- 
lanceolate narrow-pointed membranaceous scales intermixed with 
broader ones, all of which are of a reddish-brown colour; these 
scales become smaller and less abundant upwards. Rachis fur- 
nished with scattered hair-like scales; both primary and secondary 
rachides bearing numerous short-stalked translucent glands. 
Fronds from one to two feet high, firm, dull green, paler beneath, 
the surface sprinkled over while young with numerous minute 
spherical short-stalked almost sessile glands, which give it then a 
glaucous hue, not conspicuous in the dried plants, and at the same 
time impart a slight but peculiar and agreeable fragrance; they are 
spreading or erectish, bipinnate, usually elongately triangular, the 
lower pinn; being somewhat the longest, and the rest gradually 
shortening to the apex; sometimes, however, the outline is lanceolate. 
Pinne alternate, the lower ones subopposite, distinctly triangular, 
the middle ones more or less oblong with a tapering point, the 
uppermost tapering from their base towards their point. Pinnules 
oblong or ovate-oblong, truncate at the base, obtuse at the apex, the 
lower ones shortly stalked, the upper adnate, deeply pinnatifid; the 
lobes are oblong notched, the upper with about two, the lower with 
about five teeth, which are short, and acute but not spinulose. 
Venation of the pinnules consisting of a sinuous costa or midvein, 
branching alternately, so as to send out a vein into each lobe; these 
veins branch so as to produce a venule for each marginal tooth, 
towards which it extends, but does not reach the margin ; the lower 
anterior venule is fertile. 
Fructification on the back of the frond, occupying about the upper 
half. Sori rather large, round, numerous and occupying the whole 
length of the pinnules, indusiate, medial on the basal anterior 
venules, forming a line on each side of and near to the midvein, 
becoming crowded and often confluent over the whole central portion 
of the pinnules. Indusium lead-coloured, firm, membranaceous, 

