A A '/U3 E&* Mttvjm; ^ ^.^r81 v ~- '^Amra: 5b?t. •'j' jwS'iKn 22102056476 Med K5059 j K 0 C SEN3XB ILIS. I— VOL. 0. 555*® FERNS: BRITISH AND EXOTIC. VOLUME VI. CONTAINING ONOCLE A. E AD YEN I A. CYCLOPELTIS. DIDYMOCHLJENA. ASPIDIUM, IN PART. E. J. LOWE, ESQ., F.R.A.S., E.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S., M.B.M.S., Hon. Mem. Dublin Nat. Hist. Boo., Mem. Geolog. Boo., Edinb., Corr. Mem. Lyceum Nat. Hist., New York, Corr. Mem. Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soc., Etc. LONDON: GROOMBBIDGE AND SONS, 5, PATERNOSTER ROW. M DCCC LXII, VP VP [ WELLCOME INSTITUTE LIBRARY Coll. welMOmec CONTENTS OF VOL. VI. Onoclea sensibilis Plate. Page. i 7 Aspidium frondosum . Plate. Page. . xliii 113 Fadyenia prolifera . ii 11 glabellum . XXXll 93 Cyclopeltis semicordata iii 15 Goldianum xxviii 83 Didymochlaena truncatula . iv 19 Hoolteri xlviii 123 Aspidium acrostichoides xix 57 loncbitis . . xxii 65 aculeatum . xvi 49 macropbyllum xlvi 119 acuminatum . xi 37 marginale . vi 27 angulare . xxiii xxiv 67 . molle . XXX 87 articulatum xlix 125 mucronatum . XX xi B 91 augescens . . x 35 oreopteris . xvii 53 Canariense xlii 111 podophyllum xxxiv, xxxv 97 capense . xl 107 proliferum . xn 39 cicutarium . xlv 117 pteroides . xliv 115 coadimatum . 1 127 pubescens . XXV 73 coniifolium xxxix 105 pumilum . XV 47 coriaceum . xxxvi 99 pungens . viii 31 cristatum xx 59 rigidum xxi 63 decompositum . xxxiii 95 spinulosum . . xli 109 decurrens . v 25 tbelypteroides . xxxi A 89 dilatatum . xxvii 77 tbelypteris . xviii 55 elongatum . xxvi 75 trifoliatum • xxix 85 falcatum . ix 33 unitum . xlvii 121 falcinellum vii 29 vestitum . xxxviii 103 filix-mas . xiii, xiv 41 villosum xxxvii 101 FERNS; BRITISH AND EXOTIC. ASPIDIEPE. J. Smith. In many instances tlie only difference between P oly podiece and Aspidiece is confined to the former having no indusium, whilst the latter is furnished with an indusium; this, however, is sometimes very small, and at others so soon detached from the sori, that fronds must be examined, the one with a micro- scope and the other at an early stage, in order that the difference from Polypodiece may be detected. Mr. Smith remarks that there are above two hundred described species of Aspidiece. . -Aspidiece is distinguished from Aspleniece mostly by having circular instead of lateral sori, and when the sori is lateral it is attached across the venule, instead of longitudinally in the direction of the venules as in Aspleniece. . ci*'cujar> with one or two exceptions, where oblong. It is intramarginal, and has a special indusium , which is either orbicular, produced from the centre, (central,) or reniform or cucullate, produced from the interior side of the sporangiferous receptacle (lateral,) or occasionally attached all round the ' 11 0 ASPIDIEiE. receptacle, and including the sporangia, (calyciform.) Mostly moderate-sized Ferns. Mr. Smith, in his Catalogue of the Ferns of Kew the cultivated species into the following families:- 1. — Uypoderris, one species. 2. — Aspidium, seven species. 3. — Oaoclea, one species. 4. — Cyclodium, one species. 5. — Fadyenia, one species. 0. — JSfephr odium, seven species. 7. — Woodsia, four species. 8. — Cy stop ter is, five species. 9 '—Lastrea, twenty-nine species. divides 10. Polystichum, fourteen species. 11. — Cyclopeltis, one species. 12 — Nephrolepis, seven species. 13. — Fidymochlcena, one species. 14. — Arthropteris, two species. 15 — Oleandra, two species. u ve * „ 1„ his “Index Filicum,” collects most of the above Ivunze, m „ . . ff:vp them in sections; rde' KCO Polystichum, Bathmium, hi. Catalogue of the tribe Aspidiun "^r^tthr^enera a_nd Species of Culti- •vated Ferns,” divide Aspidiece as follows. 1 Uypoderris, one species. 2. Aspidium, two species. 3 — Sagenia, four species. a Ptnnrl \prt,. one species. 5. — Cyrtomium, one species. 6. — Fadyenia, one species. 7 . JSfephr odium, six species. 3. Woodsia, four species.. 9. — Cystopteris, seven species. 10. — Lastrea, thirty-one species. 11. Polystichum, fifteen species. 12 '—Cyclopeltis, one species. ASPIBIFiE. 3 13. — Didymochlana, one species. 14. — JSephrolepis, seven species. 15. — Oleandra, two species. Fee. in his “Genres de la famille des Polypodiacees,” enu- merates many more species. He does not place them all under Aspidiere , but groups them under three heads, Cydodiece, Asp i dices, and NephrolepidecB. 1st. In Cydodiece he arranges the following: — 1. — Polystidium, forty-six species. 2. — Phanerophlebia, two species. 3. — Hemicardion, four species. 4. — Amblia, one species. 5. — Cydodium, three species. 6. — Cyrtomium, two species. 7. — Podopeltis, one species. 8. — Bathmium, ten species. 2nd. In Aspidiece the following: — 1. — Aspidium, about seventy species. 2. — Cystopteris, fourteen species. 3. — Lepidonevron, twelve species. 4. — Didiasium, two species. 5. — Oleandra, twelve species. 6. — Nephrodium, about forty species. 7. — Haplodictyon, two species. 8. — Abacopteris, five species. 9. — Pleocnemia, three species. 10. — Sagenia, seven species. 11. — Phlebiogonium, one species. 12. — Cardiodilcena, eleven species. 13. — Fadyenia, one species. 3rd. In Neplirolepidece the following: — 1. — Nephrolepis, seven species. 2. — Pteronevron, one species. 3. — Saccoloma, three species. 4. — Padiypleuria, five species. 5. — TIumata , two species. Thus Fee enumerates above two hundred and fifty species, yet many of these have not hitherto been cultivated in this country, and others are placed by different authorities in other families. 4 ASPIDlEvE. Presl, in his “Tantamen Pteridographise,” places under Asp diacece the following: — 1. — Lastrea, seventy-seven species. 2. — Oleandra, four species. o. — Neplirolepis, twenty-four species. 4. — Nephrodium, twenty-four species. 5. — Polystichum, fifty species. 6. — Phanerophlebia, one species. 7. — Cyclodium, three species. 8. — Cyrtomium, two species. 9. — Scigenia, six species. 10. — Aspidium, eleven species. 11. — Didymochlcena, one species. In all about two hundred species. ONOCLEA. 5 GENUS I. ONOCLEA. Linnaeus. Barren and fertile fronds different. The fertile fronds beinsr contracted, the segments rugose, sessile, bacciform, somewhat oblong; margin conniving, fimbriate, and membranous, forming a universal indusium. Sori circular, confluent; each segment consisting of from four to eight. Spore-cases medial, with concrete pedicels. Special indusium very membranous, lateral and cucullate. Fronds pin- nate and bipinnate; length from one to two feet. Rhizoma creeping. Fertile veins simple, direct, and free. Sterile veins reticulated. Ihe pinnules of the fertile fronds roll up so as to completely hide the sori. Two species alone are described, and only one is in cultivation, although both have been said to be introduced. The name is derived from the Greek, and refers to the manner of the folding-up of the fertile segments. Portion of Pinna of barren Frond. ONOCLEA SENSIBILIS. Linnaeus. Smith. Moore and Houlston. Kunze. Link. Schkuhr. Kaulfuss. Presl. Fee. Sprengel. PLATE I. YOL. VI. Onoclea obtusiloba, Link. “ obtusilobata, Schkuhr. Ithagiojp Leris obtusiloba, Onoclea — To close a vessel; (from the Greek.) Sensibilis — Sensitive. A noble species long known to Fern growers, and a very- desirable addition to our hardy Fernery, being exceedingly distinct from all others. Michaux, Sprengel, and other botanists, have described two species, the second under the name of Onoclea obtusiloba. It seems doubtful whether there are really two species, situation probably causing the difference in the size and form of the frond. The specimens which I have seen as 0. obtusiloba, have all eventually put on the characters of 0. sensibilis, when grown side by side. A hardy deciduous species. 8 ONOCLEA SENSI HI LIS. Native of North America, Florida, and the variety 0. ohtusiloba in Pennsylvania. Was known in England as early as 1699, and at Kew in 1793. Barren and fertile fronds different. Barren fronds triangular in form, glabrous, pinnate; the pinnse oblong-lanceolate in form, sinuately pinnatifid, the superior ones being decurrent at the base. Segments oblong-obtuse; margin entire. Fertile frond contracted, not quite so long as the barren frond, bipinnate; pinnules rugose; sessile consisting of from twelve to twenty on each pinna. The contractions of the segments form a unilateral raceme, oblong, ovate, and bacciform, concealing the sori. Fronds lateral, adherent to a creeping rhizoma. Length from one to two feet; colour pale green. Veins of fertile frond simple, direct, and free; in the barren frond reticulated. For plants of this species I am indebted to Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of Rolleston Hall. It may be procured of Messrs. Rollisson, of looting; Sim, of Foot's Cray; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Masters, of Can- terbury; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Cutbush, of Highgate; Young, of Taunton; Bass and Brown, Sudbury; Stansfield, of Todmorden; and Cooling, of Derby. The illustrations are barren and fertile fronds, from a plant in my own collection. FAPYENI A. 9 GENUS II. FADYENIA. Hooker. Barren and fertile fronds different. Fertile fronds contracted; both simple. Veins forked; venules anastomosing and reticulate. Sori oblong-reniform, transversely uniserial; formed on the upper portion of a veinlet in the costal areoles. Indusium exceedingly large, lateral and oblong-reniform. A solitary species, of dwarf habit. The name is in reference to the late Dr. M’Fadyen. VOL. VI. C Fertile Frond— under side. FADYENIA PROLIFERA. Hooker. Bauer. Smith. Kunze. PLATE II. Aspidium pro liferum, Asplenium proliferum, ■Polystichum (?) G-revillianum, Fadyenia — Of Fatly on. Moore and Houlston. Fee. VOL. VI. Hooker and Greville, not Brown or Katjlfuss. Swartz. Presl. F rolifera — Proliferous. 12 FADYENIA PROUFERA. A more singular than beautiful Fern, requiring moisture and shade to grow it successfully. It is a difficult species to manage, although when it does flourish it spreads itself in all direc- tions, from the rooting of the proliferous apices of the barren fronds. A stove evergreen species. Native of Jamaica and the Island of Cuba. It was introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1843, having been sent there by Mr. W. Purdie. Fertile frond simple, glabrous, upright, lanceolate in form, narrowing towards the base; apex broad and rounded. Barren frond horizontal, oblong-ovate, elongate, tapering to the apex, where it is proliferous. Fronds terminal, adherent to a small tufted rhizoma. . Sori large, reniform, near the apex imbricate. Indusium hairy; margin somewhat dentate. Length of barren frond five inches, fertile frond four inches; colour dull green. For plants my thanks are due to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth; and to Messrs. Booth, of Hamburg. Plants may be procured of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Masters, of Canterbury; Booth, of Hamburg; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Stansfield, of Todmorden; Cutbush, of Highgate; and A. Hen- derson, of Pine-apple Place. The illustration is from fronds forwarded by Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth. CYCLOPELTIS. 13 GENUS III. CYCLOPELTIS. J. Smith. Fronds pinnate, glabrous, and articulated with the rachis. Veins dichotomously branched; venules direct, free, the anterior and exterior one of each fascicle soriferous. Sori circular, biserial, medial or terminal. Indusium orbicular and peltate. A solitary species. The name, derived from the Greek, has reference to the indusium, and means a small round buckler. A tropical Fern. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. CYCLOPELTIS SEMICORDATA. J. Smith. Moore and Houlston. Kunze. PLATE III. YOL. VI. Aspidium semicordatum, Lastrea semicordata, Plianerophlebia Nephrolepis, Polypodium caducum, Swabtz. Plumier. Speengel. Presl. Fee. Humboldt. (?) Cyclopeltis — A small round buckler. Semicordata — Semicordate. An interesting yet uncommon cultivated species, only to be met with in large collections. An evergreen stove Fern. r Native of the American Meridian, the West Indies, Mexico, Jamaica, and the Philippine Islands. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1844, having been received from Mr. N. Wilson. “ Fronds lanceolate, pinnate, the pinnae being glabrous, falcate- lanceolate, sessile; from four to five inches in length; irregularly auriculate at the base, and articulated with the rachis. Fronds terminal, adherent to a short, stout, somewhat tufted rhizoma, which is scaly. Rachis pubescent. Sori circular, medial, biserial. Indusium peltate. Length of frond from two to three feet; colour bright shining green. 