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"The cheerful CDinmunity of the polypody."
How to Know the P'cins
A (;U1I)E
TO THE NAMFS, H.M \TS, AND HABITS OF Ol R (.C)M\1('N ri-RNS
By
Frances Thi-odora l^ursons
Aiitliot nf " Hew to Ktii'tf thf lt',:W Flovfs, " A c cord hi I' /i> Sfii}:rrt," /-.ft.
ll!ii:.Untf(l >.V
Marion Satterlec and Alice ju'jephinc Smiih
TO R () N ro IHK PI hi.jshi:ks' svNDir.xri.
l,i rn i t (m1
'•Tile Llifci'tiii oiiinnui;!ii\ ••! ilit- polvpudy,"
Ife
i'
How to Know the Ferns
A GUIDE
TO THE NAMES, HAUNTS, AND HABITS OF OUR COMMON FERNS
By Frances Theodora Parsons
Author of "How to Knoiv the Wild Flowtrs," " According: to Season," Etc.
Illustrated by Marion Satierlee and Alice Josephine Smith
T O R O N I O THE PUBLISHERS' SYNDR:ArK
Limited 1S99
163U)8
Copynght, 1899. by Ch.rle. Scnbner'. Son. for the United Statei of Am.rica
"''nted by th. T.w Dit.ctory. Pnnt.ng .„d Bookbinding Co.p.ny New York, U. S. A,
TO
J. R. P. JR.
^
""•"*"* '" -^°"' "■'■' «"-■'■ '^ -*. ».,vrf ,..,>/,„. w
'""""■'"' '" '■'"■ *'*'"* '" -*- ^o.r „/,. «,i „,rf „ not so easily accomplished:'
— Thoreau
PREFACE
Since the publication, six years a<;o, of " How to Know the Wild Flowers," I have received such con- vincing testimony of the eagerness of nature-lovers of all ages and conditions to familiarize themselves with the inhabitants of our woods and fields, and so many assurances of th'' joy which such a familiarity affords, that I have prepa^-cd this companion volume on " How to Know the Ferns." It has been my ex- perience that the world of delight which opens before us when wc are admitted into some sort of intimacy with our companions other than human is enlarged with each new society into which we win
our way.
It seems strange that the abundance of ferns everywhere has not aroused more curiosity as to their names, haunts, and habits. Add to this abun- dance the incentive to their study afforded by the fact that owing to the comparatively small number of species we can familiarize ourselves with a large
PREFACE
proportion of our native ferns during a single sum- mer, and it is still more surprising that so lew ellurts have been made to bring them within easy reach of the public.
1 wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to the many books on our native ferns which I have con- sulted, but more especially to Gray's *' Manual," to Eaton's " Ferns of N(jrth America," to the " Illus- trated Flora" of Messrs. Britton and Brown, to Mr. Underwood's "Our Native Ferns," to Mr. William- son's " Ferns of Kentucky," to Mr. Dodge's " Ferns and Fern Allies of New England," and to that excel- lent little (piartcrly, which I recommend heartily to all fern-lovers, the "Fern Bulletin," edited by Mr. Clute.
To the State Botanist, Dr. Charles M. Peck, who has kindly read the proof-sheets of this book, I am indebted for many suggestions; also to Mr. Arthur G. Clement, of the University of the State of New York.
To Miss Marion Satterlee thanks are due not only for many suggestions, but also for the descriptions of the Woodwardias.
The pen-and-ink illustrations are all from original drawings by Miss Satterlee and Miss Alice Jose-
vi
PKLFACE
phinc Smith. The photographs luivc been furnished by Miss Murray Ledyard, Miss Madeline Smith, and Mr. Augustus Truyn.
In ahiiost all cases I have followed the nomencla- ture of Gray's "Manual" as being the one which would be familiar to the majority of my readers, giving in parentheses that used in the "Illustrated Flora" of Messrs. Britton and Brown.
Fkanxes Tiikodoka Parsons
Albany, March 6, 1899
Vll
'J-t',
^■"
'"<• //'CM liwn^sf fo km^-w a>ni
full .tn.i
fo rn/ov, the tnott
on.f^Ut, ,„u I,, ,;,^ (,,^,^, fj^^^ ^
flht of living
COMIENTS
Paf/,
Pfi'/au'
Irriis as a I lobby
IVIun and IVIurc lo I'hul Irnis .
/txplaiialioii of Terms
Irf/ili:afi'oii, Dnrlopniciif. and I'nutilicalhn
VII
/5
2H
0,
)f lu'in:
Notable Irrn i\imiUcs How to Use the Booli
P
i6 38
Gn/de .
Irrn Deseriptions Group I. Group II . Group HI. . Group 11/ . . Group V, ■ Group yi. .
40
54 67 87
lO'j
120
159
IX
CONTENTS
j
Index to Latin Names Index to EnglisJi Names . Index to Technical Terms
Page . 211
. 21^
1 'fi
LIST OF PLATES
*»♦ The actual sizes of fn-ns arc not giccn in the illustrations. For this information see the correspoiiding description
PLATE
1.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Sknsitive Fern, . OSIKUU Fkrn, Ci.NNAMoN Fern,
ClKI.Y (jR.\SS, . .
Royal Fern, . .
INTERRUI'TEU FERN,
Adder's Tongue,
T E r n a r I-: G r a i' e
Fern,
IX. MOONWORT,
Lance-leaved G r a p e
Fern,
Otioclea sensibiiis, . . O HOC lea Stnithioptcris, Osmunda ciiuiamomcii, SchiziCa pusilla, . . Os III Hilda n\i^alis, . . Osmunda Claytoniana, Opliioglossiiin vitlgatitiii,
I^otrychiiini fcniatinii, Bolryc/itiiin Lunaria, .
liotrychinm lanceolatitiii.
X.
XI.
Plrple Glief Brake, . Pcltica atropurptirea,
N A R R O W - L E A \' E D
Sl'LEENWORT,
XII. Net- V e i ned Ghain
Fern, Woodwanlia angustifoha,
XIIT.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XXI.
XX.
XXII.
XXIII.
Cheilanthes vestita, Dickson ia pi lost use it In ,
Aspic
Hairy Lip Fern, .
Hay-scented Fern,
Lady Fern, ...
Silvery Spleenwort, .
Rue Spleenwort, . .
Mountain S p l e e n - \vort, ....
Ehony Spleenwort, .
Scott's Spleenwort. .
Green Spleenwort, .
Pinnatifid S p l e e n -
wort, Aspleniuin pinnatifidiin\
Bradley's Spleen- wort, Asplciiiuin Bradlcyi,
splciiiuiii rilis-JiviiiiiKi,
Aspleniuin thclypteroidcs,
Aspleniuin Ruta-muyaria
Aspleniuin nionlaiiuni , .
Aspleniuin ebeneum, . .
Aspleniuin ebenoides, .
Asplcnitim viride, . .
rA(.K 57
6i f^5
73 79
83 85
. 85 ■ 91
Aspleniuin angitsti/oliiiin, . 99
103
113 115 121 125 127
I3»
135 141
139 143 145
LIST OF PLATES
ii
PLATE
XXIV. Virginia Chain Fern,
XXV. New York Fkkn,
XXVI. Marsh Fern, . . .
XXVII. Si'iNULOsE Wood
Fern,
-XXVIII. Boott'.s Shield Fern,
XXIX. C rest E I) S H IE LD
Fern,
XXX. Clinton 's Wood Fern,
XXXI. GoLDiE's Fern, . .
XXXII. Evercreen W o o d
Fern,
XXXIII. Fragrant Shield
Fern,
XXXIV. Braun's Hollv Fkr.n.
XXXV. Broad Beech Fern,
XXXVI. Oak Fern, ....
XXXVII. Bllhlet B l a d d e r
Fern
XXXVIII. Fragile Bladder
Fern,
XXXIX. Rusty Woodsia, . . Xi.. Blunt-loijed Wood- sia,
XLI. Northern Woodsia, .\LII. Smooth Woodsia,
ll^ooiiicardia Virginica, . A spidimn A^ovehoraccnsc, Aspidiitm Thclyptcris, .
Aspidiuin spinulosH/n, var
intermedium, Aspidium Boottii, . . .
Aspidiiii/i cristatn/n, . .
Aspidiuin cristatum. Tar
Clintonianuin, Aspidium Goldianum,
Aspidium marginale,
Aspidiuin fragrans, . . Aspidium aculeatum^ -■ar
Braiinii,
Phegopieris hexagonoptera, Phegopteris Dryopteris, .
Cystopteris hulbifera, . .
Cystopleris fragilis, . . IVoodsia liven sis.
Woodsia ol'tusa, IVoodsia hyperhorea , IVoodsia glabella, .
PAGE
161 163
167 169
171 173
175 179
183 189 191
IQ5
197 199
201
205 207
xu
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
' ' The cheerful community of the polypody " ■ Frontispiece
From a photoiyraph by Miss Madeline Smith.
Page
New York Fern .... ' ' The greatest charm the ferns possess
surroundings
From a photograph by Mr. Augustus
Fiddleheads .
Fragile Bladder Fern
Crested Shield Fern
Purple Cliff Brake
Ternate Grape Fern
Evergreen Wood Fern
Sensitive Fern
Cinnamon Fern
Royal Fern .
Interrupted Fern
Climbing Fern
Rattlesnake Fern
Slender Cliff Brake
" The unpromising wall of rock which rose beside us '
From a photograph by Miss Ledynrd.
xiii
is that of
Pruyn.
their
XVI 12
. i8
• 19 . 20
22
. 24
• 27
. S'J . 60 . 68
' 74
. 73 . 80
. 89
. 94
LIST^OF :^LIISTRAT10NS
More compouihi fromi of Purple Cliff Brake . . g^ Christmas Fern gy
Narrow-leaved Spleeuwort g8
Brake /o6
Maidenhair //o
Mountain Spleenwort /^o
Mountain Spleenwort / ^2
" In the shaded crevices of a cliff" . . . .1^2
From (1 p/tol(\<;i;ip/i hy Miss Madrltnr Siinl/i.
Maidenhair Spleenwort / J7
IV at king Leaf /^6
" IVe fairly gloated over the quaint little plants " . 148
From a photograph by Miss J.c/yar,/.
Harfs Tongue 75/
Marsh Fern 162
" Like the plumes of departing Summer '' . . . lyS
From a photograph by Miss Madeline Smith.
Common Polypody 184
Long Beech Fern i8j
Oak Fern igi
Bulblet Bladder Fern 194
xiv
How to Know the Ferns
I
I
New York Fern
FERNS AS A HOBBY
I THINK it is Charles Lamb who says that every man should have a hobhv, if it be nothiiii^ better than collecting strin^^s. A man with a hobby turns to account the spare moments. A holiday is a de- light instead of a bore to a man witli a hobby. Thrown out of his usual occupations on a holiday, the average man is at a loss for employment. Pro- vided his neighbors are in the same h\', he can play cards. But there are hobbies and hobbies. As an occasional relaxation, for example, nothing can be said against card-playing. Hut as a hobby it is not much better than " collecting strings." It is neither broadening mentally nor invigorating physically, and it closes the door upon other interests which are both. I remember that once, on a long sea-voyage, I envied certain of my fellow-passengers who found amuse- ment in cards when ihe conditions were such as to make almost any other occujoation out of the ques- tion. But when finally the ship's course lay along a strange coast, winding among unfamiliar islands, by shores luxuriant with tropical vegetation and sprinkled with strange settlements, all affording de-
riKNS AS A lloHltV
lij;lil to {he eye and iiilcrrst to \\\c mind, (licsc players w Ijo had toiur abroad solely lor instnirlion and pleasuie could not be enlit cd Iroiii tlieii' lables, and I thanked my stars that I had not fallen under t he stnlt iiyini;- sway of caids. Much the sainej^rati- tndi' is aroused when I see men and women spendin;^' precious summei" days indoois over t he eard-table when they mii;ht be bi'eathin*;' the fra«;rant, lile- i;ivin};' air. and rejoicing; in the beauty and interest of the woods and fields.
All thini;s considered, a hobby that takes us out. of doors is the best. The dilTe'ent open-air sports may be c hissed under this head. The chief lack in the artiluial sj^oits, such as j)olo, i;()lf, i)asel)all, etc., as oppt)sed to the natural si)orts, huntin.'; and tish- iui;-, is that while they are invaluable as a means of health and relaxation, they do not lead to other and broader interests, while many a boy-hunter lias de- veloped into a naturalist as a result of lonjj^ days in the woods. 1 luntins;- and lishinj^ would seem almost perfect recreations were it not for the life-takin<^ element, which may become brutaliziui^. 1 wish that every mother who believes in the value of natural sport for her youni^ boys would set her face sternly against any takin*^ of life that cannot be justihed on the orround of man's needs, cither in the way of protection or sup])ort.
The ideal hobbv, it seems to mc, is one that keeps us in the open air among inspiring surroundings, with the knowledge of natural objects as the end in view. The study of plants, of animals, of the earth
f
m;kns as a iinnnY
ilscif, hot.'iiiy, y.oi'An^y, or j^colo^^y, Miiy one <>l (licsc will .'iiiswcr the varied i('(|iiirt'mcnls oi an ideal liohhy. I'otciiliall V IIk'V possess all I lie ficinciils ol sport. ()ff('ii llicy rc([iiirc not only jici severance and skill bnt conraj^c; and daiinj^. 'I'liry aic a means ol liealtli, a relaxation to the mind irom ordi- nary eares, and an ahsorhinj^ inteicst. Anv <»ne of them may be used as a doorway to the ollicrs.
II parents realized tlu; valne to their childrens' minds and bodies ol a love loi" plants and ain'mals, of any snch hoi)l)y as birds or bntterllies or tices or flowers, lam sure they woidd take more |>ains to encourage the interest which instinctively a child feels in these thiiiij^s. It must be because su( h real- ization is lackin<j^ that, we see parents ap|)ai(ntly either too indolent or too ii^norant to shaie the enthusiasm and to satisfy the curiosity awakened in the child's active mind by natural objects.
Of course it is possible that owin^ to the stranjj^e reticence of many children, parents may be uncr)n- scious of the existence of any enthusiasm or curiosity of this sort. As a little child I was so eai^er to kiKnv the names of the wild flowers that I went thr(ju^li my ^grandfather's library, examinini^ book after book on flowers in the vain hope of acquirini^ the desired information. Always after more or less tedious reading, for I was too youn^^ to master tables of contents and introductions, I would discover that the volume under examination was devoted to garden flowers. But I do not remember that it oc- curred to me to tell anyone what I wanted or to ask
FHRNS AS A IIOMHY
for h('l|). rinally I It'anicd tliat a hook on the siih- jcct, written " for yoiiiijj; i)i'f)|)lc," was in existence, and I asked my mother to buy it for me. The rc- (juest was ^ratifietl promptly and I i)lo(hled thronpfh the i^reliminary matter ol " I low IMants Grow " to find that I was (luite unable to master the key, and tliat any knowledi^e of the (lowers that louKl apjxal to mv child-mind was locked away fiom me as hope- lessly as befoie. Kyen thoui^h my one expressed wish had been so ;j^ladly met, 1 did not confide to otliers my peri)lexity, but surrendered sadly a cher- ished (beam. Owinj; lai*j^ely, I belieye, to the re- action from this disaj)pointment, it was many years before 1 attemi)te(l ai^ain to wrestle with a botan- ical key, or to learn the names of the llowers.
