102 BRITISH FERNS. 
from those which are generally confounded with it. 
The frond is pinnate: the pinne are nearly opposite, 
and the pairs gradually approximate from the base 
towards the apex: the first and second pairs are very 
broad at the base, in some instances nearly triangular ; 
the third is longer and narrower; the fourth, fifth and 
sixth still longer and narrower and also more linear, 
the sides being nearly parallel: all the pinne are pin- 
hate, except those quite at the apex of the frond: the 
pinnules are distinctly separate, and almost stalked; 
those of the upper pinne are connected by an ex- 
tremely slender wing of the midrib of the pinna, but 
this wing is not to be distinguished on the lower 
pinne, except near the point: the pinnules of the 
lower pinne are pinnate, those on the middle are pin- 
natifid, and on the upper deeply lobed: all the divi- 
_ Sions are toothed, and each tooth terminates in a short 
- but distinct spine. In the first, second and third pairs 
_ of pinne the inferior pinnules are generally longer 
than the superior; the first, second and third inferior 
ules of the first pair of pinne are almost in- 
: sine longer and altogether larger than those which 
lly 0 ~ the poise tay Sette 