16 CYCLOPELTIS SEMICORDATA. For a plant of this species I am indebted to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth. It is not in any of the Nurserymen’s Catalogues. The illustration is from a portion of a frond forwarded by Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth. DIDYMOCHUENA. IT GENUS IV. DIDYMOCHLJENA. Desvaux. Fronds bipinnate. Caudex erect and arborescent, attaining a height of above two feet, and bearing from its crown large fronds, from three to five feet in length. Veins forked and radiating; venules direct, free, the exterior one fertile. Sori elliptical, uniserial, and situated on the apex of a venule. Indusium oblong, attached along the centre longitudinally. A solitary Exotic species. Named from the Greek, in reference to the indusium being double. VOX,. VI. I) Portion of mature Frond— under side. DIDYMOCIILiENA TEUNCATULA. J. Smith. Moore and Houlston. Schott, M.S. FLATE IV. VOL. VI. Didymochlcena sinuosa, tt (( squamata, pulcherrima, lunulata, Aspidium truncatulum, squamatum, cultratum, pulcherrimum, squamosum, truncation, lunulatum, Adiantum lunulatum, fruticosum, Asplenium ramosum, Tegularia adiantifolia, Diplazium pulcherrimum, Desvaux. Kaulfuss. Sprengel. Link. Pkesl. Fee. Martens. Schott, M.S. Desvaux. Of G-aedens. Desvaux. Kunze. Swaetz. WlLLDENOW. Pkesl. Of G-akdens. WlLLDENOW. WlLLDENOW. Houttutn. Houttuyn, ( not o/’Buemann, Sprengel, WlLLDENOW, PrESL, SwAETZ, MoOEE & Houlston, Hookee & Greville, Wallich, Fee, Retzius, or Pheed. Aerab. Poiret. Peinwardt. Paddi. Didymochlcena — A double cloak. Truncatula — ? A charming Exotic species, with somewhat pendulous, hand- some, dark green fronds. An evergreen stove Eern. Native of Asia, tropics of America, South America, West 20 DIDYMOCHL2ENA TRUNCATULA. Indies, Brazil, Malayan Islands, Hispaniola, the Island of St. Domingo, Java, and the Philippine Islands. Received into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1838, from Messrs. Loddiges, of Hackney. Fronds bipinnate, broadly lanceolate; the pinna3 being linear- lanceolate, eight to ten inches long, sessile; pinnules sub-rhom- boidal, oblong-obtuse, coriaceous, imbricate, truncate-dimidiate at the base; margin slightly crenulate; articulate with the rachis. Stipes, rachis, and midrib of pinnae densely clothed with ferruginous tomentum and long, narrow, brown scales. Fronds terminal, adherent to an arborescent caudex. Veins forked, radiating; venules direct, free, the exterior one being fertile. Sori elliptical, uniserial, placed on the apex of a venule. Indusium oblong, longitudinally attached along the centre. Length of frond from three to five feet; colour rich bright dark green. Didymochlcena sinuosa of Schott has been placed with the present species, still, if only a variety, it is very distinct, the pin- nules are usually only half the size of D. truncatula, making the branches seem farther apart; indeed in D. truncatula the pinnules of the one branch touch those of the next, whilst in D. sinuosa they are from half an inch to an inch apart. Then in D. trun- catula the pinnules are arranged almost at right angles to the branches, whilst in D. sinuosa they are at an angle of from 20° to 45.° In D. truncatula the terminal pinnule is elongated and deeply cut, whilst in D. sinuosa it is not so much elongated, usually not cut, and more nearly resembles the character of the other pinnules. I fear these characters will not prove constant in cultivation. For plants of D. truncatula I am indebted to M. Schott, Director of the Imperial Gardens of Schonbriinn, near Vienna; and to Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of the Wellington Nursery, St. John’s Wood. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rol- lisson, of Tooting; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Booth, of Hamburg; W. Cutbush and Sons, of Highgate; Kennedy, of Covent Garden ; and Cooling, of Derby. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. ASPIDIUM. 21 GENUS V. ASPIDIUM. The distinctive differences between the several divisions may be briefly given as follows: — ASPIDIUM. Swartz. Veins costaeform; venules compoundly anastomosing, from the sides of which free veinlets extend, which end within the areoles. Sporangia formed on the angles or points of confluence of the veinlets. Sori circular, in a row on either side of the veins or primary anastomosing venules. Indusium mostly orbicular and central, although instances occur with it reniform. Fronds simple, lobed, pinnate, or bipinnate; margin entire, sinuated, or laciniated. SAGENIA. Presl. Veins forked; venules acutely and angularly anastomosing, forming unequal areoles. Sporangia situated on the angles or points of confluence of the veinlets, or on the apex of a free veinlet. Sori circular, in a row on either side of the ultimate midrib, or irregular. Indusium orbicular or reniform. Fronds pinnate or bipinnate; pinnae lobed or sinuously- pinnatifid. Distinguished from Aspiclium by the absence of the irregular free veinlets. CYRTOMIUM. Presl. Veins pinnate; the lower exterior venule free and fertile, 22 ASriDlUM. the others anastomosing angularly, and forming on their exterior sides or angular junctions excurrent fertile free veinlets. Sporangia medial. Sori circular, transversely-multiserial, abundant. Indusium orbicular, central. Fronds pinnate. Distinguished from Polystichum in the anastomosing venules. Habit and texture very similar to Polystichum. The venation of Cyrtomium and the position of its sori is nearly similar to the sections Goniophlebium and Cyrtophlebium in Polypodium. Distinguished by having an indusium. NEPHRODIUM. Schott. Veins pinnate, costseform, the lowest pair or pairs of venules fertile, and angularly anastomosing; their points of meeting combined by an excurrent anastomosing sterile veinlet. Sporangia medial. Sori circular, a row on either side of the veins. Indusium mostly reniform, rarely orbicular. Fronds simple or pinnate; pinnre entire, serrate, or sinuously- pinnatifid. Distinguished by the anastomosing venules. Nephrodium in venation is similar to the section Goniopteris in Polypodium, and only distinguished by having an indusium. LASTREA. Bory. Veins pinnate, forked, or costseform; venules direct and free. Sporangia medial or terminal. Sori circular. Indusium lateral, reniform, smooth, or pilose. Fronds varying from pinnate to decompound. Only distinguished from the true form of Polypodium by the presence of an indusium, being similar in habit and venation. Those with bipinnatifid fronds only distinguishable fiom Nephrodium by not having anastomosing venules. POLYSTICHUM. Roth. Veins pinnately-forked ; venules direct and free, the lower exterior one or more, fertile. ASIUDIUM. 23 Sporangia usually medial, rarely terminal. Sori circular. Indusium orbicular and central, seldom eccentric and reniform. Fronds simple, pinnate, or bi-tripinnate; the serrate edges of the frond rigidly spinulose. Distinguished from Lastrea by the rigid spinulose habit. Aspidium, Sagenia, Cyrtomium, Nephr odium, Lastrea, and Polystichum run into each other so closely, that it seems advisable to follow Ivunze in calling them mere sections of one genus. Were I to separate any of them, it would be done with regard to the habit of the plant alone, and in this case I would place Cyrtomium among the Polystichums. In the most restricted form of Aspidium the habit and general appearance is also distinct from Lastrea, still I have adopted , the views of Kunze and retained it. Onochlea, with its two forms of fronds; Fadyenia, with its two forms of fronds and proliferous habit; Woodsia, a group of small slender Ferns, with peculiar indusium. The genus Cystopteris , another group of small delicate Ferns; Didymoch- laina, with its several very distinct characters, hereafter to be mentioned; Nephrolepis, with its distinct habit, and having the petiole articulated with the rachis, giving it a power of throwing off its pinnte freely; and Oleandra; are all to me sufficiently distinct to keep them separated from the genus Aspidium. We have British examples of both Lastrea and Polystichum. In Lastrea we have; — Cristata Oreopteris Thelypteris Filix-mas Kigida Multiflora Recurva Spinulosa Dilatata In Polystichum we have: — Aculeatum Angulare Lonchitis Aspidium filix-mas, A. aculeatum, and A. angulare vary so much from spores, that it is difficult to recognise the departure from the normal form as mere varieties; however these will be more closely spoken of when describing the species. . ■ Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM DECURRENS. Lowe. PLATE V. VOL. VI. Aspidium decu rsive-p innatu m, Lastrea decurrens, “ decursive-pinnata, Poly podium decursive-pinnatum, Pkegopteris “ “ Kvnze. J. Smith. Moore & Houlston. Of Gardens. Of Gardens. Fee. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Decurrens — Decurrent. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. A pretty, rather dwarf, upright-growing Fern. Mostly considered greenhouse or half-hardy, and deciduous. Plants exposed to last winter’s frost have not been injured; it may therefore be said to be hardy. Native of China. Received at the Royal Gardens, Kew, from Mr. D. Cameron, in the year 1841. Fronds lanceolate in shape, pinnate, pinnae sessile, pinnatifid, decurrent and lobed, forming a sinuous wing to the rachis; lower ones entire and diminutive. Terminal, adherent to a decumbent slightly-tufted rhizoma. Sori terminal, or subterminal; indusium small, and speedily becoming obsolete. Stipes and rachis paleaceous. VOL. VI. E 26 ASPimUM DF.CUKRKNS. Equally well known in gardens as Lustvcci dccuvi cns and as L. decursive-pinnata. Length of frond twelve to fifteen inches; colour pale green. The scales of this Fern are interesting as microscopic objects; they are surrounded with spines having a knob at the a[jex, and are pellucid. For plants of this Fern I am indebted to Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth; Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting; and Masters, of Can- terbury; and for fronds to Mr. Norman, of Hull, and Messrs. A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foots Cray; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Masters, of Canterbury; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Stansfield, of Todmorden; Cooling, of Derby; Cuthbert, of Highgate; and Young, of Taunton. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Tortion of mature Frond— upper side. ASPIDIUM MARGINALS. Swartz. Kunze. Link. Willdenow. Sprengel. Fee. PLATE VI. VOL. VI. Lastrea marginalis, Nephrodium marginale, Polypodium Pbesl. Mooee & Hotjlston. Smith. Michaux. Linnjeus. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Marginalis. Margin — Spored. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. An attractive Fern, with sori arranged along the edge of the frond, covered with a pure white indusium. A deciduous hardy Fern. Native of North America, Canada, and Carolina. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1172. Fronds lanceolate, bipinnate, pinnae oblong-acuminate in form, pinnules oblong-ovate, obtuse, crenate on the edge, and largest nearest the rachis. Fronds terminal, adherent to a tufted rhizoma, forming large crowns. Rachis and stipes paleaceous. Sori marginal. For plants of this species I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and for fronds to Mr. Norman, of Hull. 28 ASPIDIUM MAPGINALE. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Pollisson, of Tooting; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; A. Hen- derson, of Pine-apple Place; Cutbush, of Highgate; and Young, of Taunton. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. VI: VOL. G. Pinna of mature Frond— upper side. ASPIDIUM FALCINELLUM. Swartz. Kunze. PLATE VII. VOL. VI. Aspidium auriculatum, Of Gardens. (not of Swartz.) Polystichum falcinellum, Presl. Moore & Houlston. Smith. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Falcinellum — Small sickle. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. One of the most attractive Ferns in the section Polystichum, the large bold sori, and the pretty and conspicuous indusium, places this Fern in high estimation among growers of orna- mental plants. An evergreen greenhouse Fern. From the Island of Madeira. Cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1820. _ Fronds oblong-lanceolate in form; pinnate, the pinna? being linear-oblong, petiolate, acute; superior base auriculate, inferior base obliquely truncate, the edges of the frond doubly serrate. Fronds terminal; adherent to a fasciculate tufted rhizoma. Length from twelve to eighteen inches; colour bright green. For plants of this species I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, Kent; and for fronds to Mr. R. Grey, of St. Thomas’, Exeter, and to Mr. Norman, of Hull. 30 ASPIDIUM FALC1N EI.LTJM. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. A. Henderson, of apple Place; Rollisson, of Tooting; Sim, of Foot’s Cray Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Pine- ; and S . IPIUM PDNGSK3, Pinna of mature Froml— under side. ASPIDIUM PUNGENS. Kaulfuss. Sprengel. Kunze. Schlechtendal. {not Wallicii.) PLATE VIII. VOL. VI. IPol-ystichum pungens, Peesl. Mooee and Houlston. “ “ J. Smith. Link. Fee. Polypodium aculeatum, Thttnbeeg. (not of Linnieus.) Aspidium— The Shield Fern. Pungens— Stinging. [Another very fine Fern, in the section Polystichum, bearing a viviparous plant near the apex of the frond from the mid- stem; the vivid shining dark green of the frond contrasts greatly with most other Ferns. An evergreen warm greenhouse Fern. Native of the Cape of Good Hope. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, by Mr. James Bowie, in 1823. Fronds ovate-lanceolate in form; bipinnate, pinnules trapezio- oblong, sub-falcate; upper base auriculate, lower base truncate- ' cuneate, petiolate, profoundly serrate, with spinulose teeth on - the edge of the pinnules. Terminal, adherent to a short 9 creeping rhizoma. Rachis and stipes scaly. 32 ASPID1UM PUN GENS. Length of frond from eighteen to twenty-four inches; colour light green. My obligations are due to Mr. Moore, of the Chelsea Botanic Gardens, and to Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth, for plants of this species. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Stansfield, of Todmorden; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; Cooling, of Derby; and Young, of Taunton. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Portion of mature Frond — under side. ASPIDIUM FALCATUM. Swartz. Kunze. Willdenow. PLATE IX. VOL. VI. Cyrtomium falcatum, <( (( Polypoclium “ “ japonicum, Peesl. Mooee and Houlston. Smith. Link. Pee. Thunbeeg. Linnjeus. Plijkenet. Hohttuyn. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Falcatum — Hooked. In the Section Cyrtomium of Authors. A very noble evergreen Fern with thick fronds of a dark green 1 colour, approaching that of the Portugal Laurel; paler beneath, sori bold and pretty, being thickly scattered over the whole under surface of the frond. Easily grown, and freely propa- • VOL. VI. v gating from spores, no one should be without this desirable Fern. An evergreen species, usually looked upon as a greenhouse or half-hardy Fern, yet last winter it lived out of doors with- out any protection; the fronds were cut with frost, but this spring the plants have put forth new fronds vigorously; consequently it is deciduous in this climate, yet quite hardy. The colour of the frond is richer and darker when grown , in the open air. Raised at the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1838. Native of Japan. Best known as the Cyrtomium falcatum. Fronds lanceolate in form; pinnate, the pinnae being shining and coriaceous, ovate-acuminate, falcate, repand, slightly rounded at the base, margin somewhat crenate; petiolate. Rachis and stipes densely clothed with huge brown scales. Fronds terminal, adherent to an upright rhizoma. Sori scattered over the under surface of the frond; indusium orbicular. Length of frond from eighteen to thirty inches. My thanks are due to Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth, and to Mr. Clarke, Curator of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, for plants of this species; and to Mr. Norman, of Hull, and Mi. Clarke, of Glasgow, for fronds. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea, Masters, of Canterbury; Osborn, of Fulham; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Cooling, of Derby; Sun, of Foot’s Cray; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; A. Henderson, of Pine- apple Place; Veitch, of Exeter; and Stansfield, of Todmorden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. ASPIDIUM AUGESCENS. Link. Kunze. Fee. Petiver. Plumier. Sloan. PLATE X. VOL. VI. Lastrca augescens, Nephrodium Ottonis, Aspidium Ottonianum, Lastrea serra, Aspidium serra, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. J. Houlston. Moore. Smith. Of Gardens. Kunze. Of Gardens. Of Schott. Augescens — ? In the Section Lastrea of Authors. Another ornamental Fern, with pale green fronds. An evergreen stove species. Native of Cuba, Venezuela, Caracas, Mexico, and Caribee. Fronds slender, semi-erect, broadly-lanceolate in form, pubes- cent, pinnate, the pinuse being linear lanceolate, (very narrow for their length,) sessile, pinnatifid, the segments being rigid, small, oblong-obtuse, and largest nearest the rachis. Fronds lateral, adherent to a creeping rhizoma. Length from three to four feet; colour pale green. Sori medial, and often partial. Indusium hairy. Rest known as the Lastrea augescens. My thanks are due to Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter; Messrs. 36 ASriDIUM ATTGESCENS. Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; and to Messrs. Booth, of Hamburg, for plants of this species; and to Mr. J. Henderson, of Went- worth, and to Mr. Norman, of Hull, for fronds. It is contained in the Catalogues of Messrs. A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Stansfield, of Todmorden; Veitch, of Exeter; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Rollisson, of Tooting; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and Cooling, of Derby. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM ACUMINATUM. WlLLDENOW. PLATE XI. VOL. VI. Lastrea acuminata, “ Riley hna, Lepidonevron acuminatum, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. J. Hottlston. Mooee. Of G-aedens. Fee. Acuminatum — Long-pointed. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. A pretty dwarf evergreen Fern, yet from what country it is rather doubtful, probably Nepal. An evergreen warm greenhouse or stove species. Fronds glabrous, triangularly-elongate, bipinnate; pinnae being triangularly elongate-acuminate; pinnules oblong-ovate, except the lower ones, which are entire, and in a slight degree pinnatifid; the upper pinnules are decurrent at the base, and rigidly dentate- Fronds terminal, adherent to a slightly tufted rhizoma. Sori medial. 38 ASPIDIUM ACUMINATUM. Length of frond twelve to fifteen inches; colour a heavy green. For plants of this species I am indebted to Mr. Moore, of the Chelsea Botanic Gardens; and to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and Rollisson, of Tooting. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. ASPID1UM Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM PROLIFERUM. R. Brown. Kunze, ( not of Hooker and Greyille.) Kaulfuss. Sprengel. Again it is requisite to remark “a handsome plant when well grown and also, like Aspidium pungens, viviparous near the apex of the frond. An evergreen warm greenhouse Pern. Native of Van Dieman’s Land, (Tasmania,) and New Holland. Received into the Royal Gardens, Kew, from Messrs. Osborn , Fronds linear-lanceolate in form, bipinnate; pinnules pctiolate, -ovate, obtuse, sub-falcate; superior base in a small degree auriculate; margin bluntly toothed. Terminal, adherent to a thick tufted rhizoma. PI.ATE XII. VOL. VI. Aspidium vestitum, Polystichum proliferum, il Presl. Moore and Houlston. J. Smith. WlLLDENOW, (not of SWARTZ, Polystichum strcimineum, SlEBER, ScHKUHR, TIOV FEE.) Yeitch’s, Jun., Catalogue. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Proliferum — Proliferous. in 1843. Ruchis and stipes paleaceous. 40 ASPIDIUM PROUF15RUM. Length from eighteen to twenty-four inches; colour dull green. My thanks are due to Mr. Moore, of the Chelsea Botanic Gardens, and to Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth, for plants of this species. It is in the Fern Catalogues of Messrs. A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Stansfield, of TodmordenJ E. Cooling, of Derby; and Young, of Taunton. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Yl'jl'), y"‘ 'WMS'-J •>. A S p T D I M M 7 1 1‘ ' ' -' * M A ■' XIV-vol. o C K 1 S T A T A Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM FILIX-MAS. Swartz. Smith. Schkuhr. Hooker and Arnott. Mackay. Fee. Willdenow. Sprengel. Ivunze. Link. PLATES XIII AND XIV. VOL. VI. Lastrea Filix-mas, iC it “ erosa, “ ajjini s, “ paleacea, “ patentissima, Polyslichum Filix-mas, “ offline, Polypodium Filix-mas, nemorale, Heleopteris, Dryopteris Filix-mas, affinis, Borreri, Lophodium Filix-max, erosum, Aspidium nemorale, depastum, affine, VOL. VI. Presl. Babington. Sowerby. Moore. Newman. Deakin. 7 var[ety incisum." Moore, j Moore. | “The variety paleaceum.” Both. De Candolle. Ledebodr. “The variety incisum.” Linnaeus. Bolton. Salisbury. Borkhausen. “The variety incisum.” Schott. Newman. Newman. “The variety incisum.” Newman. “The variety paleaceum.” Newman. Newman. “The variety incisum.” Gray. Schkuhr. Fischer & Meyer. G f “The var. incisum.' ER. J 42 ASPIDIUM FI LI X-M AS. Aspidium paleaceum, Don. i paientissimum, Wallich. Donianum, Sprengel. ■ “The var. paleaceum. WallicManum, Sprengel. Nephrodium affine, Lowe. Dichasium patentissimum, Braun. Fee. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Filix-mas — Male Fern. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. Although so common a species, still it is a noble Fern, and being hardy and easily grown in almost every situation, it is a favourite amongst cultivators of plants. It is to be found lining the sides of ditches, the margins of rivers and lakes, the edges of cliffs and crevices of rocks, be they moist or dry, no matter what their geological construction, becoming a principal undergrowth in many woods, and even growing where the salt waves of the sea can occasionally wash over them. Subject to great variety when raised from spores, and many of the varieties permanent, and some of them ex- ceedingly handsome. The variety Cristatum, of which a coloured illustration is given on Plate XIV., is a glorious object when well grown. Mr. Moore, in the “Nature-Printed Ferns,” has given an excellent description of the principal varieties, to which the reader is referred, as the limited space devoted to each species will not allow of a more than brief extract from Mr. Moore’s descriptions. The varieties given are the following: — Lastrea Filix-mas, Moore. Varieties: — 1. — Paleacea, Moore. (Var. Borreri, Johnson, Newman; var. Pseudo-mas, Wollaston.) Mr. Wollaston considers it a distinct species. It is by no means uncommon, and differs from the orninary form of Filix-mas in having a somewhat yellow appear- ance, slightly glaucous beneath, stipes and rachis shaggy, scales golden brown, ribs and veins purple. 2. — Midtifida, Wollaston. Apex of frond, and of some of the pinnae bifid or multifid. 3. — Cristata , Moore. (Plate XIV.) This glorious variety has the apices of all the pinnae beautifully and uniformly tasselled. The pinnae are shorter, and narrow rapidly towards the tassel. ASPIDIUM FILIX-MAS. 43 Found at Charleston, near St. Austell, in Cornwall. Somewhat similar plants have been found in Staffordshire and Devonshire. 4 —Prolifera, Wollaston. Tasselled like Cristata, but more crisped, depauperated, and laciniated. It also bears bulbils. 5. Dichotoma, Wollaston. Somewhat resembles Midtijida, but has not the golden scales of that variety. 6. — Incisa, Moore. (Vat*. Erosum, Hooker and Arnott, Doll, Newman; var. Affinis, Newman.) Upright in habit, larger than the normal form, common, distinctly bipinnate, and sori covering nearly the whole length of the pinnules. 7. — Erosa, Wollaston. Laciniated, looking as if nibbled by insects. 8. — Deorso-lobata, Moore. A common large Fern in the Incisa group. 9. — Producta, Moore. Large, and somewhat analogous to Incisa; sori confined to the upper third of the frond. Found at Wrekin, in Shropshire, by the Rev. W. A. Leighton. 10. — Triangularis , Moore. In the Incisa group, somewhat resembling Lastrea cristata. Found in Kent by Dr. Allchin. 11. — Polydactyla, Moore. Differs from Cristata in the pinnae not being shortened, and do not narrow much until quite close to the tasselled ends. Found at Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, by Mr. B. Maund. 12. — Abbreviata, Babington, Johnson, and Newman. Dwarf, glandular, and fragrant, with larger pinnules than in Pumila. Sori mostly uniserial. Found at Snowdon, Ingleborough, Tees- dale, and Wyck, (Gloucestershire.) Lately I saw many plants on the hills to the east of Grasmere Lake. 13. — Pumila, Moore. (Var. Abbreviata of Moore, and Recur- vum of Francis.) Somewhat similar to Abbreviata. The points of the pinnae and pinnules recurve, giving a concave appearance on the upper surface. A dwarf species, confined to North Wales and alpine districts. Mr. Wollaston considers it a distinct species, m which I perfectly agree, and have consequently figured it under the name of Aspidium pumilum. U.—Subinteyra, Moore. Closely allied to Abbreviata and Pu- mila. Abundant at Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, when it was found by the Rev. J. Baird. lhe three last-mentioned varieties of Mr. Moore’s list appear to be different forms of the same Fern, and this a distinct 44 ASPIDITJM FIUX-MAS. species from Aspidium Filix-mas. The dwarf permanent form and peculiar character of the sori renders it very distinct from A. Fihx-mas, and I do not doubt that before very long it will be separated from that species by the universal consent of botanists, and at the same time the dwarf so-called form of Asplenium Filix-fcemina, known as the variety Acuminatum, will also be raised to the honourable dignity of a species. Lately I have seen much of this latter Fern in the lake district of West- morland and Cumberland, mostly growing in alpine situations, yet having the normal form of Asplenium Filix-fcemina growing amongst it. Mostly it is the companion of Aspidium oreopteris. It is a common and widely-spread Fern in hilly districts. burning to the normal form of Aspidium Filix-mas, the fronds are lanceolate, bipinnate, with linear pinnae tapering to the apex; pinnules oblong-obtuse, with the margin serrate, crenate, or in- ciso-lobate. Caudex large, tufted, scaly, erect, or decumbent. Stipes short, stout, covered with scales. Rachis slightly covered with small scales. Pinnae numerous. Veins branched. Sori numerous, distinct, roundish reniform, medial. Indusium convex, persistent, reniform, margin entire, destitute of marginal glands. Length of frond usually from two to three feet, occasionally as much as six feet; colour deep green, smooth and bright. A deciduous hardy indigenous species common throughout the whole of Europe. In Russian Asia, along the Altai and Himalaya from Kumaon through Nepal to Assam, in some parts of India, North Africa, Madeira, Mexico, Guatemala, New Granada, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Caraccas. For plants of this Fern I am indebted for the variety Palcacca to Mr. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; for the variety Cristata to Mr. Wollaston, of Chisselhurst; Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting; and Mr. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; for the variety Erosa to Mr. Clapham, of Scarbro’; for the variety Polydactyla to Mr. Stansfield, of Todmorden; and for fronds of Cristata to Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth, and to Mr Grey, of St. Thomas’, Exeter. The variety Paleacea I have found abundant about Stockgill Force, Ambleside, and near Rydal Lake, and near Windermere, about Lowood. The variety Ecorso-lobata about Ambleside, and at Matlock and Wollaton. ASP1DIUM FILIX-MAS. 45 The variety Incisa at Wollaton. Several other varieties, more or less distinct from the normal form, were found about Ambleside, Grasmere, Rydal, Kendal, Penrith, Wyburn, and Brathav, in the lake districts of West- morland and Cumberland, at Morecombe Bay, Lancashire, and about the falls of the Calder and Snout, in Durham. The varieties bear the names as if they were the varieties of Lastrea instead of Aspiclium ; the gender has not been altered, as they represent varieties of the section Lastrea. The Male Fern is too common to need a record of the Nurserymen who keep it. The variety Cristata can be pro- cured of W. Cutbush, of Highgate; Paleacea and Cristata of J. Young, of Taunton; the varieties Incisa and Cristata of Bass and Brown, of Sudbury; the variety Cristata of Veitch, of Chelsea; Cristata of A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; the varieties Incisa, Cristata, Pcdeacea, and Crispa of R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; the varieties Cristata, Erosa, Incisa, Paleacea, and Polyclactyla of A. Stansfield, of Todmorden; Paleacea and Cristata of E. Cooling, of Derby; Cristata of W. Rollisson, of Tooting; Incisa, Erosa, and Cristata of R. Kennedy, of Covent Garden. Lhe variety Cristata is so remarkably handsome that it has been deemed desirable to give a coloured illustration. These illustrations are from plants in my own collection. Variety Incisum. Variety Palenccn. A S P 1 D ] U M PUM1LU11. XV— vol. b. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM PUMILUM. Lowe. PLATE XV. VOL. VI. Lastrea pumila, Mooee. “ Filix-mas, var. abbreviata, Mooke. Aspidium “ var. recurvum, Fkancis. “ “ var. pumilum, Of GrAKDENS. Lastrea “ var. abbreviata. Babin gton. (( (( Johnson. “ abbreviata, Mooee. Polystichum abbreviatum, De Candolle. Lophodium “ Newman. Dryopteris abbreviata, Newman. “ Filix-mas, var. abbreviata, Newman. Lastrea Filix-mas subintegra, Mooee. “The “The variety Aspidium — The Shield Fern. of Moore.” Pumilum — Dwarf. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. Although generally looked upon as a variety of Aspidium Filix-mcis, still its characters are very distinct, so much so as to induce me to figure it as a species. A hardy deciduous Fern, remaining green and fresh later in the year than A. Filix-mas. An alpine species. 48 asimdium pumilum. The normal form being found in North Wales, Snowdon, and Llyn Ogwen ; the variety Abbreviatum on Snowdon, on the hills of Westmorland and Cumberland, at Ingleborough at Wyck in Gloucestershire, anti in Teesdale; and the variety Subintegrum abundantly at Ennis, in County Clare, Ireland. A dwarf species. Fronds lanceolate, pinnate. The pinnae blunt, rather deflexed, and pinnatifid. Pinnules small, oblong-obtuse, convex. Fronds glandular. Ihe points of the pinnae and pinnules recurving. Sori, a single sorus near the base of the pinnules, on°the anterior side, forming a single row on either side of their rachis or midrib. Fronds fragrant. Indusium leaden in colour. Stipes two to three inches in length. Length of frond nine to twelve inches; colour dull green. ihe vaiiety Abbreviatum has larger pinnules, and is not so much recurved. Indusia as in A. pumilum , marginal with glands, and fragrant. Ihe variety Subintegrum is narrow and lance-shaped. Foi a plant of this species I am indebted to Mr. Pearson of Chilwell. It is in the Catalogues of Mr. W. Cutbush, of Highgate; Pearson, of Chilwell; J. Young, of Taunton; Masters, of Can- terbury; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; A. Stansfield, of Todmorden; W. Rollisson, of Tooting; and R. Kennedy, of Covent Garden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM. Swartz. Smith. Hooker and Arnott. Willdenow. Sprengel. Schkuhr. Kunze. PLATE XVI. VOL. VI. Polysticlium aculeatum, Roth. Deakin. Babington. tt tt Sowerby. Newman. Mooee. ft tt Peesl. Fee. Link. Schott. ft lohatum. Peesl. Link.^i tt it Soweeby. it aculeatum, Newman. tt Plulcenetii, De Candolle. “Ihe var. it aculeatum var. v ' lohatum.” it lonchitidioides, 5 Deakin. ft aculeatum var. lohatum, Deakin. tt it Mooee. Fee- Polypodium aculeatum. LlNNiEUS. tt lohatum, Hudson. tt aculeatum, Hudson. (. “The var. 77 # J> ft Plulcenetii, Loiseleue. j lohatum. Aspidium loibatum, Schkuhe. Kunze. ft discretum, Don. it lohatum, Swaetz. Smith. tt it Hookee & Aenott. (t tt Willdenow. Tlie var. it ft Mackay. lohatum. it “ var. lonchitidioides, Hooker & Aenott. i t aculeatum, Schkuhe. tt Plulcenetii, Steudel. : VOL. VI. H 50 ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM. Aspidium intermedium, “ muhitum, “ lentum, “ ocellatum, Sadler. Sadler. Don. Wallich. The var. lobatum. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Aculeatum — Prickly. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. A most interesting species of handsome growth, and having j brilliant shining fronds. Growing in shady situations. It is ■ by no means an uncommon British plant, being found in almost every county of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and [ the Channel Islands, from the sea-level to two thousand feet elevation. Common throughout the whole of Europe, (except, perhaps, , the countries of Greece and Turkey; from Scandinavia to < Spain. Russian Asia, British India, Algiers, Madeira, America, from Eastern United States to Columbia. An evergreen indigenous species. Caudex thick and tufted. Stipes short, three to four inches in length, densely scaly. Rachis stout and densely scaly. Fronds bipinnate, lanceolate, or broadly linear-lanceolate, rigid; pinnae numerous, obliquely lanceolate, broadest at the base, acuminate, pinnate at the base, and sometimes nearly to the apex; pinnules somewhat elliptic, acute, and aristate at the apex, auriculate on the anterior side, and being acute and mucronate, aristate and subsessile, attached by the cuneate base, or decurrent. The basal anterior pinna larger than the rest. Veins branched. Fructification mostly confined to the upper half of the frond. Sori circular, indusiate, eventually becoming confluent or crowded. Indusium membranaceous, orbicular, peltate, and umbilicate. Length of frond from one to three feet, rigid, leathery, smooth, and dark shining green above; paler beneath. There is a similarity between Aspidium aculeatum and the A. angulare, at least to those not well versed in Ferns; the former, however, is more rigid, upright, and stouter in its growth, ASP1D1UM ACULEATUM. 51 has medial sori, and is evergreen; the latter is herbaceous, deciduous, and lax. The present species is subject to much variation. Mr. Moore describes five distinct varieties, namely: — 1. Lonchitidioides. Somewhat resembles A. lonchitis. 2. Lobatum. Has narrow lance-shaped fronds from one to two feet long, and sub-bipinnate. 3. — Multijidum, Wollaston. Apex multifid. 4. — Proliferum, Wollaston. Produces bulbils in axils of the lower pinnee. 5. — Argutum. Broadly lanceolate, the pinnules being narrow and elongate, terminate in an acute spiny point, and have long spines to the marginal teeth. A. aculeatum is best known under the name of Polystichum acideatum. Situation appears to exert great influence over this species, the common form growing near Beeston, is very different to that at Chaigely, Lancashire; or Rydal, Westmorland. The variety Lonchitidioides , I am indebted to Mr. Stansfield, of Todmorden, for plants of; others I have gathered wild in Patterdale. A dwarf form is very abundant on a moist shady bank at Chaigely Manor, Lancashire, and an intermediate variety almost connecting A. aculeatum with A. angulare I have received plants of, from Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of Rolleston Hall, near Burton-on-Trent, in whose Fernery I have seen most of the varieties of A. acideatum flourishing most luxuriantly. This common Fern can be procured of all the Nurserymen; the varieties Lobatum and Lobatum-incisum of W. Cutbush, of Highgate; Lobatum of J. Young, of Taunton; Lobatum of Veitch, of Chelsea; Lobatum and Lonchitidioides of E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood, Lobatum and Proliferum of R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Lobatum and Lonchitidioides of A. Stansfield, of Todmor- den; Lobatum and Lobatum-incisum, of W. Rollisson, of Tooting; and Lobatum and Lonchitidioides of R. Kennedy, of Covent Garden. lhe illustration is from a plant in my own collection. XVII- vol. (i. Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM OREOPTERIS. Swartz. Schkuiir. Smith. Hooker and Arnott. Mackay. Willdenow. Sprengel. PLATE XVII. VOL. VI. Lastrea oreopteris , ti iS “ montana, Aspidium odoriferum, Polypodium oreopteris , “ m ontanum, “ thelypteris, “ fragrans, pteroides, limbospermum, Polystichum montanum, “ oreopteris, Hemestheum montanum, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Presl. Babington. Deakin. Sowerby. Moore. Newman. Moore. Newman. Gray. Ehrhart. Smith. Vogler. Hudson. Bolton. Hudson, (not Linnaeus.) Villars. Allioni. Both. De Candolle. Newman. Oreopteris — Mountain Fern. In the Section Lastkea of Authors. Ihe Mountain Buckler Fern is an interesting species, found chiefly in damp mountainous places, yet also in bogs and marshes along with Aspidium cristatum. A widely-spread species, being exceedingly common in Scotland and the north of England VOL. vi. r 54 ASriDIUM 0RE0PTER18. In the lake districts of Westmoreland and Cumberland it is very abundant. Extends over the whole of Europe. Fionds pinnate, lanceolate in form; pinna; opposite, the basal! ones obtusely triangular, about the centre of the frond linear- lanceolate. Veins forked, and bearing sori near the apices. Soii moderate-sized, round, forming a sub-marginal series. Indusium small and thin. Length of frond from one to three feet. Colour brilliant : green. The fronds of this species are fragrant. Mr. Moore, in the “ Nature-printed Ferns,” gives two varieties: : 1st. — Truncata, Wollaston. Found near Tunbridge Wells, by • Mr. Wollaston, a monstrosity, having the apices of the frond, and pinnae ending abruptly. '-'lid. Crispa, Moore. Found on the Clova Mountains, by' Dr. Balfour. The pinnules are undulated. Plants of this Fern I have gathered wild at Oxton Bogs • and Bulwell, Nottinghamshire; at Wincham, near North wich, . Cheshire; and about Ambleside and Grasmere. For other specimens I am indebted to Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of' Kolleston Hall; and to Mr. Joseph Sidebotham of Manchester. It is in the following Catalogues:— Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea; ; Rollisson, of Tooting; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Cutbush, of High- gate; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Stansfield, of Todmorden; : E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Cooling, of Derby; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; and Young, of Taunton. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM THELYPTERIS. Swartz. Smith. Hooker and Aiinott. Mackay. SCHKUHR. WlLLDENOlV. SPRENGEL. PLATE XVIII. VOL. VI. Lastrea thelypteris, Fresl. Deakin. “ « Newman. Moore. Aspidium palustre, Gray. Acrostichum thelypteris. Linnahjs. Bolton Polypodium thelypteris. Linnjeus. palustre, Salisbury. Polystichum thelypteris, Roth. Nephrodium “ Strempel. Athyrium “ Sprengel. Hemestheum “ Newman. JDryopteris “ Gray. Thelypteris palustris, Schott. Aspidium— The Shield Fern. Thelypteris— Lady-Fern, In the Section Lastrea of Authors. Ihe Marsh or Female Buckler Fern is an interesting bog- crowing species. A widely-spread though local British Fern, less common in i eland, and only found in one locality in Scotland, namely, 56 ASPIDIUM THEI.YPTEWS. — Forfarshire. General throughout Europe, Algiers, Cape of Good I Hope, New Zealand, Russian Asia, and North America. Fronds lanceolate, membranaceous, erect; pinnate, pinna numerous, spreading, linear-lanceolate, and deeply pinnatifid. . J he fertile fronds have the margins of their segments revolute, are taller, and have a stouter stipes. Veins forked. Fructifi- cation extending over the whole under side of the frond. Soii small, circular, and placed near the base of the venules. Indusium small and circular. Stipes as long as the leafy portion of the fertile frond; smooth and round behind, channeled in front, near the base black and polished, above pale green. Rachis smooth and circular behind, and channeled in front. Caudex creeping. Length of frond from six to forty-eight inches; colour delicate green. Easily cultivated in a damp situation with abundance of peaty soil. This species I have procured wild from Oxton Bogs, and for other plants I am indebted to Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of Rolleston Hall, and for fronds to Mr. Norman, of Hull. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; Cooling, of Derby; Veitch, of Chelsea; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Stansfield, of Todmorden; Young, of Taunton; and Cutbush, of Highgate. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Portion of mature Frond-under side, shelving the highest barren and lowest fertile pinna-. ASPIDIUM ACROSTICHOIDES. Swartz. Kunze. PLATE XIX. VOL. VI. Polystichum acrostichoid.es, U <« CC K Aspidium auric.ulatum, Nephr odium acrostichoides, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Schott. Mooee & Houlston. SwABTZ. SCHKUHB. SMITH. Willdenow. Link. Peesl. SCHKUHE. Michaux. Acrostichoides — ? A pleasing hardy Fern, easily cultivated and very dissim- ilar from all other species. Native of North America. First introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1820. Fronds pinnate, lanceolate; apex contracted where soriferous. Pinnse oblong-linear, acute, petiolate, auriculate on the upper base, lower base obliquely truncate; margin ciliato-serrate, with lengthy spinulous hairs. Rachis and stipes squamulous. Terminal, being adherent to a tufted rhizoma. Sori confluent. 58 ASl’IDIUM ACR0STICH0IDR8. Length of frond two feet; colour dull green. For plants of this species I am indebted to Mr. R Sim,, of Foot’s Cray; and for fronds to Mr. Norman, of Hull. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Young, of Taunton; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Stansfield, of Todmorden;: Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Cooling, of Derby; Cutbush, of Highgate; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; and Veitch, of Chelsea. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. A srilMDH C E 1STA rU M. XX— VOL. G. Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM CRIST AT UM. Swartz. J. E. Smith. Hooker and Arnott. Sciikuiir. WlLLDENOW. SPRENGEL. PLATE XX. VOL. VI. Aspidium cristatum 7 var. callipteris, 3 Aspidium Goldieanum, Aspidium lancastriense, Pastrea cristata, CC (6 “ callipteris, P olypodium cristatum, callipteris, Nephrodium cristatum, P o lys tick um cri statu m , callipteris, Pophodium callipteris, Dryopteris cristata, Lastrea cristata 7 var. uliginosa, J Pastrea uliginosa, Aspidium spinulosum, << it tt „ var. uliginosum, 3 Pophodium uliginosum, Pursh. Of some Gardens, (not of Hookeb and Greville.) Sprengel. Schkuhr. Willdenow. Presl. Deakin. Moore. Babington. Newman. Sowerby. Newman. LlNNIEUS. Erhart. Michaux. Roth. De Candolle. Newman. Gray. Moore. -n Babington. Newman. Hooker & Arnott. ' The var' uli9inosum‘ Braun. Newman. Aspidium — The Shield Pern. Cristatum — Crested. 60 ASPIDIUM CRISTATUM. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. 