I low much was lost by yieldini; too easily to dis- courai^ement I not only realize now, but 1 realized it partially durins^ the lonj^ i)eriod when the j)lants \ycre nameless. Amon<^ the flowers whose faces were familiar thoui^h their names were unknown, I felt that I was not makini; the most of my oppor- tunities. And when I met plants which \ycrc both new and nameless, I was a stran<^er indeed. In the English woods and alonjj^ the loyely English riyers, by the rushing torrents and in the Alpine meadows of Switzerland, on the mountains of Brazil, I should have felt myself less an alien had I been able then as now to detect the kinship between foreign and North American plants, and to call the strangers by names that were at least partially familiar.
To the man or woman who is somewhat at home
i
FtKNS AS A HOBBY
-J
ill till- |»laiit-\v<)i 1(1, travel is (luilc a dilfcinit ihiiij^ iioiii u liat it is to one who docs not know a mint from a iiiustaid. I'lic shortest jouincy to a new loialit \ is lull ol intcrt'st to the travellc r who is striv- iii"-- to kni-thcii his list of plant acciuaintances. 'I'he tedious waits around the railway station are wel- c(juied as opportunities lor Iresh discoveries. The slow local train receives hlessinj^s insteacl of anath- cuKis because ot the supeiiority ol its windows as posts ol observation. The Ioiil; sta<;e ride is too short to satisly the |)lant-lover who is keeping count of the dilferenl species by the roadside.
While crcjssini; the C(jntinent on the Canadian l^acitic Railway a few years ai^o, the days spent in traversing the vast plains east ol iIk- Rockies were
days of keen enjovrnent on account of the new plants seen from my window and j^atheied breath- lessly for identificatio!! durini^ the brie! stoj)s. Hut to most of niv fellow-passcnij^ers thev were days of unmitigated boredom. They could not comprehend the reluctance with which I met each nii;htfall as an interruption to my watch.
When, final! v, one cold June mornini^ we climbed the i^lorious Canadian I-vockies and were driven to the hotel at lianff, where we were to rest for twenty-four hours, the enjoyment of the previ(jus weelv was crowned bv sceiiii? the dinim^-room tables decorated with a flower which 1 had never suc- ceeded in finding- in the woods at home. It was the lovely little orchid, Calypso horra/is, a shy, wild creature which had been brouirht to me from the
FERNS AS A HOBBY
mountains of Vermont. It seemed almost desecra- tion to force tliis little aristocrat to consort with the pepper-pots and pickles of a hotel dinin<^-room. In ni)' eai^erness U) see Calypso in her forest-home 1 could scarcely wait to eat the breakfast for which a few UKMuents before 1 had been painfully hunj^ry.
Unfortunately the waiters at lianff were proved as ruthless as vandals in other parts of the world. Amontr the pines that clothed the lower mountain- sides I found many plants of Calypso, but only one or two of the delicate blossoms had been left to (gladden the eyes of those who love to see a iiower in the wild beauty of its natural surroundings.
That same eventful day had in store for me an- other delight as the result of my love for plants. For a long time I had wished to know the shooting- star, a flower with whose general appearance from pictures or from descriptions I was familiar. I knew that it grew in this part of the world, but dur- ing a careful search of the woods and meadows and of the banks of the rushing streams the only shoot- inir-star I discovered was a faded blossom which someone had picked and flung upon the mountain- path. Late in the afternoon, having given up the hope of any fresh find, I went for a swim in the warm sulphur pool. While paddling about the clear water, revelling in the beauty of the surroundings and the sheer physical joy of the moment, my eyes fell suddenly on a cluster of pink, cyclamen-like blossoms springing from the oj)posite rocks. I recognized at once the pretty shooting-star.
6
FERNS AS A HOBBY
Two clays later, at Glacier, I had ane^thcr pleas- ure from the same source in the discovery of great beds of nodding- golden lilies, the western species of adder's tongue, growing close to white helds of snow.
" Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossiny; their heads in sprightly dance."
The enjoyment of the entire trip to the Pacific coast, of the voyage among the islands and glaciers of Alaska, and of the journey home through the Yellowstone and across our Western prairies, was increased indescribably by the new plants 1 learned to know.
The pleasure we take in literature, as in travel, is enhanced by a knowledge of nature. Not only are we able better to appreciate writers on nature so original and inspiring as Thoreau, or so charming as John Burroughs, but such nature-loving poets as Wordsworth, Lowell, Bryant, and countless others, mean inhnitely more to the man or w^oman who with a love of poetry combines a knowledge of the plants and birds mentioned in the poems.
Books of travel are usually far more interesting if we have some knowledge of botany and zoology. This is also true of biographies which deal with men or women who find either their work or their recre- ation— and how many men and women who have been powers for good may be counted in one class or the other— in some department of natural science. One fascinating department of nature-study, that
riiKNS AS A HOBBY
of fciMS, li.is received Init little attention in this country. Within the last lew years we hayc betMi supplied with excellent and ineNj)ensiye hand-books U) our birds, butterllies, trees, and llowers. 15ul so far as I know, wilh the e\ceptit)n ol Mr. William- son's little volume on the "Ferns oi Kentucky," we have no book with suHicient text, and illustra- tions within the leach ol the brains and purse of the avera<;c fern-lover, in hjii;land one finds books of all sizes and prices on the l{ni;lish ferns, while our beautiful Ameiican ferns are almost unknown, owing probably to the lack of attractive and inexpensive fern literature, l^^aton's finely illustrated work on the " Ferns of Noith America" is entirely out of the (juestion on account ol itsexj)ense; and the "Illus- trated Flora " of Britton cV Brown is also beyond the reach of the ordinaiT plant-lover. Miss Price's "Fern Collectors' I land-book" is helpful, but it is without descriptive text, "Our Native Ferns and their Allies," bv Mr. Underwood, is exhaustive and authoritative, but it is extremely technical and the different species are not illustrated. Mr. Dodge's j)amphlet on the "Ferns and Fern Allies of New Fngland " is excellent so far as it goes, the descrip- tions not being so technical as to confuse the be- ginner. Bnt this also is not illustrated, while Mr. Knobel's i)amphlet, "The Ferns and Evergreens of New England," has clear black-and-white illustra- tions of many species, but it has no text of impor- tance.
In view of the singular grace and charm of the fern
8
TEKNS^AS A HOBBY
tribe, iKifcnt to thr most caiTk-ss ohscrvcr, lliis lack <>l Icni litcratiiic is smpiisin-. || is i)()ssil)lc ll.at, Tliorcau is rin|i( in daimino llial " wc all fed ll.c ferns to l)c lai thcr Ironi us csscniially and sy.npatlict- icallv than the i)licMi(),-ani(,ns plants, 1 he roses and u'ceds for inslancc." 'I'his may he true in spile ol Ihe fact that to some of us the charm of ferns is as great, iheir beauty more subtle, than that ol the flowerin- plants, and to learn to i<now them by name, to trace them to their homes, and to observe their liabits is attended with an inierest as keen, perhaps keener, than Ihat udiicli attends the study of the names, haunts, and habits of the flowers.
That ferns possess a j)eculiar power of blinding their votaries to the actual position they occupy in the minds of people in -eneral seems to me evi- denced l)y the following cpiotations, taken respec- tively from Mr. Underwoods and Mr. Williamson's introductions.
So competent and coldly scientihc an authority as Mr. Underwood ()i)cns his b(;ok with these words :
" In the entire vcgctalile world there are probably no forms of growth that attract more general notice than the Ferns."
The lack of fern literature, it seems to me, proves the fallacy of this statement. If ferns had been more generally noticed than other " forms of growth " in the vegetable world, surely more would have been written on the subject, and occasionally someone besides a botanist would be found who could
Q
FERNS AS A HOBBY
name correctly more than three or four of our com- mon wayside ferns.
In his introduction to tlic *' Ferns of Kentucky," Mr. Williamson asks: "Who would now think of going to the country to spend a few days, or even one day, without first inquiring whether ferns are to be found in the locality?"
Though for some years 1 have been interested in ferns and have made many all-day country expedi- tions with various friends, I do not remember ever to have heard this question asked. Yet that two such writers as Mr. Underwood and Mr. William- soi\ could imagine the existence of a state of things so contrary to fact, goes far to prove the fascination of the study.
To the practical mind one of the great advantages of ferns as a hobby lies in the fact that the number of our native, that is, of our northeastern, ferns is =]0 comparatively small as to make it an easy matter to learn to know by name and to see in their homes perhaps two-thirds of them.
On an ordinary walk of an hour or two through the fields and woods, the would-be fern student can tamiliarize himself with an3'where from ten to fifteen of the ferns described in this book. During a summer holiday in an average locality he should learn to know by sight and by name from twenty-five to thirty ferns, while in a really good neighborhood the enthusiast who is willing to scour the surrounding country from the tops of the highest mountains to the depths of the
i
lO
FERNS AS A HOBBY
I
wildest ravines may ho})e to extend his list into the forties.
During the past year several lists of the ferns found i)n a sini^le walk or within a certain radius have been published in the Ftrfi />'////<//;/, leadini; to some rivalry between fern students who claim precedence for their pet localities.
Mr. Underwood has found twenty-seven species within the immediate vicinity of Green Lake, Onon- daiL^a County, N. V., and thirty-four species within a circle whose diameter is not ove- three miles.
Mrs. E. 11. Terrv, on a two-hours' walk near Dorset, Vt., did still better. She found thirty-thn, '; species and four varieties, while Miss Margaret Slosson has broken the record by finding thirty-nine species and eight varieties, near Pittsford, Rutland County, V^t., within a triangle formed by "the end of a tamarack swamp, a field less than a mile away, and some limestone cliffs three miles from both the field and the end of the swamp."
Apart from the interest of extending one's list of fern acquaintances is that of discovering new sta- tions for the rarer species. It was my good fortune last summer to make one of a party which found a i)reviously unknown station for the rare Hart's Tongue, and 1 experienced the thrill of excitement which attends such an experience. The other day, in looking over Torre3''s " Flora of New York," 1 noticed the absence of several ferns now known to be natives of this State. When the fern student realizes the possibility which is always before him
II
FEKNS AS A HOBBY
of lincliiii^ a new station for a larc fern, and thus adclinj^ an item ol value to the natural history uf the State, he should be stimulated to fresh zeal.
Other inteix'sting' i)ossil)ilities are those of discover- ing" a new varietv an<l ol chaneini;" ujxjn those fork(.'d or crested fronds which a{)|)ear occasionallv in man}- s])ecies. These unusual tonus not only ])osscss the charm of rarity and sometimes of intrinsic beauty, but they are interesting because of the light it is be- lieved they may throw on problems ot fern ancestry. To this department of fern study, the discovery and development of abnormal forms, much attention is j)aid in England. In Lowe's "British Ferns" 1 hnd described between thirty and forty varieties of Polypodiuni vulgarc, while the varieties of Scolopcn- driuiii vulgare, our rare Hart's Tongue, extend into the hundreds.
The majority of ferns mature late in the summer, irivinir the student the advantage of several weeks or months in which tf) observe their growth. Many of our most interesting flowers bloom and perish be- fore we realize that the spring is really over. There are few flower lovers who have not had the sense of being outwitted by the rush of the season. Every year [ make api)ointments with the different plants to visit them at their flowering time, and nearly every year 1 miss some such appointments through failure to a})preciate the short lives of these fragile blossoms.
A few of the ferns share the early habits common to so many flowers. But usually we can hope to
12
J
the
vcr-
-kccl
lany
i the
luty,
s be-
:stry.
xm is is" 1 ics ot )lopcn- \ into
nnier, weeks Many sh be- There nse ol Every plants nearly rough fragile
)mmon ope to
The greatest cliann tlie fcTiis possess is that ni their surromidinys."
I
1
FHRNS AS A llOliiiY
fiiKl llicni in tlicir |)rinic wlicn most of the llowcrs liavc disappeared.
To nie tlie j^rcatest charm the ferns possess is tliat of tlicir surroundings. No othf r plants know so well how to choose their haunts. If you wisli to know tlic ferns you must foUow them to Nature's most sacred retreats. In remote, tanjj^led swamps, ovcrhans^ini; the swift, noiseless brook in the heart of the forest, close to the rush of the foaminjj^ water- fall, in the depths of some dark ravine, or perhaps hii^h up on mountain-led^j^es, where the air is purer and the world wider and life more beautiful than we had fancied, these wild, ji^raceful thinij^s are most at home.
You will never learn to know the ferns if you expect to make their accjuaintance from a carriaj^c, alon*^ the hi<^hway, or in the interval between two meals. For their sakes you must renounce indolent habits. You must be willin<^ to tramp tirelessly throui^h woods and across fields, to climb mountains and to scramble down <^orgcs. You must be con- tent with what luncheon you can carry in your pocket. And let me tell 3'ou this. When at last you flin^- yourself upon some bed of sprin^-ini;- moss, and add to your sandwich cresses fresh and drip- pint^ from the neighborini^ brook, you will eat your simple meal with a relish that never attends the most elaborate luncheon within four walls. And when later you surrender yourself to the delicious sense of fatigue and drowsy relaxation which steals over you, mind and body, listening half-uncon-
13
FERNS AS A HOBBY
sciously to tlic plaintive, lonjj^-clrawii notes of the wood-birds and the sharp " tsing " of the locusts, breathing the minj^led fragrance of the mint at your feet and the pines and hemlocks overhead, you will wonder vasjuely why on summer days you ever drive aloni^ the dusty hi^h-road or oat indoors or do any of the flavorless conventional thini^s that con- sume so large a portion of our lives.
Of course what is true of other out-door studies is true of the study of ferns. Constantly your curiosity is aroused by some bird-n(jte, some tree, some gor- geously colored butterfly, and, in the case of ferns especially, by some outcropping rock, which make you eager to follow up other branches of nature- study, and to know by name each t:ee and bird and butterfly and rock you meet.
The immediate result of these long haj)py days is that "^oldcn doze of mind which follows upon much exercise in the open air," the "ecstatic stupor" which Stevenson supposes to be the nearly chronic condition of "open-air laborers." Surely there is no such preventive of insomnia, no such cure for nervousness or morbid introspection as an absorb- ing out-door interest. Body and mind alike are invigorated to a degree that cannot be appreciated by one who has not experienced the life-giving power of some such close and loving contact with nature.
14
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
Mnar;
" It is no use to direct our steps to the woods if (hey do not carry us thither. I am alarmed when it hajipens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit." — TJwreau.
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
H
(In not
I liave
here in
It is in early spring that one likes to take uj) for the first time an out-door study. But if you bco^in your search for ferns in March, when the woods are yielding a few timid blossoms, and the air, still pungent with a suggestion of winter, vibrates to the lisping notes of newly arrived birds, you will haidly be rewarded by finding any but Ihe evergreen spe- cies, and even these are not likely to be especially conspicuous at this season.