1 HE Crested Buckler Fern is a very local and at the same time singular and beautiful species. It is upright in habit having a long narrow frond, with large bold fructification, which is almost black soon after the indusium has been shed.' It is a difficult Fern to grow, owing to its native habitatt being a boggy situation. When in cultivation as an out-door em if planted in peaty soil near water it will flourish asc well as when growing wild, but in less favourable situations, it will become weaker every year, until it finally, in two or three years, dies. In its natural situations it appears to prefer ■ growing on the sides of large tufts of Aira caspitosa and other swampy grasses. Botanists seem of opinion that another upright-growing Fern constantly found amongst it is merely a variety, yet from a vast number of examples that I have examined, the distinctive differences are so great that it seems more natural to seperate them. Indeed the so-called variety Uliginosum will flourish in an open Fernery in situations which would prove fatal to Erhart’s Fern. It also ripens its fructification earlier in the summer, and the fronds fade away in autumn, shrivelling up in a similar manner to what is observed with the Lady Fern, whilst As- pidium cristatum remains green far into winter, and the fronds do not shrivel up, breaking near the ground, and thus causing them to be prostrate before they have faded away. A hardy deciduous species indigenous to Great Britain, growing in boggy situations in Norfolk, Suffolk, Nottingham- shire, and Cheshire. Generally dispersed throughout Europe and North America. Frond upright, narrow, linear-oblong, tapering at the apex, sub-bipinnate. PinntE numerous, and broadly triangular near the base, being more elongate near the centre of the frond. Pin- nules blunt, adnate; basal lobes serrate, the rest inciso-crenate, except at the apex. Veins forked. Fructification usually occupying the upper half of the frond. Sori circular, numerous, indusiate, and medial. Indusium reniform, flat, and membranous. ASPIDIUM CRISTATUM. 61 Length of frond from one to three feet; colour heavy green. Lastrea uliginosa of Newman, will, in all probability, be raised to the rank of a species when better known. It bears its fertile fronds long before A. cristatum ; the latter are ripe about the last week in July, whilst A. uliginosum becomes ripe in June. The fronds have more the character of A. sgnn- ulosum than of A. cristatum; they grow upright, and are naked for nearly half their length, the pinnules are smaller and more numerous, and the fructification extends over the whole under side of the frond. Through the kindness of Mr. Henry Sherbrook, of Oxton, I have been enabled to examine the plants in their native habitat of Nottinghamshire, namely, Oxton Bogs, and also to bring away with me a series of plants of both forms, and although both flourish best in a moist situ- ation in peaty soil, still A. uliginosum will grow in a much drier, situation than A. cristatum, and is an easier plant to grow under pot-culture. For plants of a variety of this Fern from North America, known as the Lastrea cristata-major , I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It is in the Fern Catalogues of Messrs. Young, of Taunton; Bass and Brown, of Sudbury; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Stansfield and Son, of Todmorden; Cooling, of Derby; Pearson of Chilwell; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Cutbush, of Higbgate; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Ptollisson, of Tooting; and Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. VOL. VI. K Aspidium cristatum— Variety XTliginosum. AS PID1UM El GIDU M. XXI-Vot. o. Portion of mature Frond— upper side. ASPIDIUM RIGIDUM. Swartz. Schkuhr. Hooker and Arnott. Willdenow. Sprengel. PLATE XXI. VOL. VI. Aspidium fragrans, “ pallidum, “ nevadense, “ Soothii, “ argutum, Poll/ podium rigidum, “ fragrans, heleopteris, Lastrea rigida, it it Nephrodium pallidum, Polystichum rigidum, “ strigosum, Dryopteris rigida, Loph odium rigidum, Gray, {not of Swartz.) Link. Boissieb. Tuckeeman. Kaulfuss. Hoffmann. Villars, [not o/Linnjeus or Hudson.) Borkhausen. Presl. Babington. Sowerby. Newman. Mooee. Deakin. Boey. De Candolle. Both. Geay. Newman. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Rigidum — Bigid. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. The Rigid Shield Fern, or, as Mr. Moore has now called it, the “Rigid Buckler Fern,” is a pretty hardy, deciduous British 64 ASl’IDIUM RIGIDUM. species, easily grown both in a Fernery and under pot-culture. A local species, confined to the limestone mountains of West- moreland, Lancaster and York, and even in these localities extending over a small area. In Ireland it has been found in the county of Louth. In England Mr. Moore remarks that it ranges between twelve and fifteen hundred feet above the sea-level. It is a native of France, Switzerland, Sardinia, Sicily, Calabria, Germany, Dalmatia, Croatia, Hungary, Morea, Siberia, Asia Minor, California, and Massachusetts; in the two latter countries it attains a larger size. The caudex is thick, tufted, scaly, and decumbent. Stipes short, densely scaly. Rachis scaly. Venation branched. Fronds bipinnate, triangularly elongate. Pinnse alternate, triangular in form. Pinnules oblong, base truncate, apex obtuse. Length from one to two feet; colour dull green, paler on the under side. Numerous minute glands are scattered over the frond, giving it a somewhat glaucous appearance. There are no permanent varieties of this species. The Aspidium rigidum is readily recognised from A. Filizi mas, by its more rigid habit, and by the dusty look of its fronds and their less size. For plants of A. rigidum I am indebted to Mr. Joseph Side- botham, of Manchester; Mr. Wraight, of Newlands; Mr. Clapham, of Scarbro’; and to Mr. Clarke, gardener to Mr. Wilkinson Dent, of Flass House, Crosby Ravensworth, Westmoreland; to Mr. Clarke my obligations are more particularly due for an extensive series of specimens of this species gathered in his neighbourhood. This Fern may be procured of the following Nurserymen: W. Cutbush, of Highgate; J. Young, of Taunton; Veitch, of Chelsea; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; A. Stansfield, of Todmorden; E. Cooling, of Derby ; J. Pearson, of Chilwell; V. Rollisson, of looting; and R. Kennedy, of Covent Garden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. .Portion of mature Frond — tipper side. ASPIDIUM LONCHITIS. Swartz. J. E. Smith. Hooker and Arnott. Mackay. SCIIKUHR. WlLLDENOW. SFRENGEL. PLATE XXII. VOL. VI. Aspidium asperum, Geay. Polystichum lonchitis, Both. Deakin. Babington. “ “ Sowekby. Newman. Mooee. “ “ Peesl. Fee. Polypodium lonchitis, Linnaeus. J. E. Smith. Bolton. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Lonchitis — Spear-like. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. The “Holly Fern,” or, as it is sometimes called, the “Alpine Shield Fern,” is a mountain plant, and difficult to cultivate. It has a range of from about the elevation of one thousand two hundred to more than three thousand feet. A British species, found only in Yorkshire on Ingleborough ; in the Lake district; Carnarvonshire; on the mountains of the High- lands in Scotland; and in Ireland in the counties of Kerry, Meath, Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal. It occurs in Iceland, Lapland, Sweden, Denmark, llussia, Germany, Hungary, Eng- 66 ASPIDIUM L0NCH1T1S. land, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Russian Asia, Kamtschatka, and the Rocky Mountains in North-west America. A hardy evergreen species. Fronds pinnate, of a narrow linear-lanceolate form, and rigid, the pinnre being falcately lanceolate, acute, spinulosely serrate. Pinnae numerous and undivided, and the under side have many small hirsute scales. Fructification mostly on the upper half of the frond. Sori large, circular, and crowded, eventually becoming confluent. Indusium orbicular and membranaceous. Stipes short, varying from half an inch to three inches in length, covered with brown chaffy scales. Rachis densely scaly. Length of frond from six to twenty-four inches, usually from twelve to fifteen inches; colour deep green above, paler beneath. Mr. Wollaston describes two varieties: — • Multifidum, having the apex divided. Not constant in cul- tivation. Proliferum , producing small bulbils in the axils of the lower- most pinnse. For plants of this species I am indebted to Mr. Clapham, of Scarbro’, and to Miss Barker, of Beeston; and for fronds to Mr. J. Pearson, of Chilvvell. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Pearson, of Chilwell; Young, of Taunton; Bass and Brown, of Sudbury; A. Hen- derson, of Pine-apple Place; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Rollisson, of Tooting; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Veitch, of Chelsea; Stansfield, of Todmorden; and Kennedy, of Covent Garden. The specimens for illustration were kindly given me by Mr. John Pearson, of Chilwell. Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM ANGULARE. Kitaibel. J. E. Smith. Sowerby. Mackay. Hooker and Arnott. PLATES XXIII AND XXIV. VOL. VI. Polystichum angulare, a it fC It “ aculeatum, “ Braunii, Aspidium aculeatum, “ Braunii, “ liastulatum, Polypodium setiferum, appendiculatum, “ angulare, “ aculeatum, Hypopeltis lobulata, Presl. Sowerby. Moore. Pee. Deakin. Babington. Newman. Gray. Pee. Pee. Kunze. Smith. Dole. Spenner. Tenore. PoRSKAL. Hoffmann, (not Swartz.) Fries. Mantissa. Hudson. Bory. Aspidium — The Shield Pern. Angulare — An angle. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. An exceedingly beautiful species, growing in shady wooded localities, tolerably abundant throughout England, Wales, and G8 ASPIDTDM ANOULARE. Ireland. Rare in Scotland. It is known as the “Soft Prickly Shield Fern.” A hardy species, easily cultivated. Closely allied to Aspidiiim aculeatum, but having characters sufficiently distinct to keep them divided. Found in Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Jersey, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Coast of the Black Sea, Asia, India, Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores, Abyssinia, African Coast of the Mediterranean, Natal, United States, Sitka, Guatemala, Mexico, Caraccas, and New Granada. Fronds bipinnate or tripinnate, with numerous nearly linear pinnse, broadest at the base, and tapering gradually to the apex; alternate. Pinnules ovate-falcate, with an anterior auricle, serrated deeply on the margins. Beneath the pinnules there are hair-like scales. Veins two or three times branched. Length of frond from two to five feet; width from seven to ten inches; brilliant green above, paler beneath. Fronds spreading, and arranged in a circlet around the crown. Stipes from four to ten inches long, densely scaly. Rachis prominent, slightly .-channeled above, and rounded beneath, and covered with hair-like scales. Sori small, numerous, circular, indusiate, occupying the upper two-thirds of the frond. Indusium orbicular, membranaceous. There are many varieties of A. angulare. The following are enumerated in Mr. Moore’s excellent work, “The Nature- printed Ferns:” — 1. — Hastulatum, Moore. Found near St. Martha’s Hill, Surrey. It is known by the small size of the acute pinnules, and their distinct and slender footstalks. 2. — Acutum, Wollaston. Found in Sussex and Hampshire. Pinnules rather longer than in Hastulatum, narrow, falcate, and strongly auricled. It approaches the normal form of A. aculeatum. 3. — Aristatum, Wollaston. Found in Sussex by Mr. Wol- laston. The points of the serratures are aristate, and the long hair-like points give the plant a bristly appearance. It bears bulbils on the stipes. 4. — Multificlum, 'Wollaston. Apex of frond tufted, and the pinnse sometimes divided. ASFIDIUM ANGULARE. 69 5 Proliferum, Wollaston. Found at Wimbledon, by Mr. C ho ules, and near Ottery, St. Mary, Devonshire, by Mr. Wollas- ton. Known in cultivation as Angustatwn. Proliferous, bearing bulbils at the point of junction of the pinnae with the rachis, and occasionally in the axils of the pinnules. Tfipinnate, pinnules narrow and attenuated, and conspicuously stalked, deeply cleft, and lobes widely separated. Very handsome. 6. — Depauperatum, Wollaston. Found by Dr. Kinahan, in Ireland. Fronds frequently mere skeletons; it occasionally pro- duces bulbils. 7. — Intermedium, Wbllaston. Found near St. Maiy s Ciay, Kent, by Mr. Robert Sim. It very closely resembles A. aculeatum. — Prcemorsum, Allchin. Found in Ireland, by Dr. Allchin. Dwarf, pinnae laciniate and irregular. 9] — Dis simile, Moore. Found in Kent, by Mrs. Delves. Pinnae irregular. 10. — Irregulare, Moore. Found near Nettlecombe, Somer- setshire, by Mr. El worthy, gardener to Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart. Pinnae very irregular. The lower pinnae have unequally inciso-lobate pinnules. 11. — Biserratum, Moore. Found near Brentford, by Mr. S. F. Gray; also common in Jersey. Long stipes. A lax form, with large broad pinnule, inciso-serrate: all but the anterior lobe biserrate and aristate. 12. — Alatum, Moore. Found in Somersetshire, by Mrs. A. Thompson. Pinnules connected by a wing on both sides the secondary rachides, on which they are decurrent. Pinnules more tapering. 13. — Imbricatum, Moore. Distinct and graceful. Frond two feet in length, linear-lanceolate, in habit resembling A. lobatum. Pinnse short; apices blunt; pinnules crowded, blunt, and im- bricated. A bulbil is found on the larger fronds, on the stipes beneath the soil, and therefore each large frond is accompanied by a small one. Found in Somersetshire, by Mr. Elworthy. 14. — Incisum, Wollaston. Discovered in Sussex, by Mr. Wollaston and Dr. Allchin. Grows four feet in length. Pin- nules very dissimilar in size and shape. 