Usually it is the latter part of April before the pioneers among the lerns, the great Osmundas, push up the big, woolly croziers, or fiddleheads, which will soon develop into the most luxuriant and trop- ical-looking plants of our low wet woods and road- sides.
At about the same time, down among last year's Christmas Ferns, you find the rolled-up fronds of this year, covered with brown or whitish scales. And now every day for many weeks will appear fresh batches of young ferns. Someone has said that there is nothing more aggressively new-born than a young fern, and this thought will recur
17
I
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
constantly as you chance upon the little wrinkled crozier-like fronds, whether they are bundled up in
wrappinj^s of soft wool and pro- tected by a garment of overlap- j)ing scales, or whether, like many of the later arrivals, they come into the world as naked and puny as a human baby.
Once uncurled, the ferns lose quickly this look of infancy, and embody, quite as effectively, even the hardiest and coarsest among them, the slender grace of youth. Early in Ma)- we find the Osmun- das in this stage of their develop- ment. The Royal Fern, smooth and delicate, is now flushing the wet meadows with its tender red. In the open woods and along the roadside the Interrupted and the Cinnamon Ferns wear a green equally delicate. These three plants soon reach maturity and are conspicuous by reason of their unusual size and their flower- like fruit-clusters.
On the rocky banks of the brook, or perhaps among the ^^ spreading roots of some forest- tree, the Fragile Bladder Fern unrolls its tremulous little i8
^
Fiddleheada
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
inkled up in
i pro-
^erlap- many come
1 puny
s lose y, and I, even among youth, ^smun- evelop- smooth ng the ier red. ns: the nd the green three Ly and .f their Iflower-
of the ig the Iforest- Fern little
Ml
fronds, on which the fruit-dots soon appear. Where there is less moisture and more exposure \vc may find the Rusty Woodsia, now belying its name by its silvery aspect. At this same season in the bogs and tliickets wc should look for the curious little Adder's Tongue.
By the first of June many of the ferns are well advanced. On the hill-sides and along <^ the wood-path the Brake spreads its single umbrella-like frond, now pale green and delicate, quite unlike the umbrag-^ous-looking plant of a month later. Withdrawing into the recesr.es formed by the past- ure-rails the Lady Fern is in its first freshness, without any sign of the disfigurements it develops so often by the close of the summer. Great patches of yellowish green in the wet meadows draw atten- tion to the Sensitive Fern, which only at this season seems to have any claim to its title. The Virginia Chain Fern is another plant to be looked for in the wet June meadows. It is one of the few ferns which grows occasionally in deep water.
The Maidenhair, though immature, is lovely in its fragility. Thoreau met with it on June 13th and
19
Fragile Bladder Fern
I
r"
describes it in his diary for that day: "The delicate maid- en-hair fern forms a cup or disli, very delicate and grace- ful. Beautiful, too, its glossy black stem and its wave-edged, fruited leaflets."
In the crevices of lof- ty cliffs the Mountain vSpleenwort approaches maturity. 7\nd now we should search the moist, mossy crannies of the rocks for the Slender Cliff Brak':, for in some localities this plant disappears early in the summer.
We may hope to hnd most of the ferns in full foliage, if not in fruit, by the middle of July. Dark green, tall and vigorous stand the Brakes. The Crested Shield Fern is fruiting in the swamps, and in the deep- er woods Clinton's and Goldie's Ferns are in full fruitage. Magnificent vase- like clusters of the Ostrich Fern spread above our
20
Crested Shield Fern
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
■scribes in his ary for -: *'Thc maid- ■ fern r (lisli,
1 2:race- too, its em and
fruited
IS of lof- ountain "oaches now we
2 moist, of the
cr Cliff realities arly in
most of not in Darlv nd the Fern is le deep- s Ferns nt vasc- 10 ve our
heads in the thicket along the river-shore. The Spinulose ^Shield Fern and the Evergreen Wood Fern meet us at every turn of the shaded path beside the brook, and on the rocky wooded hill- side the Christmas Fern is almost as abundant. Where the stream plunges from above, the Hulb- let Bladder Fern drapes the steep banks with its long feathery fronds. In the wet meadows and thickets the New York Fern and the INIarsh Shield Fern are noticeable on account of their light green color and delicate texture. On moun- tain-ledges we look for the little Woodsias, and in rocky places, often in the shadow of red cedars, for the slim erect fronds of the Ebony Spleenwort.
Possibly it will be our good fortune to discover the blue-green foliage of the Purple Cliff Brake springing from the crevices of some dry limestone cliff. Almost surely, if we search the moist, shaded rocks and ravines in the neighborhood, we shall greet with unfailing pleasure the lovely little Maidenhair Spleenwort.
In somewhat southern localities the tapering, yellow.green fronds of the Dicksonia or Hay-scent- ed Fern are even more abundant and conspicuous than the darker foliage of the Spinulose Shield Fern. They abound along the roadsides and \n partially shaded or open pastures, ihe spores ripening not earlier than August.
In the same month we find in full maturitv three interesting wood ferns, all belonging to the same group
The first of these is the Long Beech Fern.
21
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
It is abundant in May in our Northern woods and on the rocky banks of streams. Its shape is notice- ably triangular, the triangle being- longer than broad. Its texture is rather soft and downy. The
lowest pair of pinnoe stand forward and are conspicu- ously deflexed, giving an easy clew to the plant's identity.
The most attractive mem- ber of the group to my mind is the Oak Fern. I find it growing abundantly in the cedar swamps and wet woods of somewhat northern locali- ties. Its delicate, spreading,
«e»®*^.
three - branched (rond
suggests that of a
,^oung Brake. This plant is pecul-
ly dainty in the early summer, as fre-
Purple Cliff I I ' . 1 -1
Brake qucptly latcr m the year it becomes
blotched and disfigured. The Broad Beech Fern seeks drier neighbor- hoods, and often a more Southern locality tiian its two kinsmen. Its triangular fronds, broader than
I
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
J
\
they are long, arc conspicuous on account of the unusual size of the lowest pair of pinnae.
A common phmt in the rich August woods is the Virginia Grape Fern, with its spreading leaf and branching fruit-cluster. The rather coarsely cut fronds of the Silvery S})leenwort are also frequently met with in the same neighborhood. Occasionally in their companionship we find the delicate and attractive Narrow-leaved Spleen wort.
August is the month that should be chosen for ex- peditions in search of some of our rarest ferns. In certain wild ravines of Central New York, at the foot of shaded limestone cliffs, the glossy leaves of the Hart's Tongue are actually weighed down by the brown, velvety rows of sporangia which emboss their lower surfaces. Over the rocks near-by, the quaint, though less unusual. Walking Leaf runs riot. Perhaps in the crevices of the overhanging cliff the little Rue Spleenwort has secured a foothold for its tiny fronds, their backs nearly covered with con- fluent fruit-dots.
On the mountain-ledges of Northern New Eng- land we should look for the Green Spleenwort, and for the Fragrant Shield Fern. Along rockv moun- tain-streams Braun's Holly Fern may be found. In wet woods, usually near the coast, the Net-veined Chain Fern is occasionally conspicuous.
More 'southern localities must be visited if we wish to see in its home the Hairy Lip Fern, whose most northern stations were on the Hudson River (for I do not know if this plant can be found there at
r
WMHN ANb WIIL-RE TO FIND FORNS
I re
n
rarely favored retreats from Massacliusetts south- ward, clamber the slender strands of the C!iinl)ing Fern. Thoreau's di- ary of Sep- tember 26th evidently re- fers to this plant : " The tree-fern is in
>'!»,) Tetnate Grape Fern
^&'
24
I
I ell rare the Pin- id Brad-
er the the lit- is ripen barrens . Over n rarely ts Ironi s south- )er the n d s of
Fern.
au's di-
Df Sep-
;r 26th
itly re-
o this
" The
rn is in
WHHN AND WHERE TO FIND FERNS
fruit now, with its delicate, tendril-like Iruit, climb- ing three or f(Hir feet cner the asters, golden-rod, etc., on the edge of the swamp."
In moist i)laces now we find the triangular much dissected leaf and branching fruit-cluster of the Ternate Grape Fern.
When October sets in, many of the ferns take their color- note from the surtnundings. Vying with the maples along the roadside the Osmundas wear deep orange. Many of the fronds of the Dick- sonia are bleached almost white, while others look fresh and green despite their delicate texture. On October 4th Thoreau writes of this plant :
" How interesting now, by wall-sides and on open springy hill-sides, the large straggling tufts of the Dicksonia fern above the leaf-strewn green sward, the cold, fall-green sward ! They are unusually pre- served about the Corner Spring, considering the earliness of this year. Long, harids(jme, lanceolate green fronds pointing in every direction, recurved and full of fruit, intermixed with yellowish and se. j brown and shrivelled ones, the whole clump per- chance strewn with fallen and withered maple leaves, and overtopped by now w'ithered and unnoticed os- mundas. Their lingering greenness is so much the more noticeable now that the leaves generally have changed. They affect us as if they were evergreen, such persistent life and greenness in the midst of decay. No matter how much they are strewn with withered leaves, moist and green they spire above them, not fearing the frosts, fragile as they are.
25
WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND FHKisi
Tlicir greenness is so much the more interesting, because so many have already fallen, and we know that the first severe frost will cut off them too. In the summer greenness is cheap, now it is a thing comparatively rare, -and is the emblem of life to us."
Oddly enough, with the first approach of winter the vigorous-looking Brake turns brown and cpiickly withers, usually without passing through any inter- mediate gradations of yellow.
In November we notice chiefly the evergreen ferns. The great round fruit-dots of the Polypody show distinctly through the fronds as they stand erect in the sunlight. A sober green, looking as though it were warranted fast, is the winter dress of the Evergreen Wood Fern. The Christmas Fern, bright and glossy, reminds one that the holiday season is not distant. These three plants are espe- cially conspicuous in our late autumn woods. Their brave and cheerful endurance is always a delight. Later in the season the curled pinnae of the Poly- pody seem to be making the best of cold weather. The fronds of the Christmas Fern and the Evergreen Wood Fern, still fresh and green, lie prostrate on the ground, their weakened stems apparently unable to support them erect, but undoubtedly in this posi- tion they are the better protected from the storm and stress of winter.
Many other ferns are mo' e or less evergreen, but perhaps none are so impoi tant to our fall rambles as this sturdy group. Several of the Rock Spleen- worts are evergreen, but their ordinarily diminutive
26
i
WHEN AND WHRRE TO FIND FERNS
estin^, know lo. I n thing to us." winter [uickly r intcr-
stature dwiiullcs with tlic incrcasinj^ coKl, and we seldom encounter tlieni on our winter walks. Tlie sterile fronds of a number of the Shield Ferns endure till sprinu^. The I'urple Cliff Brake; and the Walk- ing Leaf are also proof against ice and snow. Even in the middle of January the keen-eyed fern hunter mi'V hope to make some discovery of interest re- garding the haunts and habits of his favorites.
rgrcen ypody
stand :ing as r dress s Fern, loliday e espe-
Their elight.
Poly-
:ather.
•green late on lunable
s posi-
storm
m, but
imbles
fpleen-
mtive
Evergreen Wood Fern
27
r
EXPLANATION OF TERMS
„v. ,«--rp^ A FKRN is a ilowerlcss plant
, - ♦'^^^ <JwCv^ ' irrowuii^ from a root stock (a), witii
\j;g^&|r^f^ leaves or fronds usual I}' raised on
^^^^?j^^^^^'^^" ^'^ stalk, rolled up {I)) in the bud,*
^S^^]^^W^ and bearing on their lower surfaces
' ^^^tek^* ^'■) ^'^^' spores, by means of which
the plant reproduces.
A root stock is an underground, rooting stem. Ferns are propa- gated by the growth and budding of the rootstock as well as by the ordinary method of reproduction. The fronds spring from the root- stock in the manner peculiar to le species to which they belong. The >smundas, the Evergreen Wood Fern, id others grow in a crown or circle, the younger fronds always inside. The Mountain Spleen wort is one of a class which has irregularly clus-
Comrr.on Polypody
* Ophioi^lossiim and the Botrychiums, not being tiuf Ifiiis, are exceptions. 28
EXPLANATION OF TP.RMS
It Ijeing
tcrcd fronds. The froiuls of the lirake arc more or less solitary, risinj^ from (listinct atul somcvvi.at distant portions of the rootstock. The Botrychinms usually ^ive birth to a sini^le frond each season, the base of the stalk containing the bud for the suc- ceeding; year.
Vu;. I
W
FlC. 2
Vu:. 3
A frond is simple when it consists of an undivided leaf such as that of the Hart's Tongue or of the Walking Leaf (Fig. i).
A frond is pinnatifid when cut so as to form lobes extending half-way or more to the midvein (Fig. 2).
29
i
r«
tXIM.ANATION Ol" TIKMS
A frond is oiuc-f^iini(Uc \\\\v\\ llic incisions extend to the inidvfin (I'i^. 3). Under these conditions
tlie inidvcin is ca
lied
tl :1
le rat
/lis (tr),
aiH
1 tl
divisions arc called tl punuc (/>).
A frond is twicc-f^i I
le
ic
//■
uati
when tlu pimuii arc cut into divisions wliicl) extend to their
mid V e I n s (Fi<j^. 4). riiesc divisions of tiic piinue aie called pin- miles {<r). A frond rliat is only once-pi iniate may seem at first fi^lance twice-pinnate, as its piniue may be so deeply lobcd or pinnatihd as to require a close examination to con\incc us that the lobes come short of the midvcin of the pinna\ In a [)opular hand-book it is not thoui^ht necessary to explain further modifications.
The veins of a fern are /nr when, branchini:;- from the midvcin, they do not unite with other veins (Fisr, 5).
Ferns produce s/>o?rs {¥1^.6) instead of seeds. These spores are collected in spore- cases or sporangia (Fii^. 7). Usually the sporangia are clustered in dots or lines on the back of a frond or along its margins. These patches of sporangia are called sort or fruit-
30
I.;. 5
Fig. 6
rxi'i.ANATioN or ti;kms
extend (iitioiis called 11(1 llu* led tlic
'iit'-/>in-
|)imuL'
visions
[) their
ii;- 4). of the
)d ////-
eciii at. • he so
!(.. 5
witli
;ad of jporc- |y the
les on *^ins. ^ruit-
tiots. They take various shaj)es in the different
soceies.
Tl
le
y
\\\[V
)e ro
und
or linear or ohlnnj^
or kidney-siiaped oi' curved. At times they are naked, hut more fretjuentiy they are covered l)y a minute out<rro\vth of the frond or
hy its reflexed margin. Tliiscov- crinu is called the iuditsinm. in
'K^.
S)
stematic hotanies the indusia
play an important part in detei-
minini^ ^eneia. But as often tlicy
arc so minute as to he almost in-
visihle to the naked eye, and, as
fre(piently they wither away early "' ^
in the sea'^on, I place little (lej)endence upon them
as a means of popular identification.
A fertile frond is one which hears spores.
A sterile frond is one without spores.
31
FERTILIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND FRUCTIFICATION OF FERNS
Until very recently the development of ferns, their methods of fertilization and fructification have been shrouded in mystery. At one period it was believed that " fern-seed," as the fern-spores were called, possessed various miraculous powers. These were touched upon frequently by the early poets. In Shakespeare's " Henry IV^." Gadshill exclaims:
"We have the receipt of fcrn-secd, we walk invisible."
lie is met with the rejoinder:
" Nay, I think rather you are more beholden to the night than to fern-seed, for your walking invisible."
One of Ben Jonson's characters expresses the same idea in much the same words:
" I had no medicine, sir, to walk invisible, No fern-seed in my pocket."
In Butler's "Hudibras" reference is made to the anxieties we needlessly create for ourselves :
" Tliat spring like fern, that infant weed, Equivocally without seed. And have no possible foundation But merely in th' imagination." 32
FERTILIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND FRUCTIFICATION
,ND
[ ferns, n\ have
it was ;s were
These • poets, aims:
ible."
t than to es the
to the
In view of the fact that many ferns hear their spores or " fern-seed " somewhat conspicuously on the lower surfaces of their fronds, it seems proba- ble that the " fern " of early writers was our com- mon Brake, the friictiHcation of which is more than usually obscure, its sporangia or "fern-seed " beim;- concealed till full maturity by the reHexed marg-in of its frond. This plant is, perhaps, the most abun- dant and conspicuous of English ferns. Miss Pratt believes it to be the " fearn " of the Anglo-Saxons, and says that to its profusion in their neighbor- hood many tow ns and hamlets, such as Fearnborough or Farnborough, F a r n i n g h a m , F a r n h o w , and others owe their titles. The plant is a noticeable and common one also on the Continent.
In 1848 the de- velopment of the fern was first satisfactorily ex- plained. It was then ' ' '^wn that these plants pass through what has been called, not altogether hap- pily the modern botanist thinks, an " alternation of generations." One "generation," the "sexual," con- sists of a tiny, green, plate-like object, termed the
33,
Fk;. 8
-An
FERTILIZATION, DI:VliLOPMI:NT, AND FRUCTIFICATION
protha/liuni (Fig-. 8). This is connected with the soil by hair-like roots. On its lower surface are borne usually both the reproductive organs of the fern, the aiitJicridia, corresponding to the stamens or fertilizing organs of the flower, and the arcJicgonia, performing the office of the flower's pistils, inas- much as their germ-cells receive the fertilizing sub- stance produced by the antJicridia. But no seeds are formed as the result of this fertilization. Instead of this seed-formation which we note in the flower- ing plant, the germ-cell in the fern develops into a fern-plant, which forms the "asexual" generation.
The first fronds of this little plant are very small and simple, quite unlike the later ones. For a time the plant is nourished by the prothallium, but as soon as it is sufficiently developed and vigorous enough to shift for itself, the prothallium dies away, and the fern maintains an independent existence.
J , )
Fig. lo Fig. ii
First fronds of Maidenhair
Eventually it produces fronds which bear on their lower surfaces the sporangia containing the minute spores from which spring the prothallia.
For our present purpose it is enough to say that spores differ from seeds in that the}' are not the im- mediate result of the interaction of reproductive
34
ON
FEKTILIZATION, DnvnLOPMI^NT, AND FF^UCTIFICATION
ic soil borne ; fern, ;ns or cgonia, ;, inas- ig sub- seeds nstead flower- into a ition. y small a time but as gorous R away, stence.
II
1 their minute
ly that :he im- iuctive
organs. They resemble seeds in that they are ex- pelled from the parent-plant on attaining maturity, and germinate on contact with the moist earth.
Thus it is seen that the life-cycle of a fern consists of two stages :
First, the prothallium, bearing the reproductive organs; second, the fern-plant j)r()pcr, developing the spores which produce the prothallium.
Alone: the moist, shaded banks of the wood road.
or on decaying stumps, keen eyes will discern fre- quently the tiny green prothallia, although they are somewhat difficult to find except in the green-house where one can see them in abundance either in the boxes used for growing the young plants, or on the moist surfaces of flower-pots, where the spores have fallen accidentally and have gertninated.
As the fertilization of the germ-cell in the archc- gonium cannot take place except under water, per- haps the fact is accounted for that ferns are found chiefly in moist places. This water may be only a sufficient amount of rain or dew to permit the anthe- rozoids or fertilizino^ cells of the antheridium to swim to the archegonium, which they enter for the purpose of fertilizing the gcrm-ccll.
It is interesting to examine with a good magnify- ing glass the sporangia borne on the lower surface of a mature fertile frond. In many species each spo- rangium or spore-case is surrounded with an elastic ring, which at maturity contracts so suddenly as to rupture the spore-case, and cause the expulsion of the numberless spores (Fig. 7).
35
NOTABLE FERN FAMILIES
OSMUNDA (Flowering Ferns)
Tall swamp ferns, growing in large crowns, with the fertile fronds or portions conspicuously unlike the sterile ; sporangia opening by a longitudinal cleft into two valves.
ONOCLEA
Coarse ferns, with the fertile fronds rolled up into necklace- like or berry-like segments, and entirely unlike the broad, pin- natifid sterile ones. Fertile fronds unrolling at maturity, allowing the spores to escape, and remaining long after the sterile fronds have perished ; sporangia stalked, ringed, burstif^g transversely.
WOODSIA
Small or medium-sized ferns, growing am.ong rocks, with 1-2 pinnate or pinnatifid fronds and round fruit-dots ; indusium thin and often evanescent, attached by its base under the sporangia, cither small and open or else early bursting at the top into irregular pieces or lobes ; sporangia stalked, ringed, bursting transversely.
CYSTOPTERIS (Bladder Ferns)
Delicate rock or wood ferns, with 2-3 pinnate fronds and round fruit-dots ; indusium hood-like, attached by a broad base to the in- ner side, soon thrown back or withering av;ay ; sporangia as above.
ASPIDIUM (Shield Ferns)
Ferns with 1-3 pinnate fronds and round fruit-dots; indusium more or less flat, fixed by its depressed centre ; sporangia as above.
36
round the in- above.
NOTABLE FERN FAMILIES
PHEGOPTERIS (Beech Ferns)
Medium-sized or small ferns, with 2-3 pimiatifid or ternate leaves, and small, round, uncovered fruit-dots; sporangia as above.
WOODWARDIA (Chain Ferns)
Large and rather coarse f<:rns of swamps or wet woods, fronds pinnate or nearly twice-pinnate ; fruit-dots oblong or linear, sunk in cavities of the leaf and arranged in chain-like rows ; indusium lid-like, somewhat leathery, fixed by its outer margin to a veinlet ; veins more or le; s reticulated ; sporangia as above.
ASPLENIUM (Spleenworts)
Large or small ferns, with varying fronds and linear or oblong fruit-dots ; indusium straight or curved ; sporangia as above.
PELLiEA (Cliff Brakes)
Small or medium-sized rock ferns, with pinnate fronds and sporangia borne beneath the reflexed margins of the pinna; ; spor- angia as above.
BOTRYCHIUM (Moonworts)
{Belonging to the J^'irn Allies)
Fles\y plants, with fronds (usually solitary) divided into a sterile and a fertile portion, the bud for the succeeding year embedded in the base of the stem.
lusuim (above.
37
MP
HOW TO USE THE BOOK
Before attcmj^ting to identify the ferns by means of the following; Cruide it would be well to turn to the Explanation of Terms, and with as many species as you can conveniently collect, on the table before you, to master the few necessary technical terms, that you may be able to distinguish a frond that is pinnatifid from one tliat is pinnate, a j)inna from a pinnule, a fertile from a sterile frond.
You should bear in mind that in some species the fertile fronds are so unleaf-like in appearance that to the uninitiated they do not suggest fronds at all. The fertile fronds of the Onocleas, for example, are so contracted as to ccMiceal any resemblance to the sterile ones. They appear to be mere clusters of fruit. The fertile fronds of the Cinnamon Fern are equally unleaf-like, as are the fertile portions of the other Osmundas and of several other species.
In your rambles through the fields and woods your eyes will soon learn to detect hitherto unnoticed species. In gathering specimens you will take heed to break off the fern as near the ground as possible, and you will not be satisfied till you have secured
38
HOW TO USE THE BOOK
botli a fertile aiul a sterile frond. In carrvin<r them
!r>
s the
that
t all.
are
) the
s of
are
the
home you will remember the necessity of keeping toj^ether the Ironds which belong to the same [)lant
When sortinir your iind: cordi
^^ .'
}
oil wil
n)U[) them ac :l S(
linif to the Guide. The brcxid-leaved ISensitive Fern, with its separate, dark-green fruit cluster, makes its way necessarily to Group 1. To (iroup II goes your palc-fronded I'ioyal Fern, tipped with brown sporangia. As a matter of course you lay in Group III the Icai-like but dissimilar stei'ile and fertile fronds of the Slender Cliff Brake. The spreading Brake, its rcflexed margin covering the sporangia, identilie:? itself with Group IV. The ob- long fruit-dots of the little Mountain S[)leenW'(jrt carry it lo Grouj) V, while the round ones, like pin- heads, of the E\'cr<ireen \V(jod I'Y'rn announce it a member of Group V\.
The different ferns sorted, it will be a simi)le mat- ter to run (|uickly through the brief descriptions under the different Groups till y(ni are referred t(j the descriptions in the body of the book of the species under investigation.
your ^iced leed |ible, ured
39
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GUIDE
For the purjxisc of identification tuc ferns de- scribed are arranged in six groups, according to their manner of fri'iting.
GROUP I
STRRILE AND FERTILE FRONDS TOTALLY UNLIKE; FERTILE FRONDS NOT LEAF-LIKE IN APPEARANCE
I. SENSITIVE FERN
Onot/c(i sciisiliilis
Sterile fronds usually large ; broadly triangular, deeply pinnatifid. P'ertile fronds much contracted, with berry-like piiniules. In wet meadows. P. 54.
2. OSTRICH FERN
On Of It' a S/> It th u >/> /rr/'s
Large. Sterile fronds once-pinnate, pinnae pinnatifid. Fertile fronds contracted, with necklace-like pinna-. Along streams and in moist woods, i'. 56.
3. CINNAMON FERN
Osffi unda cinnamonit'ci
Large. Sterile fronds once-pinnate, pinnce pinnatifid. Fertile fronds composed of cinnamon-brown fruit-clusters. In wet places. P. 60.
4. CURLY GRASS
SchiziCtj pus ilia
Very small. Sterile fronds linear, grass-like. Fertile fronds taller, with a terminal fruit-cluster. In pine barrens of New Jersey. P. 63.
40
GUIDE
nnd
'ertile aces.
ronds New
GROUP II
FERTILE FKONDS PARTIALLY LliAF-LIKE, THE FERTILE PORTION UNLIKE HIE REST 01" THE FROND
[The species coininv^ under the j^enera Jiotrychiiitu and Ophio- ghssufii may appear to belonjf to Oroup I, as the fertile and the sterile portions of their fronds may seem to the iminitiated like sep- arate fnjiuls, but in reality they belong to the one frond. J
5. ROYAL FERN
Osmiinda rcgalis
Targe. Sterile fronds twice-pinnate, pinnules oblong. Fertile fronds k-af-like behnv, sporangia in clusters at their summits. In wet places. P. 67.
6. INTERRUPTED FERN
Os/niindti i laytoniana
I.arge. Sterile fronds once-pinnate, pinn;e pinnatifid. Fertile fronds Icaf-likr above and below, contracted in the middle with brown fruit-clusters. In wet places. V. 72.
7. CLIMBING FERN
I.yi^odiunt /'(ih/iatum
Climbing, with lobed, palmate pinnie and terminal fruit-clusters. Moist thickets and open woods. Rare. 1*. 75.
8. ADDER'S TONGUE
Ophioij;lossum vuli^atum
Small. Sterile portion an ovate leaf. Fertile portion a slender spike. In moist meadows. P. ']'].
9. RATTLESNAKE FERN
Botrych in m yiro in ia n it m
Rather large. Sterile portion a thin, spreading, ternately di- vided leaf with three primary divisions ; 1-2 pinnate. Fertile por- tion a branching fruit-cluster. In rich woods. P. 80.
41
I
1 <
■: J<
'''.•A "y/
^"■.y/w'^'y'"'.
■ 1'
*' !
GUIDE
10. TERNATE GRAPE FERN
liotrychnt II Icnhitiini or i/isst\(iiin
Of varyiiii^ .size, vciy fleshy. Sterile portion a broadly triangular, ternate, finely dissected leaf, lonjij-stalked from near the base of the stem. Fertile portion a branchin^vj fruit-cluster. In moist mead- ows. 1'. Si.
II. LITTLE GRAPE FERN
l^ottych lit lit stilt f^lcx
A very small fleshy plant. Sterile portion an obloni; leaf more or less lobed. Fertile portion a simple or slij^hily branehing spike. !n nioist woods and in field;.. \\ 82.
12. MOONWORT
Jiotrych in in J.tditii ta
Usuidly small, very fleshy. Sterile portion divided into several fan-shaped lobes. Fertile portion a b/a-iching fruit-eluster. Mostly in fields, i'. 84.
13. MATRICARY GRAPE FERN
Hot rye II lit III via tiicaritifoitttiit Small, more or less fleshy. Sterile portion ovate or oblong, o ice or twiee pinnatitid. Fertile portion a branching fruit-cluster. li j; .issy ^"o^^'l^ and wt^t meadows. 1*. 86.
14. LANCE-LEAVED GRAPE FERN
/>()' rye /lilt lit /ttitci >!alttin
Small, scarcely fleshy. Sterile portion triangular, twice-pinnatifid. Fertile portion a branching frui'-cluster, hi woods and meadows. P. 86.
42
GUfDH
ERN
I a broadly triany;ular, I uci'.v tlic bast" of tlie cr. In moist lucad-
RN
nn oblong' leaf more itly branching spike.
divided into several ruil-tiusicr. Mostly
'ERN
n ovate or obloni^, inching fruit-cluster.
FERN
lar, twice-pinnatifid. ooils and meadows.
(iKOUP III
AllLAKANLb. VLI blFFIiRiNc; NoiiCKAbLY FKOM
IN
^oTliKILl: IKHJNDS 15. SLENDER CLIFF BRAKE
Pi'llita xi"ti/i.f
taller.
bor-
lime-
16. PURPLE CLIFF BRAKE
/(■//.<(/ ///•,;
'pill laurel
Medium sized. !--» niniv,»,. 1 .,1
- pinnate, ieatliery. Fertile frn.i,ic . 11 .
more ((nnracted ili-.n ti, . , -, ' t-ruie ironds taller an(
17- CHRISTMAS FERN
Asp, J, Kill anosHchoiJfs
18. NARROW-LEAVED SPLEENWORT
Asplriiiiim <iii,:;iist//o/n/i,i
.i.an t'l:* " .::;:;ir :"? 'T '"""- '""- ''-' "-™«-
'"L- ^'^ nioist woods in late summer. J'.^S.
19. NET-VEINED CHAIN FERN
// 'oodu'anlia angustifolia
^l^^ T^''^ '': ^-^''^ ^^"- -^ -ore con. "^an tilt sterile. In wet woods near the coast. P. ,02.