15. — Subtripinnatum, Moore. Lower pinnules very deeply pinnatifid. A common variety. VOL. VI. L 70 ASPiniTJM ANGUT.ARK. 16- Tripinnatum, Moore. The present Fern the author re- ceived as a seedling plant from Mr. R. T. Millet, of Penzance. Mr. Moore, in his “Nature-printed Ferns,” says of it, “ This very beautiful and peculiar variety has been called Tripinnatum , in contrast with the Subtripinnatum, in consequence of its basal anterior pinnules being much more distinctly pinnate, though the plant is on the whole less divided then the Devon form of the variety Proliferum, or the Irish variety Decompositum . The most remarkable peculiarity is the unusual elongation of the anterior basal pinnules, and their truly pinnate character; the little pinnulets being distinctly stalked. The other pinnules are highly developed, though less so than the basal one, and they are crowded and imbricated. It is profuse in the production of sori, and thickly covered with subulate scales. It was found in Cornwall by Mr. Millet, and was first made known to cul- tivators by Mr. E. J. Lowe. It is a very marked aberration from the normal form, and appears to be very rare.” Another character of this Fern, not visible in a dried frond forwarded to Mr. Moore, is strikingly exhibited in the growing plant; the pinnae, instead of being flat, and lying in the same plane with the stipes and rachis, are almost at right-angles to this line, lying in a horizontal position above each other, — Plate XNIY. 17. — Decompositum, Moore. This beautiful variety is by far the most compound or divided form. An Irish Fern, cultivated in the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. For a more lengthy description the reader is referred to Mr. Moore’s “Nature-printed Ferns.” I have procured this species wild at Matlock; Chaigeley, Lancashire; and at Ambleside. For plants from Cornwall I am indebted to Mr. R. T. Millett, of Penzance. Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., has sent me specimens of several varieties; Mr. R. T. Millett the beautiful variety Tripinnatum, (of which a coloured plate is here given;) Messrs. Rollisson the variety Proliferum. For fronds I indebted to Mrs. Delves, of Tun- bridge Wells; Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting; Sir Oswald Mosley; Mr. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and Mr. Norman, of Hull. This species can be procured of any Nurseryman. The following varieties are in the aftermentioned Catalogues: — Subtripinnatum, Proliferum, Imbricatum, Dissimile, and Inter- ASPIDIUM ANGULARE. 71 medium , R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. Subtripinnatum and Proliferum, Kennedy, of Covent Garden. Angustatum, Biserratum, and Proliferum, Veitch, of Chelsea. Proliferum, A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place. Aristatum, Stansfield, of Todmorden. Pro- liferum, Young, of Taunton. The illustrations are from plants in my own collection. Variety Tripinnatum. Pinna of mature Frond —under side. Variety Proliferum. / aspidium pubescens. XXV -vol. c. Portion of Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM PUBESCENS. Swartz. Sprengel. Fee. PLATE XXV. VOL. VI. lastrea pubescens, i( a Polypodium pubescens, Nephr odium “ Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Peesl. J. Smith. Moore and Houlston. Ltnn;eus. Hooker and Geeville. Pubescens — Downy. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. Aspidium pubescens is often confused in gardens with the A. decompositum, which is a similar-looking species, although destitute of that doionxj character so conspicuously shewn in the A. pubescens. A handsome evergreen stove species, capable of bein^ grown YOL. VI. M & 74 ASFIDIUM rUBESCENS. into a splendid specimen, and requiring no particular care in its cultivation. Native of Jamaica. Fronds deltoid, pubescent, sub-tripinnate; pinnules oblong- linear; segments sharply toothed, largest on the superior side. Stipes covered with scales of a brown colour, being most crowded near the base; lateral, adherent to a slender, creeping, scaly rhizoma. Sori medial, at first very pale straw-coloured. Length twelve inches. For plants I am indebted to Messrs. Booth and Son, of Hamburg. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Veitch, of Chelsea; Rollisson, of Tooting; Masters, of Canter- bury; Booth and Son, of Hamburg; Stansfield, of Todrnorden; and Cooling, of Derby. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. aspidium elongatum. XXVI-Vol. R. Pinna— under side. ASPIDIUM ELONGATUM. Swartz. Hooker and Greville. Fee. Sprengel. Kunze. PLATE XXVI. VOL. VI. Aspidium oligodonton, Lastrea elongata, it a Polypodium elongatum, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Desvaux. Pbese. J. Smith. Mooee and Houlston. Aiton. Elongatum — Elongated. This interesting Fern is_ not very dissimilar to an elongated form of Aspidium jilix-mas, and may prove hardy in warm situations. A greenhouse species. Native of the island of Madeira, Canary Island, Azores, and Teneriffe. Introduced into England in the year 1799. Fronds glabrous, triangularly elongate in form, sub-tripinnate; the pinnae triangularly elongate. Pinnules oblong-acute, with slightly dentate blunt segments. Stipes paleaceous. Terminal, adherent to a thick, short, creeping rhizoma. Sori medial. 7(3 ASIMDIUM EI.ONGATUM. Length of frond from two to three feet; colour deep green. For a plant of this species I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. A. Henderson, of Pine- apple Place; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Stansfield, of Todmorden; and Booth and Son, of Hamburg. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. ASPIDIUM DJLATATl'M. Portion of Pinna of mature Frond— under side. $ ASPIDIUM DILATATUM. Smith. Swartz. PLATE XXVII. VOL. VI. Lastrea dilatala, it (6 it (i Aspidium spinulosum, it it erosum , Lastrea multijlora, Polypodium dilataium, cristatum, mullijlorum, Polysiichum “ “ spinulosum, “ dilatatum, Dryopleris dilatala, Ij op h odium mult ijl ovum, Lastrea dilatala, multijlora var. “ dilatala, Peesl. Bindley and Mooee. Smith. Babington. Sowerby. Mooee. ScHKUHR. SwAETZ. WlLLDENOW. Hookee and Aenott. SCHKDHE. Newman. Heakin. Hoffmann. Hudson. Hoffmann. Bolton. Both. Both. He Candolle. He Candolle. Gray. Newman. Variety Tunacctifolium. Mooee. Heakin. 78 ASPID1UM DILATATUM. Aspidium dilatatum, WlLLDENOW. Speengel. ScHKUHR. ScHKUHE. Hoffmann. He Candolle. Yillaes. Deakin. “ spinulosum, “ erosum, Polypodium tanacetifolium, Polystichum “ Polypodium aristatum, Lastrea multiflora var. nana, Newman. “ dilatata var. nana, Mooke. Lophodium multflorum, 7 Newman var. nana, 3 Aspidium dumetorum, Smith. Lastrea “ Moore. “ dilatata var. collina, Mooee. “ “ var. maculata, Mooee. “ multiflora var. collina, N e wm an. “ collina, Newman. “ maculata. Deakin. Lophodium collinum, Newman. Lastrea dilatata var. collina, Mooee. Babington. “ multfloraYur. collina, Newman. Deakin. “ collina, Newman. Lophodium collinum, Newman. Lastrea Chanterice, Mooee. “ dilatata var. angusta, Mooee. “ alpina, Mooee. “ dilatata var. glandulosa, Mooee. “ glandulosa, Newman. Lophodium glandulosum, Newman. “ glanduliferum, Newman. V ariety Tanacetifolium. Var. Nanum. Variety Dumetorum. Variety Collinum. Variety Chanterice. Variety Angustum. Variety Alpinum. Variety Glandulosum. Aspidium — Tlie Sliield Fern. Dilatatum Extended. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. A species subject to great variety. Aspidium dilatatum, the “Broad Prickly-toothed Buckler lern,” is a noble Biitish species; easily cultivated, and of large growth. A hardy deciduous Fern, growing in shady situations, and to be met with almost everywhere. The variety Tanacetifolium is also common ; the other varieties are local. It is dispersed throughout the whole of Europe, from Lap- land to Portugal and Spain. In Asia, in Kamtschatka; in ASPIDIUM DILATATUM. 79 Africa, in the Azores; in America, at Sitka, Port Mulgrave, Canada, and the Rocky Mountains. The ordinary form is ovate-lanceolate; bipinnate to tripinnate. PinnEe opposite, numerous, the basal pair obliquely triangular- elongate; the posterior pinnules considerably larger than the anterior pinnules. The pinnae taper gradually from the base to the apex. Pinnules ovate-oblong, rather acute, the basal ones stalked, and the upper pinnules sessile and decurrent, the lower ones deeply pinnatifid, occasionally pinnate. The divisions are all sharply dentate, ending in a bristle-like point. Veins forked. Caudex stout, mostly upright; crown densely scaly. Stipes terminal, from a third to half the length of the frond; densely scaly.^ Fructification occupying the whole of the under side of the frond. Sori numerous, circular, and indusiate. Indusium reniform and membranous. Length from two to six feet, usual size from two to three feet; breadth from six to sixteen inches. Colour dark green above, paler beneath. One of the most difficult species to understand, as in its different forms it approaches both A. fcenisecii and A. spinu- losum; from the latter it is known by A. spinulosum having a creeping caudex, the few broad pallid scales of its stipes, and by the indusium being entire. The form Tcmacetifolium, or “Tansy-leaved prickly-tootheil Buckler Fern,” is tripinnate, with broad fronds; stipes having numerous entire dark brown scales, with a darker bar down the centre; lanceolate in form. The form Nanum, or “Dwarf prickly-toothed Buckler Fern,” from Settle and Ilfracombe, is always dwarf, varying from two to ten inches in length. The form Dumetorum, or “Thicket prickly-toothed Buckler Fern,” is also dwarf, with broad frond, having large abundant iructification, and is remarkable for the glandular surface of the fronds. The form Collinum, the “Hill prickly-toothed Buckler Fern,” known also as “Finder’s Fern,” has the pinnae distant and spreading. 80 ASPIPTUM DILATATUM. The form Chanterice, “Mrs. Chanter’s prickly-toothed Buckler Fern,” differs in the narrowed form and attenuated apex of its fronds. The form Angustatum, the “Linear prickly-toothed Buckler Fern,” has narrow lanceolate bipinnate fronds. It very closely approaches A. spinulosum. The form Alpinum , the “Alpine prickly-toothed Buckler Fern,” another form approaching A. spinulosum ; common on Ben Lawers. The form Glandulosum , the “Glandular prickly-toothed Buck- ler Fern,” is large and erect in habit. It would be impossible to describe the endless variety of this very variable species. Mr. Moore, in his “Nature-printed Ferns,” gives the following as the most distinct of the varieties of A. clilatatum, (the Lastrea dilatatci of most authors.) 1. — Multifida, Wollaston. Rachis divided low down, so as to make two fronds on one stipes. Not constant in cultivation. 2. — Tanacetifolia, Moore. Broad tripinnate triangular frond. 3. — Pumila , Moore. Small sub-deltoid bipinnate variety, with pallid scales. A local Fern from Hampstead, Dumbarton- shire, Carnarvonshire, Bute, and mountains of Dublin and Wicklow. 4. — Deltoidea, Moore. — An elegant variety, with deltoid tripinnate finely-cut fronds. Found in Devonshire, by the Rev. J. M. Chanter. 5. Fuscipes, Moore. Fronds nearly as broad as long, tripin- nate, the points of the fronds and pinnae caudate. Found in Guernsey, by Mr. G. Wolsey. 6. Micromera, Moore. Finely divided, though small it is almost quadripinnate. Found near Ilfracombe, by the Rev. J. M. Chanter. -I'—Najia, Newman. Fronds ovate, bipinnate, and very dwarf. From Settle and Ilfracombe. 8. — Dumetorum, Moore. Dwarf, fronds ovate; stipes and rachis clothed with glands, as well as the under side of the frond. . _ . 9 Collina, Newman. Somewhat similar to Dumetorum, but almost destitute of the glands so conspicuous in that variety. 10. Smithii, Moore. An Irish plant, somewhat related to Collina. ASPIDIUM DILATATUM. 81 11. — Chanter ice, Moore. Erect, with the pinnae twisted up- 12. Visions, Moore. Larger than Chanterice, hut somewhat allied to that variety. Found at Coombe Wood, Surrey, by Mr. S. F. Gray. \3—Obtusa, Moore. A distinct variety, with narrow ovate fronds, having oblong-obtuse, shallow, lobed pinnules. From Middlesex, Surrey, Devonshire, and Argyleshire. 14. — Augusta, Moore. Linear fronds with a long stipes half the length of the whole frond. Found near Tunbridge Wells, by Miss Bower, and since in Devonshire and Argyleshire. 15. — Alpina, Moore. Narrow ascending pinnae. From Ben Lawers. 16. — Glandulosa, Newman. A glandular form, erect in habit. IT.— Valida, Moore. A stout, leathery, erect, broad frond, from Devonshire and Guernsey. 18. — Schojieldii, Stansfield. Grows from three to four inches high, and is somewhat analogous to the variety Crispum, of Asplenium JUix-Jcemina. For further particulars of these varieties, the reader is referred to the excellent account in Lindley and Moore’s Nature-printed Ferns.” My thanks are due to Mr. Wollaston, of Chisselhurst, for a plant of the variety Collina. The species is common enough to be procured anywhere. The varieties Nana, Collina, Dumetorum, and Schojieldii, can be procured of Mr. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. VOL. VI. N i Portion of Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM GOLDIANUM. Fee. Link. PLATE XXVIir. TOL. YT. Aspidium Goldieanum, Lastrca Goldiana, *6 41 Neplirodium Goldianum, Hooker. Kunze. Presl. J. Smith. Moore and Houeston. Hooker and Greville. Aspidium— The Shield Pern. Goldianum — Goldin’s. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. A FINE Fern, deserving more general cultivation. Aspidium Goldianum is a native of North America. A hardy deciduous species. The fronds are broadly lanceolate in form, sub-bipiunate; the pinme being broadly lanceolate. Pinnules linear-oblong, somewhat blunt at the apex. Those near the base distant, tlie upper ones confluent. Margin crenatc. 84 ASrilJIUM GOI.DIANUM. Stipes and rachis scaly. Fronds terminal, adherent round the crown of a tufted rhizoma. Sori medial. Length of frond from twelve to thirty inches ; colour pale yellowish green. For plants I am indebted to Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth; and to Mr. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Young, of Taunton; and A. Henderson, of Fine-apple Place. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. a.SPIDIUM THIl'OLIATUl.'. XXIX Vo i.. c Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM TRIFOLIATUM. Swartz. Schkuhr. Hooker. Schott. J. Smith. Kunze. Willdenow. Plumier. Moore and IToulston. PLATE XXIX. VOL. VI. Polypodium trifoliatum, Pat Mum “ Aspidium her acler 'folium, Polypodium Pica, Aspidium “ Linn.2etts. Jacquin. Fee. Link. Willdenow. Plumier. Poieet. Desyaux. Aspidium— The Shield Fern. Trifoliatum— Three-leaved. When well grown this Fern is a magnificent species, its bold-looking fronds and gigantic fructification must always place it amongst the most conspicuous of our favourite Ferns. A stove evergreen species. Native of the West Indies and Tropical America, Jamaica, and St. Domingo. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1769. Fronds glabrous, pinnate, somewhat erect in habit. The 86 AsriDIUM TRIF0L1ATUM. inferior pinnte petiolate, in form nearly triangular trilobate; base cordate; lobes acuminate; centre one largest. Margin bluntly crenate. Superior pinnae oblong-acuminate, petiolate, base cordate-auriculate; terminal one triangular, sinuately-pinnatifid; segments acuminate; lower ones longest. Fronds fertile throughout. Stipes dark brown in colour, having a few scattered scales near the base. Sori circular. Indusium peltate. Length from twelve to eighteen inches; colour pale green. My thanks are due to Mr. Stratton, Curator of the Cambridge Botanic Gardens; and to Mr. Clarke, Curator of the Royal Gardens, Glasgow; for plants of this species. It may be procured from the following Nurserymen: — Booth and Sons, of Hamburg; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Rollisson, of Tooting; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Stansfield, of Todmorden; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; and A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM MOLLE. Swartz. Kunze. Link. Willdenow. Sciikuiir. Raddi. Sfrengel. PLATE XXX. VOL. VI. Aspidium violascens, Link. Nephrodium molle, R. Brown. Schott. J. Smith. 6( CC Fee. Moore and Houlston. (( (C Presl. “ pubescens, Don. Polypodium “ Jacquin. “ nymphale, Schkuhr. Forster. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Molle — Soft. In the Section Nephrodium of Authors. Although a very common, still a very desirable free-growing species, and well adapted for cultivation as a specimen. In a greenhouse or stove there can scarcely be a greater weed than Nephrodium molle, as it is so readily propagated from spores. Introduced into England in the year 1820. A stove or warm greenhouse species, from Tropical America, Brazil, Rio de Janerio, Mauritius, and Mexico. Fronds lanceolate and pubescent; the pinme being linear- 88 ASPID1UM MOLLE. oblong, acuminate, pinnatifid, and petlolulate. The segments linear-oblong obtuse, being largest next the rachis. Terminal, adherent to a thick somewhat creeping rhizoma. Stipes slightly scaly near the base. Indusium very hairy, and pale violet in colour. Length of frond from twelve to thirty inches. For plants my thanks are due to Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of Rolleston Hall; Mr. F. Wright, of Osmaston Manor; Mr. Stewart, gardener to Lord Yernon; Mr. Ingram, gardener to the Duke of Rutland; and to Mr. Cooling, of Derby. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. A. Henderson, of Pine- apple Place; Stansfield and Son, of lodmorden; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Bass and Brown, of Sudbury; Masters, of Canterbury; Rollisson, of Tooting; Cooling, of Derby; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and Veitch, of Chelsea. A i P I D I D U . 01 i- Lc. v ;; iL f T j ■ Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM THELYPTEROIDES. Swartz. PLATE XXXI. A. Aspidium noveboracense, it “ “ pumilum, Nephrodium thelypteroides. Polypodium noveboracense, VOL. VI. Link. Swartz. Willdenow. ScHKUHR. KlTNZE. Of Gardens. Michaux. LlNNASUS. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Thelypteroides — In the Section Lastkea of Authors. The present species, although more dwarf in habit than Aspidium thelypteris, still in all its characters it so nearly approaches A. thelypteris of Swartz, and A. pumillum of Gar- dens, that I have hesitated in placing it as distinct from that species; the illustration, however, is given as a guide to the cultivator. A North American Fern, and in all probability only a variety of our British A. thelypteris. For a plant I am indebted to Mr. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. There appears to be two forms in North America, the one known as Lastrca noveboracense, and the other as L. thelypter- oides; the former differs in a slight degree in having its creeping VOL. VI. O 90 ASriDlUM THEiyy PTEROIDES. rhizoma “creeping above the ground,” and in being more compact in its growth. Both forms are in the Catalogues of Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; and Booth and Son, of Hamburg. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Portion of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM MUCRONATUM. Swartz. Schkuhr. Kunze. Sprengel. Sloan. PLATE XXXI. B. VOL. VI. Polystielium mucronatum, it 1 1 Nephrodium Sloanei, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Presl. J. Smith. Fee. Moore and Houlston. Presl. Mucronatum — Sharp -pointed. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. A lovely dwarf, close-growing, evergreen, scarce species; seldom to be met with in private collections. Easily cultivated. A stove Fern. Native of Jamaica. Introduced into England in the year 1838. Fronds pinnate, linear-lanceolate in form; pinnae petiolate, oblong-ovate, mucronate; lower ones sub-hastate; superior base auriculate; inferior base obliquely wedge-shaped; margin serrate, with long spiny teeth. 92 ASPIDIUM MUCRONATUM. Rachis and stipes chaffy. Terminal, adherent to a tufted rhizoma. Sori bold. Length of frond twelve inches; colour deep shining green. For plants I am indebted to Mr. J. Smith, Curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew; and to Mr. Pass, gardener to Mr. Brockle- hurst, of the Fence, near Macclesfield. It is in the Catalogue of Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, Kent. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. rinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM 6LABELLUM. PI. ATE XXXII. VOL. VI. Lastrea glabella, J. Smith. Moore and Houlston. Neplir odium glabellum, A. Cunningham. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Glabellum — Smoothish. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. An interesting, pretty, dwarf, delicate Fern; rather rare in cultivation. An evergreen warm greenhouse species. Native of New Zealand. The fronds are glabrous, triangularly-elongate in shape, sub- tripinnate; the pinnae being triangularly-elongate; the pinnules oblong-linear, pinnatifid; the basal pinnules entire; upper ones confluent, having toothed segments. Stipes having a few scales near the base. Terminal, adherent to a tufted rhizoma. Sori medial. Length of frond twelve inches; colour pale green. 94 ASPIDIUM GLA15ELLUM. For a plant of this species I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It may be procured of Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, and Sim, of Foot’s Cray. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Pinna of mature Frond -under side. ASPIDIUM DECOMPOSITUM. Kunze. Fee. PLATE XXXIII. VOL. VI. Lastrea decomposita, J. Smith. Moore & IIoulston. Nephrodium decompositum, It. Brown. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Decompositum — Decomposed. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. A somewhat similar-looking species to the Aspidium pubescens of Swartz, without the pubescens which is so conspicuous in that species. An evergreen warm greenhouse Fern. Native of New Holland. Fronds cuncate in form, in some degree membranous, deltoid, and tripinnate; pinnules oblong, inciso-pinnatifid, with dentate segments. llachis and midrib of pinnae pubescent. Stipes scattered over with small dark brown scales. Fronds lateral, adherent to a creeping rhizoma. Length of frond from eighteen to twenty-four inches; colour light green. Sori medial. VOL. VI. r 96 ASPIDIUM DEC0MP0S1TUM. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, by Mr. A. Cun- ningham, in the year 1825. For plants of this species I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, and to Messrs. Booth, of Hamburg; and for fronds to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Veitch, of Chelsea; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Cooling, of Derby; Booth, of Hamburg; and Stansfield, of Todmorden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. A S P I 1' uYLLUM. xxxiv-vol.6. Tinna of mature fertile Frond-under side. ASPIDIUM PODOPHYLLUM. Hooker. PLATES XXXIV AND XXXV. VOL. VI. Aspidium Sieboldi, Zastrea podophylla, Pycnopteris Sieboldi , Zastrea, “ Aspidium — The Shield Fern. (From the circumstance . In the Section Van Hotjtte. Metten. J. Smith. Moore. Moore. Podophyllum — Foot-stalk leaved, have foot-stalks.) that the basal pinnae Last rea of Authors A very handsome and distinct Fern, having fertile fronds different to the barren fronds. An evergreen greenhouse species, at least usually considered as such, but said to be hardy enough in our English climate, having survived the winter of 1854-5 in the open air. Native of Japan, and China, (in the neighbourhood of Hong- Kong. The fronds, which are leathery in consistency, are pinnate, 98 ASriDIUM PODOPHYLLUM. broad, smooth, and having very few thick pinnae, usually seven, obliquely oblong-lanceolate, falcate, and being serrulate irregu- larly; the lowest stalked, and unequally cordate at the base; the upper pinnae sessile and decurrent. lhe pinnae of the barren fronds are somewhat undulated. The stipes exceedingly stout at the base, where it is covered with long, narrow, pointed scales. In the fertile fronds, which are entirely covered with sori, the stipes is longer, and the pinnae are more contracted. Sori very large and numerous, being a large mass of elevated spore-cases irregularly bi-tri-serial, at first pale green, and afterwards black. Veins having club-shaped apices. Rhizoma erect. Introduced into Great Britain by M. Van Houtte, of Ghent, in 1852. This species was discovered in China, by Dr. Von Siebold. Stipes scaly below, ebeneous, except along the under edge, where green. Fronds adherent to a broad rhizoma. Length of frond from twelve to fifteen inches, the leafy portion being as broad as it is long. Breadth of barren pinnae one inch and three-quarters; of fertile pinnae an inch. Length of stipes of barren frond from three to four inches, and of fertile frond five inches. Colour of frond a dull green, paler beneath. Aspidium podophyllum has the venation of a Polystichum, and the fructification of a Lastrea. My thanks are due to Mr. Joseph Henderson, of Wentworth; and to Mr. Stansfield, of Todmorden, for plants of this species; and to Messrs. Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth; Mr. G. Norman, of Hull; Mr. J. W. Jeans, of Grantham; and to M. Schott, Director of the Imperial Gar- dens of Vienna, for fronds. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea; E. G. Henderson, of St.John’s Wood; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Rollisson, of Tooting; Masters, of Canterbury; Booth, of Hamburg; Cooling, of Derby; Young, of Taunton; and Stansfield, of Todmorden. The illustrations are from a plant in my own collection. * I Portion of Pinna of mature Frond —under side. ASPIDIUM CORIACEUM. Lowe. PI. ATE XXXVI. VOL. VI. Polystichum coriaceum, flexum. J. Smith. Of Sim’s Catalogue. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Coriaceu m — Leathery. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. A noble evergreen species, only to be found in the larger collections. A very dissimilar Pern has been for some years under culti- vation, bearing the above name, and which is the Aspidium coriaceum of Swartz. j 100 ASPID1UM COIUAOKUM. A warm greenhouse or stove Fern. Native of the south of Africa— Cape of Good Hope. Fronds triangular in form, spreading, erect in habit, stout, dull green, tripinnate; pinnules pinnatifid and slightly recurved. Stipes and rachis everywhere hirsute, with broad dark scales scattered here and there, darker and larger near the base. Stipes very stout. Rhizoma densely scaly, and creeping. _ - Sori copious, occupying the whole^frond, smaller than in A. capense. Length of frond thirty-six inches; width at base about twenty inches. Stipes sixteen inches in length. For a plant and fronds of this Fern I am indebted to Mi. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It may be procured of Mr. R. Sim. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM VILLOSUM. Swartz. Schkuhr. Kunze. Fee. Petiver. Sloan. PLATE XXXVII. VOL. VI. Lastrea villosa, a << Folypodium villosum, Peesl. J. Smith. Mooee and Houlston. SWAETZ. PlATMIER. Aspidium — The Shield Pern. Villosum — Hairy. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. This giant Fern of the section Lastrea is a noble species when well grown. An evergreen stove species. Native of the West Indies. Jamaica, and Caribbee. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1844, by Mr. N. Wilson. Fronds triangularly elongate, tri-quadripinnate; pinnules ob- long-linear, rather obtuse, deeply pinnatifid; segments oblong, apex circular. Fronds very hairy, terminal, adherent to an arborescent caudex. Rachis and stipes completely covered with narrow fringed scales. VOL. VI. Q 102 ASriDIUM VILLOSUM. Length of frond from ten to twelve feet; colour pale green. Sori medial. Indusium glandulose. For fronds of this Fern I am indebted to Messrs. Veitch, Jun., of the Exotic Nursery, Chelsea. It may be procured of Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea; A. Hen- derson, of Fine-apple Place; and Kennedy, of Covent Garden. The illustration is from a frond sent by Messrs. Veitch. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM VESTITUM. Swartz. Schkuhr. Kunze. Kaulfuss, Not of Sieber, nor of Willdenow. PLATE XXXVIII. VOL. VI. Polystichum vestitum, Presl. J. Smith. “ “ Moore and Houlston. Fee. Polypodium “ Forster, not of Baddi. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Vestitum — Clothed. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. This most interesting species is not generally cultivated, except in our best collections. It has a more dwarf growth than most of the species in the section Polystichum, and makes a very pretty specimen plant. An evergreen greenhouse species. Native of New Zealand, Tasmania, (Van Diemen’s Land,) New Holland, and Chili. The present species must not be confounded with the Laslrea vestita of J. Smith, nor with the Polystichum prolifcrum of Presl: it is not unlike the latter, except in being more rigid, 104 ASriDlUM VE8TTTUM. having a much longer stipes, and not being viviparous at the apex. Fronds rigid, bipinnate, almost lanceolate in form, having oblong-acute pinnae, with rather ovate pinnules, in some degree auriculate; base wedge-shaped, only one or two pairs are distinct, the remainder being confluent, with a sharp mucronate tooth on the apex. Fronds terminal, adherent to a tufted rhizoma, the lower half of the frond naked. Rachis and stipes densely clothed with narrow scales. Length of frond from twelve to eighteen inches; colour rich dark green. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1842, having been received from Mr. J. Edgerley. My obligations are due to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth, for fronds of this species. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and Kennedy, of Covent Garden. The illustration is from a frond sent by Mr. Joseph Henderson. Portion of Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM CONIIFOLIUM. Wallich. Kunze. PI. ATE XXXIX. VOL. VI. Aspidium carvifulium, Kunze. Polystichum coniifolium, Presl. J. Smith. Fee. it a Moore and Houlston. “ aristatum. Of Gardens. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Coniifolium — Hemlock -leaved. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. Another very beautiful Fern, well worthy a place in every collection. An evergreen stove species. Native of the East Indies, the Island of Ceylon, and the Philippine Islands. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1841, by Mr. G. Gardner. Fronds deltoid, tri-quadripinnate; the pinnules oblong-ovate, acute, pinnatifid; base cuneate, the margin having spinose- mucronate teeth. The basal pinnules very large. 106 ASP1DIUM CON IIFOLIUM. Stipes fifteen inches in length, circular, very hirsute, with brown hairs, which are considerably longer near the base. Sori large, very copious, evidently becoming confluent, covering the whole under side of the frond, almost tonching each other before shedding the indusium ; at first white, and when mature reddish brown. Indusium reniform; the entire frond covered beneath with sori. Fronds lateral, adherent to a small creeping rhizoma. Length of frond thirty inches; width at the base fourteen inches; colour deep shining green. My thanks are due to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Mr. J. Smith, of the Royal Gardens, Kew; and to Messrs. E. G. Henderson, for plants of this species; and to Mr. G. Norman, of Hull, for fronds. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Rollisson, of Tooting; Yeitch, of Chelsea; and Kennedy, of Covent Garden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Portion of Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM CAPENSE. Swartz. Willdenow. PLATE XL. VOL. VI. Tectaria coriacea, “ Calahuala, Polystichum coriaceum, a tt ‘ capense, Rumohra aspidioides, Aspidium coriaceum, a (( macroporum, “ discolor. Polypodium argentatum, “ coriaceum, adiantiforme, “ politum, Link. Cavanilees. Roth. J. Smith. Fee. Schott. Peese. J. Smith. Mooee and Houlston. Raddi. SwAETZ. ScHKUHE. KlTNZE. Langsdoeff and Fischee. Kaulfuss. Speengel. R. Beown. Boet. Langsdoeff and Fischee. Jacquin. SwAETZ. Foestee. Desvaux. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Capense — Cape. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. A well-known large-growing Fern, with a drooping habit, 108 ASPIDIUM CAPENSE. and not unfrcquently found in our English collections under the name of Polystichum coriaceum, yet very different from the species figured on Plate XXXVI., and which appears to be the true plant of Willdenow. An evergreen stove species. Native of the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, Jamaica, Brazil, Chili, New Holland, and New Zealand. Fronds glabrous, deltoid, tripinnate; pinnules oblong-lanceo- late-acute, pinnatifid, wedge-shaped at the base, and have obtuse dentate segments. Fronds lateral, adherent to a decumbent, stout, densely scaly, ccespitose rhizoma. Length of frond from thirty to forty inches; colour deep green. Sori large. Indusium reniform. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1823, by Mr. J. Bowie. My thanks are due to Captain Legard, of Kirby Misperton, Yorkshire, and to Mrs. Delves, of Tunbridge Wells, for plants of this species. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Rollisson, of Tooting; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; Cooling, of Derby; Booth and Son, of Hamburg: Masters, of Canterbury; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; and Stansfield, of Todmorden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. A S P I D I U M £ I OSUM.-P0KTI0N OF FROND. \t 1 ••• a. ASPIDIUM SPINULOSUM. Swartz. Schkuhr, {not of Willdenow.) Kunze. Link. Fee. Schott. M. S. PLATE XLI. VOL. VI. Polystichum spinosum, Lastrea spinulosa, U (( “ spinosa, “ cristate, var. spinulosa, dilatata var. linearis, Polypodium spinulosum, “ filix-fcemina, var. spinosa, Lophodium spinosum, Both. Peese. Lindley and Mooee. J. Smith. Babington. Newman. Deakin. Mooee. Babington. Muller. Weis. Newman. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Spinulosum— Prickly. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. An indigenous British species, often confounded with Aspid- ium dilatatum, Plate XXVII., vol. vi., which some of its varied forms closely resemble. VOL. vi. R 110 ASPIDIUM SPINULOSUM. A hardy deciduous Fern. Native of England. Fronds erect; bipinnate, narrow, and ovate-lanceolate; the margins nearly parallel below, and glabrous. Pinna; numerous; the lower ones distant and sub-opposite, the upper ones elon- gate, alternate, triangular, and stalked, the stalk twisted so as to make them stand nearly horizontal. Pinnules oblong, inciso- pinnatifid, having serrate spinose mucronate lobes. Sori medial. Indusium entire on the margin. Stipes having broad, ovate, pale brown scales, crowded near the base and more remote upwards. Terminal; adherent to a somewhat tufted rhizoma. Length of frond from twelve to thirty-six inches; colour pale yellowish green. /. SFIDIUK CANARIKNSE.- PORTION XLII-Vol. o. Portion of Pinna of mature Frond— under ‘side, ASPIDIUM CANARIENSE. WlLLDENOW. ? PLATE XLII . VOL. VI. Aspidium Ludovicianum, Lastrea Canariense, “ Ludoviciana, Cystopteris Canariensis, Aspidium ince quale, Hort. Hort. Hort. Presl. ? Schott. M. S. Aspidium — The Shield Pern. Canariense— Canary Island Fern. In the Section Lastrea of Authors. The Aspidium Canariense is an interesting very distinct Fern. The fronds are bipinnate, membranaceous, and triangularly elongate in form; apices acuminate. Pinnce linear-lanceolate, with acuminate apices. Pinnules oblong-ovate, basal ones pin- natifid; margin dentate. Pinme and pinnules distant. Veins forked. Sori uniserial, distant, and conspicuous. 112 ASPIDIUM CAN ARIENSE. Stipes and rachis very scaly. Rhizoma creeping, and scaly; scales pale in colour. The fronds horizontal or pendulous, widest at the base. Length of frond twenty-four inches, of which the lower seven inches is naked. Colour dull green. For plants and fronds I am indebted to Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, and Booth, of Hamburg. A. Canciriense may be procured of Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. ASPIDIUM PRONDOSUM— PORTION O ? ^ FROND. XLIII-vol. e. Pinna of mature Frond- under side. ASPIDIUM FRONDOSUM. Lowe. PLATE XLI1I. VOL. VI. Polystichum fvondosum, Nephrodium Iceta-virens, J. Smith. Lowe. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Frond osum — Leafy. In the Section Polystichum of Authors. A magnificent Fern, with rich shining green fronds. It is a species worthy of a place in every collection. A rare Fern. An evergreen greenhouse species. Native of Madeira. Fronds decompound, triangularly elongate. Pinnules pro- foundly dentate. Pinnae alternate, largest nearest the base; apex of pinnae and of frond acuminate. Rachis and stipes scaly; in the dried frond straw-coloured. Veins branched, semi-transparent, paler in colour than the frond. 114 ASP1DIUM FRONDOSFM. Length of frond from two to three feet; colour a vivid, shining, rich green. I have not as yet been fortunate enough to procure a plant. For a frond I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, and Stansfield, of Todmorden. The illustration is from the frond sent by Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, Kent. Pinna of mature Frond. ASPIDIUM PTEROIDES. Swartz. PLATE XLIV. VOL. Vf. Nephrodium pteroides, Polypodium “ Aspidium terminans, Nephrodium “ “ Cumingii, J. Smith. Betzius. Wallich. J. Smith. J. Smith. Mooee & Houlston. Fee. Kunze. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Pteroides — F ern-like. In the Section Nephrodium of Authors. Aspidium pteroides, better known as Nephrodium terminans in our British collections, is a handsome Fern, differing more especially from others in the same section in the position of its fructification. An evergreen stove Fern. Native of the East Indies, the island of Ceylon, and the Philippine Islands. Fronds pinnate. Pinna; pinnatifid,- linear-lanceolate in form, petiolulate, in some degree membranous, subcordate at the base, and obtusely lobed. 116 ASPIDIUM PTEROIDES. Fronds minutely pubescent on the veins on the under side. Lateral, being adherent to a slender creeping rhizoma. Sori medial, on either side the primary veins, eventually becoming confluent; formed only along the edges of the pinnae. Length of frond twenty-four inches; colour bright green. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1847, by Mr. G. Gardner. For plants I am indebted to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth, and to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray. It can be procured of Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; and Stansfield, of Todmorden. The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. Pinna of mature Frond— upper side. ASPIDIUM CICUTAPJUM. Swartz. J. Smith. PLATE XLV. VOL. VI. Polypodium cicutarium, “ hippocrepis, Sayenia hippocrepis, Aspidium hippocrepis, “ apifolium, “ latifolium, Linnasus. Jacqttin. Presl. Moore and Houlston. Fee. Swartz. Plumier. Kunze. Sprengel. ScHKUHR. Presl. Aspidium — The Shield Fern. Cicutarium — Cow-bane-like. In the Section Sagenia of some Authors. A rare handsome plant, apparently requiring considerable care to cultivate it successfully. An evergreen stove Fern. Native of Jamaica, the West Indies, Mexico, and New Grenada. The fronds, which are glabrous, are of a triangularly-elongate form; bipinnatifid, having oblong-acuminate pinnae, and oblong- obtuse segments, with a crenate margin. Terminal, being adherent to an erect rhizoma. Sori produced on the apex of a free veinlet within the areoles, somewhat reniform. VOL. VI. s 118 ASPIDIUM CICUTARIUM. Veins pinnate; venules arcuately anastomosing, forming un- equal areoles, with free veinlets. Length of frond from twenty-four to thirty-six inches; colour light green. Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1852, and into England in 1789. For a frond I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, Nurseryman, Foot’s Cray, Kent. It is to be procured of Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, and Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea. The illustration is from Mr. R. Sim’s frond. XLVI— VOL 0. Pinna of mature Frond— under side. ASPIDIUM MACROPHYLLUM. Swartz. Plumier. J. Smith. Moore and Houlston. Kunze. Leibmann. Willdenow. Raddi. Presl. Petiyer. Sprengel. Schott, M.S. PLATE XLVI. VOL. VI. Cardiochlcena macrophylla, Bathmium macrophylla, Aspidium bijidum, Polypodium variolatum, Fee. Link. Peesl. Willdenow. Aspidium— The Shield Fern. Macrophyllum—Lavgc-le-dved. A fine Fern, pretty generally cultivated in our English collections, yet often confused with Aspidium trifoliatum, Swartz, figured on Plate XXIX of this volume. An evergreen stove Fern. Native of the West Indies, Tropical America, and Brazil. Fronds glabrous, oblong-ovate in form; pinnate, the pinnae being of an oblong-lanceolate-acuminate shape, somewhat membranous5 petiolulate; base cordate; the lower pair two-lobed, whilst the terminal pinna is either three-lobed or sinuately pinnatifid, the basal segments being the longest. 120 Sori uniform, uniserial, on either side the primary veins ASPID1UM MACROPHYLLUM. and commonly situated on the middle of a venule. Stipes scaly. Frond terminal, adherent to an erect fasciculate rhizoma. Length of frond from twenty-four to thirty inches; colour Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1836, having been introduced by Messrs. Loddiges, but known in England twenty years previous. For plants I am indebted to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Mr. Stansfield, of Todmorden; and Messrs. Booth, of Hamburg; and for fronds to Mr. R. Sim, and Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting. It is contained in the Catalogues of Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood; Veitch, of Chelsea; A. Henderson, of Pine- apple Place; Booth, of Hamburg; Sim, of Foot’s Cray; Stansfield, of Todmorden; Rollisson, of Tooting; Kennedy, of Covent Garden ; and Cooling, of Derby. The illustrations are from plants in my own collection. pale green. ' I pi CM UNITUM. XLVlf— vol. o. Portion of Pinna of mature Frond-under side. ASPIDIUM UNITUM. Schkuhr. Kunze. Swartz. Petiver. Burman. Sprengel. PLATE XLV1I. VOL. VI. Nephrodium unitum, it it tt “ “ lucens, “ propinquum, Aspidium — The Shield Fern. E. Brown. J. Smith. Schott. Mooee and Houlston. Pbesl. Fee. Of Gardens. E. Beown. Unitum — Joined, or linked. In the Section Nephrodium of Authors. The present species is occasionally met with in collections. An evergreen stove Fern. Native of Tropical America, New Holland, and India. Fronds pinnate; pinnte ensiform-lanceolate, from five to six inches in length, pinnatifid, with semi-ovate acute segments. Petiolulate, and sub-cordate at the base. Fronds glandulose; minutely pubescent beneath. Lateral, adherent to a creeping rhizoma. Stipes, when young, of a reddish colour, and having a few scattered scales at the base. Sori medial and uniserial. ASI’IDIUM UN1TUM. 190 X /v r •^-•^r _ . •. ; , VAmnAj] '| Ay JwS^JiN^SS JPyjwW-f WMFW&A '^m^mS^ri' J&i,