43
GUIDE
GKOUF^ IV
riiKTILIi AND ,Tl:Hl\.\l IHONDS LEAFLIKI: AND SIMILAR;
Sl'()KAN(}IA ON OK liUNLATII A KLILLXliD I'OKTION
OF THE MARGIN
[The lirsi clause bars out /'. i^ratiiia and /'. ntrof>urpurea, wliicli olhcrwisc would belong lo Group IV as well as lo Group lll.l
20. BRAKE
Pti'tis tufiiilina
Larv;(! and eoarse, frond 3-branched, .spreading;, each branch 2-pinnati', sporangia in a continuous line beneath the rellexed mar- gin of the frond. In dry, somewhat open places. P. 105.
21. MAIDENHAIR
AdunilH»i piuftitii/h
Graceful and delicate, frond forked at the summit of the stem, 2-pinnate, the pinme springing from the upper sides of the branches, pinnules one-sided, their upper margins lobcd, bearing on their undersides the short fruit-dots. In rich woods. I*. 108.
22. HAIRY LIP FERN
Chcilanthes Tcstita
Rather sm.all, fronds 2-pinnate, hairy, fruit-dots "covered by the infolded ends of the rounded or oblong lobes." On rocks. P. 112.
'"{
23. HAY-SCENTED FERN
Dicksonia pilosiuscula
Rather large, pale, delicate and sweet-scented, fronds usually 2-pinnate, fruit-dots small, each on a recurved toothlet of the pin- nule, borne on an elevated, globular receptacle. In moist thickets and in upland pastures. P. 1 14.
44
Ji
LAK;
ypurea, > Ciroup
brancli cil mar-
he stem, ranches, jn their
eretl by h rocks.
GIIIUE
GROUP V
FHRTILU AND STIiKII.I". FF<ONDS LIIAF-LIKR AND SIMII.AK; bl'OKANGIA IN LINliAK OR OBLONG IKUIT-DOIS
24. LADY FERN A spUn ill m /•'ili.v -fivtu ina
Rather larjijc, fronds 2-pinnalc, fruit-dots rurved. often liorsc- slioe shaped, linally conllucnt. In moist wooils and along road- sides. 1'. 120.
25. SILVERY SPLEENWORT
/Ispltiiiiim t/icl)'f>(croi(ii's
Larije, fronds once-pinnate, pinna; deeply pinnatitid, lobes ob- loni; and obtuse, fruit-dots obl(jng, silvery wlun youni^. In nth woods, r. 124.
26. RUE SPLEENWORT
A splcn in in Rn ta- m n ra ria
Very small, fronds loosely ?-3 pinnate at base, pinnatifid a; ve, fruit-dots linear-oblonjs^, conlUient when mature. On limestone cliffs. Rare. 1*. 126.
27. MOUNTAIN SPLEENWORT
Aspleninm montanntn
Small, fronds 1-2 pinnate, fruit-dots linear-obloni^, often conflu- ent. On rocks. P. 130.
usually |the pin- thickets
28. EBONY SPLEENWORT
Asplcnmni chencnni
Fronds slender and erect, once-pinnate, pinnae eared on the up- per or on both sides, stalk and rachis blackish and shining, fruit- dots oblong. On rocks and hill-sides. I'. 134.
45
GUIDE
h
29. MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT
Asplciiiitnt 'J')i(!io))i(UU's
Small, fronds once-pinnate, pinna; roundish, stalk and rac-his purplish-brown and shining, fruit-dots short. In crevices of rocks. P. 136.
30. GREEN SPLEENWORT
Asplcuinni viridc
Small, fronds linear, once-pinnate, brownish stalk passing; into a green rachis. On shaded cliffs northward. P. 138.
31. SCOTT'S SPLEENWORT
Asplcniiim cbcnoidcs
Small, fronds pinnate below, pinnatifid above, apex slender and prolonged, stalk and rachis blackish, fruit-dots straight or slightly curved. On limestone. Very rare. I\ 140.
32. PINNATIFID SPLEENWORT
Aspliu i till I pinna tifiJiiin
Small, fronds pinnatifid, or the lower part pinnate, tapering above into a slender prolongation, stalk blackish, passing into a green rachis, fruit- dots straight or slightly curved. On rocks. Rare. P. 142.
33. BRADLEY S SPLEENV/ORT
./ sp/cn ill 111 Ihtu //( yi
Sm ill, once-pinnate, pinnae lobed or toothed, stalk and rachis chestnut-brown, fruit-dots short. On rocks, preferring limestone. Very rare. P. 144.
34, WALKING FERN
( 'aniptoxonis y'li-.opJivIliis
Small, fronds undivided, heart-shaped at the base or sometimes with prolonged basal ears, tapering above to a prolonged point which roots, forming a new plant, fruit-dots oblong or linear, ir- regularly scattered. On shaded rocks, preferring limestone. P. 146.
46
\
GUIDE
35. HART'S TONGUE
Scolopoiuyium vu Igarr
lanceolate l^T •■;"'^^^^/^"--'>' ^-" ^-^ ''>".^^ undivided, oblong, anceolate. heart-shaped at base, fruit-dots linear, elongated. Grow
inff among the fragments of limestone cliffs.
ngated. Grow- Very rare. P. 1 50.
36. VIRGINIA CHAIN FERN
IVooihiHjniia rin^n'nica
GROUP VI
FLRTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR. FRUIT-DOTS ROUND ""'^^^^^
37. NEW YORK FERN
iOL revoiute. In woods and open meadows, p. 159. 38. MARSH FERN
Aspidiuin 77/c/,'/A77'r
s ^" ^^^i- \\ooas and open swamps. P. 160.
39. MASSACHUSETTS FERN
Asf^idiiiDt .uiinilatuni Close to preceding species r-tth^^r t-Ji (^ ^
47
GUIDE
CHRISTMAS FERN
As^idiiim acrosticlioidcs [See No. 17J
40. SPINULOSE WOOD FERN
Aspidimu spiniilosKin 7'ar. iutcrmcdiiDit
Very common, usually but not always lai\^;e, fronds oblonjr- ovat<\ 2-3 pinnate, lowest pinnae unequally trianj:;uIar-ovate, lobes of pinnae thorny-toothed. In woods everywhere. I'. 166.
41. BOOTT'S SHIELD FERN
Aspidimu Boottii
Yxo\\\ one and a half to more than three feet high. Sterile fronds smaller and simpler than the fertile, nearly or quite twice-pinnate, the lowest pinnae triangular-ovate, upper longer and narrower, pin- nules oblong-ovate, sheirply thorny-toothed. In moist woods. P. 168.
42. CRESTED SHIELD FERN
Aspidium cristatitvi
Usually rather large, fronds linear-oblong or lanceolate, once pin- nate with pinnatifid pinna*, linear-oblong, frait-dots between mid- vein and margin. In swamps. P. 170.
43. CLINTON'S WOOD FERN
Aspidium cristatutti, 7'ar. C/intoiiinnu»i
In every way larger than preceding species, fronds usually twice- pinnate, pinnae broadest at base, fruit-dots near the midvein. In swampy woods. P. 172.
44. GOLDIE'S FERN
Aspidium Goldianum
Large, fronds broadly ovate or the fertile ovate-oblong, once-pin- nate with pinnatifid pinna", pinna broadest in the nu'ddic, fruit-dots very near the midvein. In rich woods. P. 175.
48
I
-•
M
GUiDE
45- EVERGREEN WOOD FERN
// spidiu m ma ri^iua Ic
Very common, lusually rather large, smooth, somewhat Icatherv fronds ovate oblong. .-2 pinnate, fruit-dots large distinc clo T. the margin. In rocky woods. P. 176. ^ ' ''''' ^°
46. FRAGRANT SHIELD FERN
.\ spidiu, It J'xiorans
Small fragrant, fronds once-pinnate, with pinnatili.l ninn-.- sf.lk- and rac ,s , affy, fruit-dots large. On rocks northward s'^cn near waterfalls. P. 178. -tiu.c.sijeciau)
47- BRAUN'S HOLLY FERN
Aspidium aculeatum var. Ihaunii
Rather large, fronds oblong-lanceolate, twice-pinnate pinnules
harply toothed, covered with long, soft hairs, fruit-dots ^malln
deep, rocky woods. P. 182. ^ uuls small. Jn
48. COMMON POLYPODY
Polypodiuin vidi^arc Usually small fronds somewhat leathery, narrowly oblonir fruit
t. 'z;:r ■ nr ■ '"-" "'''- -^-^ -^ -
HAY-SCENTED FERN
Dicksonia pilosinsctila [See No. 23J
49. LONG BEECH FERN
^^''Xopfcns pohpodioidi-s Medium-Sized, fronds downy, triangular, longer than broad once pmnate p,nna.pinnatifid; lowest pair deflexcd and stanc ng fo ' ward. In mo.st woods and on .he banks of streams. P , 87 '
49
».*»
«i
(lUlUI; 50. BROAD BEECH FERN
Lari;vr lliaii the prctt'iiinj;- species, fronds triangular, as broad or broader than long, om-e-pinnale, pinnit pinnatitkl, lowest pair very large, basal segments of piniKu forming a continuous, many-angled wing along the rachis. In dry woods and on hill-sities. 1'. 188.
51. OAK FERN
P/i, ■<;<>/'/,• r/'s J)/] optt-ris
Mcdium-si/ed, fronds thin and delicate, broadly triangular, spread- ing, ternale. the three divisions stalked, each division pinnate, pin- n;c [)innatiti(l. In moist woods. W 190.
52. BULBLET BLADDER FERN
( 'vsto/'h-ris li!<l!<ij\-ra
Fronds delicate, elongated, tapering^ above from a broad base, 2- 3 j.innate or pinnatifid, bearing llcshy bulblets beneath. On wet rocks, preferring limestone. 1'. 194.
fly 7
53. COMMON BLADDER FERN
Cystopttris ffdj^ilis
Medium-sized, fronds thin, oblong-lanceolate. 2-3 pinnate or pinnatifid. On rocks and in moist woods. 1'. 19S.
54. RUSTY WOODSIA
ll'oodsia //:'r/!sis
Small, more or less covered with rusty hairs, fronds lanceolate, once-pinnate, pinn.c pinnatifid. On exposed rocks. P. 200.
55. BLUNT-LOBED WOODSIA
ll'i'(ulsi(i o/>fi(sa
Small, slightly downy, fronds broadly lanceolate, nearly twice-pin- nate. On rocks. P. 203.
50
>
.1
GUIDL" 56. NORTHERN WOODSIA
Very small, smooth or nearly ,s„, fr„„,|s „.,rr„vvly o;,l„„„-|,.u„,.n
57- SMOOTH WOODSIA
ll'oodsui j^Uilh-llii Very small, smooth throinrhout aiul drlir-.i,. f . ,• Pinnare, pi„n.e r„u,K,is„ ovat ,:.:;." ull'il^islTt"" K -.X^-
51
I
11
;:
FERN DESCRIPTIONS
"Nature made a fern for pure leaves."— 7'//^r^,
•au
53
GROUP I
STERILn AND FERTILE FRONDS TOTALLY UNLIKE; FERTILE FRONDS NOr LUAF-LIKE IN AI'l'CAKANCE
1. SENSITIVE FERN
Onoclt'ii st'itsil'ilis Newfoundland to Florida, in wcL meadows.
Sterile fronds. — One or two inches to three feet hii;h, broadly triangular, deeply cut into somewhat ol)lon,v;-, wavy-toothed divi- sions, the lower ones almost reachini; the midrib, tlie upper ones less deeply cut ; stalk long.
Fertile fronds. — Quite unlike tlie sterile frontls and shorter, erect, rigid, contracted ; pinnules rolled up into dark-green, berry- like bodies which hold the spore-cases ; appearing in June or July.
This is one of our commonest ferns, growing in masses along the roadside and in wet meadows. Perfectly formed sterile fronds are found of the tiniest dimensions. Again the plant holds its own among the largest and most effective ferns. From its creeping rootstock rise the scattered fronds
54
/I
u
which at 1 i m v s
wear very li^^ht
and delicate
shades of ^reen.
There is
Moth ing-,
liowever,
specially
fragile in
the plant's
a \) p e a r -
ance, and
one is strnck by the inapj).i)p^' •
ateness ol its title. It is pr- hable
that this arose from its sen^.Liv'e-
ness to early frosts.
Thoui^h one hesitates to dif- fer from Professor Eaton, who a/V/. described the fer- tile fronds as "near- ly black in color" and said that they were "not very common," and that a young botanist might "search in vain for them for a long time," my own experience has been that the fresh ones are
Sensit
55
m
imrz^)
\
'Mm
GKOUH
STCRILF. AND FERTILE FRONDS TOTALLY UNLIKE; FtKTILL FKOMDS N(jT LLAIIIKI: IN AI'I'EARANCt
\*
i
very evidently g^reen and neither scarce nor spe- cially inconspicuous.
1 have found these fertile fronds aj)parently full- j^rown in June, though usually they are assigned to a much later date. Tiiey remain standing, brown and dr}', long after they have sown their spores, side by side with the fresh fronds of the following summer.
Detail a in Plate I represents the vSO-called 7'nr. obtusilobata. This is a form midway between the fruiting and the non-fruiting fronds. It may be looked for in situations where the fern has suffered some injury or deprivation.
2. OSTRICH FERN
O HOC lea Strii th ioptcris
Nova Scotia to New Jersey, along streams and in moist woods. Growing in a crown, two to ten feet higli.
Sterile fronds. — Broadly lance-shaped, once-pinnate ; pinme divided into narrowly oblong segments which do not reach the midvein ; stalk short, deeply channelled in front.
Fertile fronds. — Quite unlike the sterile fronds, growing in the centre of the crown formed by the sterile fronds, shorter, erect, rigid, with green, necklace-like pinna; which hold the spore-cases ; appearing in July.
I first found this plant at its best on the shore of the Hoosick River in Rensselaer County, N. Y. We had crossed a field dotted with fragrant heaps of hay and blazing in the midsummer sun, and had entered the cool shade of the trees which border the river, when suddenly I saw before me a group of ferns of tropical beauty and luxuriance. Great
5(>
I A
PLATE I
the of kat
SENSITIVE FERN a. Var. obtusilobata
57
i 1
STERILE AND FERTILE hRONt>S TOTALLY UNLIKE ; GROUF^ 1 MR FILE FRUNDS NOT LEAK-LIKE IN APPEARANCE
plumc-likc (ronds of a rich ^rccn arched above my head, l^'rom tlie midst ol the circle which they formed sprain^ the shorter, dark, rij^id Iruit-clusters. I was fairly startled hy the unexpected beauty and re^al bearinj^ ol the Ostricn l*\'rn.
This ma^niricent plant luxuriates especially in the low, rich soil which is subject to an annual overflow innu our Northern rivers. Its vase-liUe masses of foliage somewhat suf^«j^est the Cinnamon Fern, but the fertile fronds of the Ostrich Fern mature in July, some weeks later than those of its rival. They are dark-j^reen, while those of the Cinnamon I'Y'rn are golden-brown. Should there be no fruiting fronds upon the plant, the Ostrich Fern can be dis- tinguished by the free veins with simple veinlets (Plate 11, (7) of its pinna*, the veins of the Cinnamon Fern being free and its veinlets forking (PI. Ill, a), and by the absence of the tuft of rusty wool at the base of the pinna; on the under side of the frond.
The Ostrich Fern does so well under cultivation that there is danger lest it crowd out its less aggres- sive neighbors. It propagates chicHy by means of underground runners. Mr. Robinson describes a specimen which he had planted in his out - door fernery that crawled under a tight board fence and reappeared in the garden of his neighbor, who was greatly astonished and equally delighted so unex- pectedly to become the owner of the superb plant.
The Ostrich Fern, like its kinsman the Sensitive Fern, occasionally gives birth to fronds which are midway between its fruiting and its non-fruiting
5«
PLATt H
the
on es- of a )or iid vas ex-
OSTRICH l"ERN </ Portion of sterile frond I: Fertile frond
c Detail, showing free veins v/ith bin^jjiu vtmU-ts
5')
iT-^
GROUP I
STERILE AND FERTILE FRONDS TOTALLY UNLIKE; ILRTILE FRONDS NOT LEAF-LIKE IN APPEARANCE
Hi
f(jrnis. Tliis is spccialU' liable to occur when some injury has befallen the plant.
3. CINNAMON FERN
i>S/>/UI/(/(/ ( /////ilMi'Wiil
N()v:i Scotia to Florida, in swampy places. (Irowinv; in a crown,
one to live feet high.
Stt'rih' fronds. — liroadly lance-shaped, once-pinnate; piiuui' cut
. 4,r into broadly oblonu divisions tliat do
.•'[r''''ivv,'tC not reach the niiilvein, eacli piinia
t 'N' \C^^^":'"- ^^'i^l^ ^ ^'^'^^ 0^ rusty wool at its I)ase
^^- ,^\S^!^:Hf .- beneath.
rJ^^.. ■' ."ife'^'v:^" . '4v| ile fronds, i^rowinv;
and u s uai i y about the same height ; erect, with cinna- mon-colored spore-cases.
In the form of little croziers, pro- tected from the cold by wrap})ini;-s of rusty wool, the fer- tile fronds of the Cinnamon Fern appear every- where in our swamps and wet woods durino- the month of May. These fertile fronds, first irolden- i^reen, later cinnamon-brown, are quickly followed and encircled by the sterile ones, which ^rrow in
a tall, graceful crown. The fertile fronds soon
60
a 1 1 y ame inna- ases.
of "»ro- colcl
of fcr-
cry- the 1 en- wed in oon
At
»
^t^/
,3
jr
CINNAMON FERN
a Showng t'jft of wool at base of pmna, also free veins with forking veiniets
6l
GKOIJI' I
SriKIll AM) n Kill I !K'()M)S TOTAIIY I'NI.IKi;; 11 Kill I IKOINDS INOI I.IAI-IIKI IN AI'I'F AKANCE
;
wither, and, during;" llic siiniiiuT, iiuiy l)c found citlicr clinL;;-in5;- to the stalks ol tlic sterile ironds or Ivinj
tl
il on ttie L^roiiiH
The Cinnamon I'ein is olten conlused willi the Ostrich Fern. When either plant is in Irnit there is no excuse lor this mistake, as the cinnamon-colored spore-cases ol the lormei- ai)pear in Mav, while the (hirk-i;reen lertile Ironds ol the hit ter do not ripen till Julv. When the Iruitiiii; fionds are absent tlicloi-ked vcinlets (Plate lll.^/) ol the Cinnamon l\'rn contrast, with the simple veinlets of the other plant (IMate II, a). Then, too, the piiuuvof the Cinnamon Fern hear tuftsof rustA' wool at the base beneath, the remnants of the wooll}' ,i;ai-ments worn by the yonn<;- fronds.
The ])lant is a superb one when seen at its best. Its tall sterile fionds curve gracefully out ward, while the slender fruit-clusters erect themselves in the centre oi the rich crown. In unfavorable conditions, when i^rowiiii;- in dry meadows, for instance, like all thcC)smun(las,and indeed like most i^rowiui^ thing's, it is quite a different plant. Its i^reen fronds become stiff and stunted, losing- all their i^raceful curves, and its fruit-clusters huddle among them as if anxious to keep out of sight.
J^(ir. froiidosa is an occasional form in which some of the fruiting fronds have green, leaf-like pinnnc below. These abnormal Ironds are most abundant on land which has been burned (ncr.
The Cinnamon Fern is a member of the group of Osrnundas, or " flowering ferns," as they are some- times called. !iot ot course because they really flower,
62
GROIJI-
STIKll.i: AND lEKTIll iROMiS TOTAI.IY IINI.IKP. ; H.KHI.I: HKOINDS NfH ITAIIIKI in AI'Pl.AKANCh
hut hccausc their fruifiii<^ lioiids arc somewhat flowcr-hkc in ajjpcarancc. 'Plicre aic three species ol Osmiinda : the Ciiinanion Yiivw^ O. cinnauionica; the Royal Fern, O. rcgalis; and tiic Interrupted Fern, C^. ClaytoiiiiDia. i\\\ three are beautiful and strikin*^ l)lants, producinjj^ their spores in May or June, and conspicuous by reason of their luxuriant growth and fh)\vcr-like fruit clusters.
The Osniundas are easily cultivated, and j^roup themselves effectively in shaded corners of the j:^ardcn. They need [)lenty of water, and thrive best in a mixture of swamp, muck, and {wmz loam.
4. CURLY GRASS
ScJiiz<ru pHsilla I'ine barrens of New Jersey.
Sterile fronds. — Hardly an inch long, linear, slender, tlattened, curly.
Fertile fronds. — Taller than the sterile fronds (three or four inches in heis^ht), slender, with from four to six pairs of fruit-bearing pinna.' in September.
Save in the herbarium I have never seen this very local little i)lant, which is found in certain parts of New Jersey. Gray assii^ns it to " low g-rounds, pine barrens," while Professor Eaton attributes it to the " drier parts of sohagnous swamps amo r white cedars."
In my lack of personal knowledge of Schizcra, I venture to quote from that excellent little quarter- ly, the Fern Bulletin, the following passage from an
m"
1
TRnilP 1 ^"^'''""' AND FERTILE FRONDS TOTALLY I'NLIKE ; FERTILE FRONDS NOT LEAF-LIKE IN APPEARANCE
article by C. F. Saunders on ScJiizcea pusilla at home :
**S. pusilla was first collected early in this century at Quaker Bridge, N. J., about thirty-five miles east of Philadelphia. The spot is a desolate-looking place in the wildest of the 'pine barrens,' where a branch of the Atsion River flows through marshy lowlands and cedar swamps. Here, amid sedge- grasses, mosses, Lycopodiums, Droseras, and wild cranberry vines, the little treasure has been col- lected ; but, though I have hunted for it more than once, my eyes have n'^ver been sharp enough to detect its fronds in that localit3^ In October of last year, however, a friend guided me to another place in New Jersey where he knew it to be grow- ing, and there we found it. It was a small open spot in the pine barrens, low and damp. In the white sand grew patches of low grasses, mosses, Lycopodium Carolinianum, L. inundatum, and Pyxidanthera I'jfhulata, besides several smaller ericaceous plants and so^ae larger shrubs, such as scrub-oaks, s imacs, etc. Close by was a little stream, and just beyond that a bog. Although we knew that the Schizaea grew within a few feet of the path in which we stood, it required the closest sort of a search, with eyes at the level of our knees, before a specimen was detected. The sterile fronds (curled like corkscrews) grew in little tufts, and were more readily visible than the fertile spikes, which were less numerous, and, together with the
slender stipes, were of a brown color, hardly dis-
64
%
I.IKF ; lANCE
isilla at
PLATE IV
century iles east looking- vhere a marshy
sedg-e- id wild en col- re than ugh to )ber of nother
grow- I open In the losses, , and maller ich as
little ^h we eet of losest cnees, ronds , and :>ikes, 1 the ' dis-
CURLY GRASS
65
GROUf
sTr-Rii.i: AM) ruK rii.K fronds totally unlikf ;
FLRTILIL hKONHS NOT LEAK-LIKE IN AI'l'EARAINCE
a
i
tiiiguishablc from tlic capsules of the mosses, and the matiirinj^ slems of the grasses which grew all about. L\iug flat on the earth, with face within a few inches of the ground, was found the nujst satis- factory plan of search. Down there all the indi- vidual plants looked bigger, and a sidelong glance brought the fertile clusters more prominently into view. When the sight got accustomed to the minia- ture jungle quite a number of specimens were found, but the fern could hardly be said to be plentiful, and all that we leathered were within a radius of a couple of yards. This seems, indeed, to be one of those plants whose whereabouts is oftenest revealerl by what we are wont to teiin a ' ha})[)y accident,' as, for instance, when we are lying stretched on the ground resting, or as we stoop at lunch to crack an egof on the toe of or" shoe. I know of one excel- lent collector who spent a whole day looking for it diligently in what he thought to be a likely spot, but without success, when hnally, just before the time for return came, as he was half crouching on the ground, scarcely thinking now of Schizxa, its fronds suddenly flashed upon his sight, right at his feet. The sterile fronds of Scliizaca pusilla arc ever- green, so that the collector may, perhaps, most read- ily detect it in winter, selecting days for his search when the earth is pretty clear of snow. The sur- rounding vegetation being at that time dead, the little corkscrew-like fronds stand out more promi- nently."
I
I
* '.I
65
i
IKE ; ANCE
scs, and ^rcw all vithin a St satis- ic iiuli- ^lance tly into i minia- 3 found, Icntiful, us of a one of evealcrl cidcnt,' on the rack an ; cxccl- for it y spot, re the lui^ on ta, its at his ever- rcad- search c sur- d, tlie promi-
GROUP II
FFRTILt: FRONDS PARTIALLY LEAF-LIKH, THE FERTILE PORTION UNLIKE THE KE^F 01 THE FROND
5. ROYAL ff:rn. flowering fern
OsniitHtla yr^alis
Xi'W Hriuiswick to Florida, in swampy places. Two to five feet
high, occasionally taller.
.S'Avv/t'yVw/^-A'.— Twice-pinnale, phuur cut into oblong- pinnules. Fertile fronds. — Leaf-like below, sporarioia forniini; bright- brown clusters tit their summits.
Perhaps this Roval or Flowcrini^ Fern is the most beautiful member of a sini^ularly beautiful group. When its smooth, pale - green sterile fronds, grown to their full height, form a iifi'^'ice- fill crown which encircles the fertile fronds, it is truly a regal-looking plant. These fertile fronds
^7
/^
\
..VI
a r c Icaf- 1 i k c be- low, and arc tipped above with tlieir llower-like fruit-elusters.
Like ils kinsmen, the Royal Fern api)ears in INIay in our u^ct woods and fields. The delicate little croziers uncnrl with dainty grace, the [)hints wdiich grow in the oi)en among the yellow stars of the eaily crow-foot, and the white clus- ters of the spring cress being so tinged with red that they suffuse the meadows with warm color.
Though one of our tallest ferns, with us it never reaches the ten or eleven feet with which it is credited in Great Britain. The tallest plants I have found fall short of six leet. Occasionally we see large tracts of land covered with mature plants that lack a foot or more of the two leet given as the minimum height. This tendency to
08
Royal Fern
■I- i
PLATE V
a r c leaf- 1 i k c be- low, and arc tipped ■ lluwcr-Iike
n, the Ro^al May in our
fields. Tiie ziers uncurl ;, the plants open anionic jf the eaily ; wliite elus- sprinj^ cress ^ed witli led suffuse the .vith warm
one of our , with us it he ten or whicli it is at Britain, ts 1 have of six leet. sec huge X'^reci with lat kick a he two feet endency to
.^7^1. *
a Pinnule of Royal Fern
ROYAL FERN
r,,,
l> Showing veinina
GROUI' II
lIRTILi; FRONDS I'ARTIMLY LEAF-LIKE, FIHIILL I'UK riON UNLIKI KtST OF FKUND
(ic'j)aU|)cri/;it ioii one notici's cspcciallv in dry luarshcs iicai" 1 he sea.
To tlie Koval Feni the ohl herbalists attributed many vaUiable (|ualities. One old writer, who calls it the " Water l''ern," says: " This hath all the >'ir- tucs mentioned in other ferns, and is niucii more effective ihan they both for inward and outward griefs, and is accounted ^(U)d for wounds, bruises, and the like."
The title " llowerin<j^ Icrn " sometimes misleads those who are so unfamiliai^ with the habits of ferns as to imai^ine that they e\er flower. That it really is descriptive was proved to me only a few weeks ag'o when 1 received a. pressed specimen of a fertile frond accompanied by the request to in- form the writer as t(j the name of the flower in- closed, which seemed to him to belong to the Sumach family.
'I'he origin of the generic name OsDiunda seems somewhat obscure. It is said to be derived from ()smund-er, the Saxon Thor. In his I leibal Gerarde tells us that Osniuiufa ?-i\<^aiis was formerly called " Osmund, the Waterman," in allusion, perha{)S, to its liking for a home in the marshes. One legend claims that a certain Osmund, living at Loch Tyne, saved his wife and child from the inimical Danes by hiding them upon an island among masses of flowering ferns, and that in after years the child so shielded named the stately plants after her father.
70
F-LIKE, FROND
4
V
HI
dry
s attributed LT, who calls 1 all the A'ir- mucli more iiul outward nds, bruises,
les misleads ibits of ferns hat it really a few weeks cimen of a rjuest to in- le flower iu- :lono- to the
luinda seems lerived from rbal Gerarde merly called , perhaps, to One legend : Loch Tyne, mical Danes nong masses ;r years the ints after her
i
cm\\\v II ""TiLi; FK()Nr>s paktially leaf-like,
UKi Ul II KTILE HOkTl.H UNLIKE KFSr OF FKOND
The following lines from W'ordswortii i»oinl to still another origin ol the generic name :
" — ofttMi, tritliiv^ will) a privilege Alike indiili^fiid to all, we pausi'd, oiu' now, And now llir otluT, to poiiu out, pcrcjiaiu't' 'i'o |)luik, some llowiT, Of watir-wi'id, too fair lalhcr to he cliviik.d from the place On which il i^rew, or to be left alone 'I"o its own beauty. Nhmy such tlierc arc, i'"air ferns and flowers, and chietly that tall lirn, So stately, of the (Hieen Osnumda named; I'lant lovelier, in its own retiret! aboile On Cirasmere's beach, than Naiad by the side < )f (Irecian brook, or Lady f)f the Mere, Sole-sitting by the shores of okl romance."
The Royal h'ern may be cultivated easily in deep moimds ol rich soil shielded somewhat from the sun.
71
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TROIIP II FEf'TILE FRONDS PARTIALLY LEAF-LIKE, UKUUI FERTILE PORTION UNLIKE REST OF FROND
6. INTERRUPTED FERN
Osinunda Claytoniana
Newfoundland to North Carolina, in swampy places. Two to
four feet high.
Sterile fronds. — Oblong-lanceolate, once-pinnate, pinnce cut into oblong, obtuse divisions, without a tuft of wool at the base of each pinna.
Fertile fronds. — Taller than the sterile, leaf -like above and below, some of the middle pinnct fruit-bearing.
The Interrupted Fern makes its appearance in the woods and meadows and along the roadsides in May. It fruits as it unfolds.
Till the spores arc discharged the fruiting pinnae are golden-green in color. Later they become brown. They are noticeable all summer, and serve to identify the plant at once.
In the absence of the fertile fronds it is often difficult to distinguish between the Cinnamon Fern and the Interrupted Fern.
The sterile fronds of the Interrupted Fern are usually less erect, curving outward much more noticeably than those of the Cinnamon Fern. Then, too, its pinnae are cut into segments that are more ob- tuse, and the whole effect of the frond is more stubby.
But the most distinguishing feature of all is the tuft of rusty wool which clings to the base of each pinna of the sterile fronds of the Cinnamon Fern. These tufts we do not find in the Interrupted Fern, though both plants come into the world warmly wrapped in wool.
The Interrupted Fern is a peculiarly graceful plant.
72
places. Two to
te, pinna cut into t the base of each
f-like above and
ppearance in J roadsides in
ruiting pinnae :hey become ler, and serve
Is it is often nnamon Fern
ted Fern are
much more
Fern. Then,
are more ob-
more stubby.
of all is the
base of each
namon Fern.
rupted Fern,
orld warmly
raceful plant.
PLATE VI
OK"
try
INTERRUPTED FERN a Clusters of sporangia i Showing veming
73
■rv-
Its fertile fronds, stand- ing" quite erect below but curving- outward alcove the fruiting pinna*, are set in a somewhat shallow vase formed b\' the sterile fronds, which fall away in every direction.
in the fall the fronds turn yel- low, and at times are so brilliant that the)' flood the woods with a^old- en light.
Like the other Os- m u n d a s , the Inter- r u p t e d Fern is easily cul- tivated.
Interrupted Fern
74
•H
Its fertile fronds, stand- quite erect v butcurvin<T^ rd above the 1^ pinna', are a somewhat J vase formed sterile fronds, fall away in lirection. the fall the turn yel- low, and at times „ are so brilliant that the}' flood the woods with gold- en light.
Like the other Os- mund a s , the Inter- r u p t e d Fern is easily cul- tivated.
,//// W
m
"'' '■^l:^,m:
X y'-\.<
FERN. CREEPING HARTFORD FERN
^■ii-^
I.Vi:;odiii)n pab)Uitnm
Massachusetts and soutliward, in moist thickets and open woods. Stalks slender and t\vinin>(.
I'ronds .-\i\\\w\Sw\% and twining, one to three feet long, divided into lobed, rounded, heart - shapetl, short - stalked segments ; f>i(it - clusters, growing at the summit of the frond, ripening in September.
The Climbinii: Fern is still found occasionally in moist thickets and open woods from Massachusetts southward, but at one time it was picked so reck- lessly lor decorative purposes that it was almost exterminated.
In 1869 the legislature of Connecticut passed for its protection a special law which was embodied in the revision of the statutes of 1875, "perhaps the
75
GROUP II
FERTILE FRONDS PARTIALLY LEAF-LIKE, FERTILE PORTION UNLIKE REST OF FROND
Part of fertile pinnule
only instance in statute law," IVofcssor Eat(3n re- marks, " where a plant has received special legal protection solely on account of its beauty."
I have never seen the i)lant growin<;, but remem- ber that when a child my home in New York was abundantly decorated with the pressed fronds which
had been brought Irom Hart- ford for the purpose. Even in that lifeless condition their grace and beauty made a deep impres- sion on my mind.
Mr. Saunders has described it as he found it growing in com- pany with ScJiizcca, in the New Jersey pine barrens : " Lygodium palmatum ... is one of the love- liest of American plants, with twining stem adorned with palmate leaflets, bearing small resemblance to the popular idea of a fern. It loves the shaded, mossy banks of the quiet streams whose cool, clear, amber waters, murmuring over beds of pure white sand, are so characteristic of the pine country. There the graceful fronds are to be found, some- times clambering a yard high over the bushes and cat-briers ; sometimes trailing down the bank until their tips touch the surface of the water.
** The Lygodium is reckoned among the rare plants of the region — though often growing in good- sized patches when found at all — and is getting rarer. Many of the localities which knew it once now know it no more, bo^h because of the
76
;pre-
KE,
CKOIJI' II *^"""' '•Kf^'^"!^ PAKilAIIY IIAMIKI, tLKllLU rUKilUN l.MIM. KlJ)i ( i| INUM)
Eaton rc- cial legal
it remcm- York was nds which oni Hart- Even in their grace ;ep inipres-
Icscribed it Jig in com- n the New
of the love- cm adorned Miiblance to the shaded, cool, clear, pure white ne country. Hind, some- bushes and c bank until
ng
the rare ving in good- d is getting ^new it once of the depre-
dations of ruthless collectors, and, to some extent, probably, the ravages of fire. The plant is in its prime in early fall, but may be looked lor u[) to the
time of killing frosts."
8. ADDER'S TONGUE
Op It /( ^gloss Kill I'll li^iilii in
t'aiiada lo New Jersey and Kentucky, .a moist meadows. Two
inches to one foot high.
Sterile portion. — An ovate, fleshy leaf.
l'\r tile portion. — A simple spike, usually long-stalked.
The unprofessional fern collector is likely to agree with Gray in considering the Adder's Tongue "not common." Many botanists, however, believe the plant to be " overlooked rather than rare." In an article on O. vulij;atuni, which ap- peared some years ago in the Fcrii Bulletin^ Mr. A. A. Eaton writes :
" Previous to 1895 Ophioglossum vulgatum was unknown to me, and was considered very rare, only two localities being known in Essex County, Mass. Early in the year a friend gave me two specimens. From these 1 got an idea of how the thing looked. On the nth of last July, while collecting Habenaria lacera in a 'bound-out' mcjwing field, I was de- lighted to notice a spike of fruit in the grass. A search revealed about sixty, just right to collect, with many unfruitful specimens. A few days later.
/ /
GROUP II
KFKTII.r IRONDS PAKTIAI.I.Y LCAF-I.IKE, IIKTIM PORTION lIM.IKi: KIST OK I ROM)
while rakint^ in a similar locality, I found several, within a stone's throw of the house, demonstratinjjj ajT^ain the well-known fact that a thing once seen is easily discovered again. On the 23d of last August, while riding on my bicycle, 1 noticed a field that appeared to be the right locality, and an investiga- tion showed an abundance of them. I subseciucntly found it in another place. This year, on May 28th, I found it in another locality just as it was coming up, and 1 have since found three others. I con- sider it abundant here, only appearing rare because growing hidden in hne grass in old mowing Helds, after the red top and timothy have died out, and the finer species of Carex are coming in. A good in- dex plant is the Ilabenaria quoted. 1 have never found it except when associated with this plant, on a cold, heavy soil. The leaf is usually hidden, or, if not, is easily passed by for Maianthemum or Pogonia."
In the " Grete Herbal " of Gerarde we read that " the leaves of Adder's Tongue stamped in a stone mortar, and boiled in oyle olive unto the consump- tion of the juice, and until the herbs be dried and parched and then strained, will yecldc most excellent greene oyle or rather a balsame for greene wounds comparable to oyle of St. John's-wort if it do not farre surpasse it."
It is said that " Adder's Spear Ointment," made from the fresh fronds of this plant is still used for wounds in English villages.
The Adder's Tongue was believed formerly to
78
F-l IKE, IKOM)
PLATE VII
ind several, inonstriitin^ 3ncc seen is last Ai!,';ust ,
a Held that in invcsti^^^a- ;ubse(iuently m May 2cStli,
was coming icrs. I con- rare because owinj^ Helds, [ out, and the A good in-
have never 1 this plant, lally hidden, mthemum or
we read that )ed in a stone the consump- be dried and nostexcellent reene wounds t if it do not
tment," made still used for
1 formerly to
ADDER'S TONGUE
79
CiKOIII
;|l^*
It Kill I IKOMiS I'AKIIAIIV IIAMIKI, 1 1 K I II I l'( )K 1 1( )N IM IKI Hi S I I )| I K'( >M>
have j)()is()ii()iis t|iialitiis, wliich not only injured the cattle that fed upon it, but destroyed the grass in which it grew.
9. RATTLESNAKE FERN. VIR- GINIA GRAPE FERN
Ju'tryi/iiutii I 'iri^iuiamim
Nova Scotia to l'"loricia, in rich woods. One or two feet lii,v;h. at times nimli smaller, when it be- comes /)'. i^rad/i'.
Rattlesnake Fern
Stt'ri/t' port i o n . — Usnally broader than Ion,i^, spreadinii;, with lliree m a i n (Hvisions which are cnt into many smaller segments, thin, set close to the stem about half way up.
I-'ertili • portion. — Lonij-stalked, more than once-pinnate.
On our rambles through the woods we arc more likely to encounter the Rattlesnake Fern than any other member of the Bo- try cJiium group. It fruits in early sum-
80
I IKI , KOM)
tics, wliicli cattle tluit .troycd tlu-
V.
GROUP II
m/riM IKONDS I'AITIMIY l»AI-IIKI, II Kill I IMIKIION I .M.IKI klSlollKoM)
iMcr, !)iit, the witlured fertile jtoition may he h)iiiui upon the plant inneh later in the year. Its fre(iueiit companions are the S|)innl()se Shield Fern, the Christmas I''ein, the Silvery Spleenwort, and the Maidenhair.
ERN. VIR- FERN
intium
ill ricli woods, at linu'S nuu h k-r. when it bc- L'S /)'. i^raiilt'.
• por t i 0 ft . - broader than prcadini;. witli lain (hvisions c cut into many segments, thin, c to the stem U way up.
portion . — liked, more than nate.
lour rambles
:h the woods
more likely
counter the
;nake Fern
lany other
;r of the Bo-
im group. It
in early sum-
10. TERNATE GRAPE FERN
/>'(>/)■]•(////<»/ lt>Hiiliini or i/is\(-(iuni
Nova Scotia to Florida, in moist meadows. A few inches to moro
tl'.an a foot liiv;li.
Sterile portion. — liroadly triangular, the three main divisions cut aj^ain into many Sfj;nu'»us, on a separate stalk from near the base of the plan., Ileshy. A>\
I'ertile portion. — Kreet, usually considerably taller than non-fruiting segment, wiore than oncc- niimatc.
Sporangia of Botrychium
Of late some doid^t has existed as to whether />. tcrnatiim has been act- ually found in this country, althou<^h the standard Floras give no evidence of this uncertainty. Dr. Underwood is convinced that the true />. tcrnatuui is found only in Japan and China, and that our species is really /?. disscctuniy a spe- cies, not a variet}'. Me says that this species is very common in the vicinity of New York City, and thence southward and westward ; that it is also found in various parts of New En<^land ; that it reaches its fullest development in moist,
8i
fTT^
!•
!
'II
It
1 I 111
GKOIIP
lie I II I IKnM)S PARIIAIIY llAF-IIKr. II Kllll. I'tiKllDN l!M.IKL Kl.:>r ()|- tHOM)
bliady \V(K)(ls ; that In mossy meadows of New liiiL^Iancl and Central New York llie plant assumes a more con-
believes
^^
.\'
its segments are more apt to be divided in shady situations than in open, sunny ground. The Ternatc Grape Fern fruits in the fall.
Part of sterile 'C^^^|^^
portion of B dissoctum
II. LITTLE GRAPE FERN
Botryt Ilium siiuplcx
Canada to Maryland, in moist woods and in fields. Two to four inches high, rarely a little taller.
Sterile portion. — Somewhat oblong, more or less lobed, occa- sionally 3-7 divided, usually shou-slalked from near the middle of the plant, thick and fleshy.
Fertile portion. — Either simple or once or twice-pinnate, taller than the sterile portion.
This little plant is sufficiently rare to rejoice the
heart of the fern hunter who is so fortunate as to
82
IKI.
t(lM)
(Is ; that ii)
jiuhnvs of
^land and
sew York
assumes a
more con-
t r a c t e d
liabit. He
b c 1 i c \' e s
s sccrments e more apt d in shady an in open, id. e fall.
PLAtt VI
Two to four
iS lobed, occa- ear the niiddle
;-pinnate, taller
rejoice the iinatc as to
41
r-"^'
C. ^rr^
/
TERNATE GRAPE FERN
i
83
»0^
f
\l-
m
Hm
'.'y.i ■« .is
wim
^^"li' ' "f: ■,4^
GROUP II
FFRTII.E FRONDS I'AHTI/.I.LY LEAF-LIKT, FERTILE PORTION UNLIKE REST OF FROND
stumble upon it by chance or to trace it to its chosen haunts.
It is j; jnerally considered an inhabitant of moist woods and meadows, though Mr. Pringle describes it as " abundantly scattered over Vermont, its habi- tat usually poor soil, especially knolls of hill pas- tures," and Mr. Dodge assigns it to " dry fields." It fruits in May or June.
12. MOONWORT
Ikitrych imn I. una na
Newfoundland to Connecticut and Central New York, in dry- pastures. Three inches to nearly one foot high. A very fleshy plant.
Sterile portion. — Oblong, cut into several fan-shaped fleshy divisions, growing close to the stem about the middle of the plant.
Fertile portion. — Hranching, long-stalked, usually the same height as or taller than the sterile portion.
The Moonwort is another of our rare little plants. It grows usually in dry pastures, fruiting in July.
Formerly it was accredited with various magic powers. Gathered by moonlight, it was said to " do wonders." The English poet Drayton refers to the Moonwort as " Lunary " :
" Then sprinkled she the juice of rue With nine drops of the midnight dew From Lunary distilling."
Gerarde m-^iilions its use by alchemists, who called it Martagon. In the work of Coles, an early writer on plants, we read : " It is said, yea, and
believed by many that Moonwort will open the
84
LIKF,
PLATE IX
c it to its
it of moist I describes it, its habi- 3f hill pas- Iry fields."
York, in dry A very tleshy
-shaped fleshy le of the plant, illy the same
little plants, y in July, •ious magic vas said to lyton refers
w
smists, who les, an early id, yea, and ill open the
MOONWORT
iiliif^
LANCE LEAVED GRAPE FERN
H
]
w
i
TROUP II Ff^l'TILE FRONDS PARTIALLY LEAF I IlCn, I LK TILi: I'UKTION UNLIKE REST OF FkUND
locks wlicrcwitli clwcUiiit^-liouscs arc made fast, if it be put into tlic kc3'liolc ; as also that it will loosen . . . shoes from those horses' feet that <^o on the places where it <;rows."
It is to the Moonwort that Withers alludes in the followiiii^ lines :
" I'Iktc is an herb, some say, whose vertue's siuh 1 1 in the pasture, only with a touch Unshoes the new-shod steed."
13. MATRICARY GRAPE FERN
Hot)yihiiiiii iitatriiiiriiifoliiiDi
Nova Scotia to New Jersey, in woods and wet meadows, Twt)
inches to one foot liigh.
Sterile portion. — Once or twice divided, sometimes very Hesliy. i^rowint;^ hiijh up on the stem.
I-\'rtilc portio)i. — With several branched pinna?.
This plant is found, often in the companionship of />. Mrginiauuui, in woods and wet meadows, not farther south thiui New Jersey. It fruits in summer.
14. LANCE-LEAVED GRAPE FERN
Botrvt liiitm Ituitt'oLitinn
Nova Scotia to New jersey, in woods and meadows. Two to
nine inclic; high.
Sti-ri/t' portion. — Triangular, twice-pinnatifid, with somewhat lance-shaped segments, hardly fleshy, set close to the top of the common stalk.
Fertile portion. — Branching.
Like the Matricary Grape Fern, this plant is found in the woods and wet meadows from Nova
Scotia to New Jersey. It fruits also in summer.
86
iNl)
Jc fast, if ill loosen
^o on the
>
les in the
, such
GROUP III
udows. Two .'S very Hcsliy.
uonsliip of
Lclows, not
n snnimer.
vs. Two to
Lb somewhat le top of the
s plant is rom Nova 1 miner.
FERTILE FRONDS UNIFORMLY SOMEWHAT LEAF-LIKE IN
APPEARANCE, YET DIFFERING NOTICEABLY FROM
STERILE FRONDS
15. SLENDER CLIFF BRAKE
J'e//,r,i gracilis {P. Str/h-ri)
Labrador to Pennsylvania, usually on sheltered rocks, preferrinj^ limestone. Two to five inches lonjj, with straw-colored or pale- brown stalks, slightly chaffy below.
Fronds. — Delicate, with few pinnae ; pitDicr, the lower ones once or twice parted into 3-5 divisions, those of the fertile frond oblong or linear-oblong, sparingly incised, of the sterile frond ovate or obovate, toothed or incised ; sporans^ia bordering the pinnae of the fertile frond, covered by a broad and usually continuous gen- eral I'ndustum, formed by the reflexed margin of \ht pinnule.
The first time I found the Slender Cliff Brake was one July day in Central New York, under the kind guidance of an enthusiastic fern collector. A rather perilous climb along the sides of a thickly wooded glen brought us to a spot where our only
security lay in clinging to the trees, which, like our-
«7
If
'■I
' 1
GROUP 111
lIKTIir Ih'oNDS INIinKMlY SOMIWIIaT I.FAr I IKF., Ill iillllKnC. NdlK.IAHIY IN(IM STIkin IKONItS
sclvt's, had ohlaiiu'd doiibtfiil stan(liiij^-ro(jm. In a pockt't in tlu- limestone" just ahnvc us 1 was sliown a very brown and witlu red little plant wliieli only the elosest scrutiny in combination with a certain amount ol loreknowledL;(' could identify as the Slender Cliff Biake. The season had been a dry one and the plant had ])erished, I fancy, for lack of water, in spite of the stream which pinniped from the top of the cliffs close by, almost near enou<^h, it seemed to me, to moisten with its spray our hot cheeks.
I-ater in the season I found more })rom- isini;- though not altoi^ether satisfactory specimens of this |)lant j^rowiui^ in other rocky crevices of the same deep ^len, in the ncii;hborlio()d of the Maidenhair Spleen wort, the Walkiui^ Leaf, and the Bulblet Bladder Fern.
INI}' sister tells me that late in Au(^ust on the cliffs which border the St. Lawrence River, refreshed by the m3'riad streams wdiich leap or trickle down their sides, under the hanging roots of trees, close to clusters of quivering harebells and i)ale tufts of the Brittle Bladder Fern, the Slender Cliff Brake growls in i)rofusion, its delicate fronds rippling over one another so closely that at times they give the eTfect of a long, luxuriant moss. On most occasions, in these soft beds of foliage, she found the fertile fronds, which are far more slender and unusual looking than the sterile, largely
predominating, though at times a patch would be
88
Portion of fertile frond
GROIJI'
rriMIII IPONDS rMlOKMI Y SOMrWllAT ITAI iiKi:, VLl 1)11 1 IKING NOIICIMil.Y I k(»M SIIKlii IkOMtS
jni. In n ras shown '\\\c\\ only
a certain ly as the ccn a dry or lack oi wj-cd Irom
enough, it h its spray
iiorc proni- salisfactory ing in other dcc\) ^Icn, Maidenhair af, and the
c in August rcnce River, ich leap or nging roots 11 g harebells r Fern, the its delicate osely that at uriant moss. s ol loliage, re far more erile, largely Lli would be
made u\> cliielly of the sterile Ironds. I'luse soine- wJKit rcseiiii)k; the IJrittle IJIaddcr i'erii in whose company they are seen so olten.
illi
rWdllP III "^''Tll.r I KUNDS DNIKJKMLY SOMEWHAT LEAF-LIKF., UKULI ^, I |,in IKING NOTICtABLY FKUM SrtKILL FRONDS
i6. PURPLE CLIFF BRAKE
l\-l!iia tihol'UrpHrfa
Canada to Gcorj^ia and westward, usually on limestone cliffs; with
wiry purplish stalks.
I't-rtili' fronds. — Six to twenty inches hijjh, leathery, bluish-green, l)ale inulcrncalh, once, or below twice, pinnate ; pif.iiu\ upper ones long and narrow, lower ines usually with one to four pairs of hro.ully linear /'/iniiilrs ; s/ioranji^iti bordcrinv,^ the pinnne, bri_i;ht brown at maturity; inditsiu»i formed by the rellexed marjj^in of the frond.
Sfr>ili' fr(>H(fs. — Usually much smaller than the fertiK' and less abundant ; />iii>iir obloni;-, entire, or slightly toothed.
The l^lrplc Cliff Brake is one of the plants that re- joice in iin-<^et-al-al)le and perilous situations. Al- thoui;"h its rani;e is wider than that of many ferns, this choice of inconvenient localities, joined to the fact that it is not a common plant, renders it likely that unless vou pay it the compliment of a special exi)edition in its honor you will never add it to the list of yotir fern acquaintances.
But when all is said we are inestimably in debt to
the plants so rare or so exclusive as to entice us out
of our usual haunts into theirs. Not only do they
draw us away from our books, out of our houses,
but off the well-known road and the trodden path
into im familiar woods which stand ready to reveal
fresh treasures, across distant pastures where the
fragrant wind blows awaj^ the memory of small
anxieties, up into the hills from whose summits we
get new views.
Although the Purple Cliff Brake grows, I believe,
90
LEAF-LIKF:, LL FRONbb
PLATE X
lie cliffs ; with
,l)luisli-}4rit'n, (/', upper ones
four pairs of piniine, briijht
nuirt^^in of the
ertiUi and less
nts that rc- itions. A!- iiany ferns, ined to the n's it likely >f a special :ld it to the
' in debt to itice us out ily do they )ur houses, :)dden path y to reveal where the y of small u mm its we
s, 1 believe.
PURPLE CLIFF BRAKE " Portion of fertile trend
91
GKOUl' III
FrRTILP. FKONhS IMIOKMIY SOMf.WllAT IPAF-lIKr, YFi l)IFFFKIN(i NOIICUAHLY FKOM SIIKIII FK()M)i
within liltccn miles (*! my liomc in .Alban}-, I never saw the plant nntil this snmmer some hundred miles nearer the centre of the State. During- a morning call I chanced to mention that 1 was anxious to tind two or three lerns which were said to grow in the neighborhood. My hostess told me that twenty-five years before, on some limestone cliffs about eight miles away, she had found two unknown ferns whicli had been classified and labelled by a botanical friend. Excusing herself she left me and soon returned with carefully pressed specimens of the rurj)lc Ci.'ff Brake and the little Hue Spleen wort, the two ferns 1 was most eager to find. Such moments as I ex- perienced then of long-deferred but peculiar satis- faction go far toward making one an apostle of hobbies. INIy pleasure was increased by the kind offer to guide me to the spot which had yielded the S}K'cimens.
One morning soon after we were set down at the little railway station from which we purposed to walk to the already-mentioned cliffs. We were not without misgivings as we followed an indefinite path across soive limestone quarries, for a plant may easily disappear from a given station in the course of twenty-five years. In a few moments the so-called path disappeared in a fringe of bushes which evi- dently marked the beginning of a precipitous de- scent. Cautiously clinging to whatever we could lay hold of, bushes, roots of trees or imbedded rocks, we climbed over the cliff's side, still following the
semblance of a path. On our left a stream plunged
92
F-llKF.,
\ never cd miles niorniiiii;
IS to t»"<^ w in the ,'enty-tive out eii^^lit rns wliicii cal (rieiici. irnecl with
two ferns Ls as 1 cx- luliar satis-
apostlc of ly the kind
•ielded the
own at the urposed to J were not ^hnite path
plant may le course of be so-called
which evi- cipitous de- er we could
dded rocks,
llowing the learn pUmged
(jKOUJ III VI I 1,1111 KINC, ^()II(,| Alii V IKii.M Sll Kill IKoNhS
nearly two liundred feet into the ravine below. l'()r some distance the eye could follow its silver course, then it disappeared beneath the arching trees. On our right, many miles beyond, through the blue haze which hung over the distant valley, we could see the lake to which the stream was hunying.
We could not surrender ouiselves with comfort to the beau'y of the outlook, as our suiiouudings were not such as to put us altogether at ease. Over- head hung great rocks, so cracked and seamed and shattered as to threaten a complete downfall, while beneath our feet the path which led ahjug the face of the cliff crumbled away, so that it was ditlicult in places to obtain any foothold. Having passed the more j^erilous spots, lunvever, we became accus- tomed U) the situation and turned our attention to the unpromising wall of rock which rose beside us. From its crevices hung graceful festoons ol Bulblet Bladder Fern, and apparently nothing but Bulblet Bladder Fern. But soon one of the party gave a cry and pointed in triumph to a bluish-green cluster of foliage which sprang from a shallow pocket over- head. Even though one had not seen the plant before, there was no mistaking the wiry purplish stalks, the leathery, pinnately parted, blue-green fronds, and, above all, the marginal rows of bright brown sporangia peculiar to the Purple Cliff Brake. Soon after w^e found several other plants, all of them decidedly scraggly in appearance, with but few green fronds and many leafless stalks. Occasion- ally a small sterile frond, with broader, more oblong
93
h\
II
GKUUI'
Hkllll FKONDS rNllOKMI Y y),>\r.WHAr I.I AF-I IKI . VI I KIIH-KINr, ^^»^|(■!AltlV IKOM mi KIM IPIINDS
jtiniKL', could be seen, bill these were in tlie miiioiity. A number of very yoiin^- pliiiits, with MttU-, heart- sliaped leaves alt()i;ether uiiHke the nialutc iroiids, were wedded in neiL;hl)(jrinij^ crannies.
As our eyes i^rew more accustomed to tlie con- tour and coh)rin_<^ ol the clilfs, tlie success ol the (hiv was comi)leted bv the discover}' of several specimens of the iittle I\ue Spleenwort with tiny fronds flattened ajj^ainst the rock.
When next I saw the l'ui|)le Chlf IJrake it seemed to me cpiite a dilferent lern honi the rather awkward phmt, tlie mere sii;ht ol which 1 had wel- comed so eai^erly that any unfavorable criticism of its apj)earance seems iin<;ratf'ful.
A|L;ain it sprang" from limestone clilfs, even more remote and inaccessible though less dangerous than those where 1 saw it lirst. These clilfs were so shattered in places that the broken fragments lay in heaps at their base and on the projecting ledges. Here and there a great shaft ol rock had broken away and stood like the turret of a castle or the bastion of a fort. Among the shattered fragments high u\) on the cliff's side the Piir])le Cliff Brake grew in a luxuriant profusion that was amazing in view of the surroundings. The rigid, erect fronds formed large tufts of greenish-gray foliage that, at a little distance, so blended witli their rocky back- ground as to be almost indistinguishable. The fronds usually were much more compcjund than those I had seen a lew weeks before. The separate plants had a vigorous, bushy apj)earance that did
94
I-IIKI .
ninority. U-. hcart- e- (roucls,
the con-
ss o
1 tl
K'
1" sever
il
\vill» tiny
Brake il the rather I had wel- riticism dI
even more
^erous
than
Is were so lenls lay in
■ ledi^cs.
I broken
the
listle or ragnients
IciilT l^rake ania/inL;- in ircct ironds re that, at Irocky back- liable. The hound than he separate Ice that did
xt
ff-™
«ll
ifij
1^
i
I
rwnlll' III '""'"" ^^'nN|l^ liMM)K.V\l Y MiMI WHM I I At IIKI . UKIIUI VI r DIl^H KllS«i NOIICI Alll V IKiiM Ml Kill I KnNKs
not sii^.i4cst the same siuciis. Many ol the jjiiuKt' well' so tiiin((l as to displav the rii)e spoiaiiijia, which IoiiikmI a hi ii^lil- hiowii hoi<h'r to the |>aU', sU'iider divis- ions. Ileie, too, the small steiile Irotids w ere very rare.
Orowiiij^ from the broken rocks in amoii;.; the l'iir[)le C'lilT lirake were thril- ty little tiitts of the Maidenhair Spleeiiwoit. This tiny plant seemed to have forj^otten its shy- ness anvl to have forsworn its love for moist, shaded, mossy rcjcks. It ventured boldly out upon these i)arren cliffs, exposini^ itself to the fierce i^lare of the sun and to every blast of wind, and holdini; itself upriLcht with a saucy self- assurance that seemed stran<;ely at variance with its nature.
Near by a sin*^le patch of the Walkinu^ Leaf climbed up the face of the cliff, while, perhaps strani;- est of all, from the dccayiiiLC trunk of a tree, wdiich lay pr(js- tratc amoni^ the njcks, sprani^ a sino^lc small but perfect plant of the Ebony Spleen wort, a fern which was a complete strani^er in this locality, so far as I could learn.
95
More compounc) frond of Pu(plo Cliff Brako
Sterile frond
if fr
GKOUI' III
iikriir iRoNDs imiok.miy somivviiai iiai iikf,,
Yl. 1 DlULKIlSli ^()^ICLAULY 1 K( »M SIlKII-i: IKONUS
|
i |
||
|
rli |
||
|
^ |
f |
!• |
|
: |
||
|
i |
'1 1 1
i f
17. CHRISTMAS FERN
/]s/>ii/ium (urostii /loidi's (/hy,>//c/i.^ lU 1 oslithoidrs)
N(.\v IJrunswick to Florida, in rocky woods, (^ne to two and a half ffct liigli. with very chaffy stalks.
J-'fo/iits. — ^Lancc-shapcd, oiicc-pinnaic, fertile fronds contracltd toward the suiiiniit ; piniuv narrowly lance-sha|)ed, half halberd- shaped at the slij^dilly stalked base, bristly-toothed, the npper ones on the fertile fronds contracted and smaller; fniit-dots round. close, confluent with age, nearly covering the under surface of the fertile pinncC ; ituhisium orbicular, fixed by the depressed centre.
Of our cvcr<rrccn ferns this is the best fitted lo serve as a decoration in winter. No other fern has
such deep-green, liigldy pol- ished fronds. Thev need onl}' a mixture of red her- lies to become a ch)se rival to the hoily at Christmas time.
Wrapped in a garmeiit of brown scales, the } otmg fronds of the Christmas Fern are sent into the world early in the spring. When we go to the woods in April to look for arbutus, or to listen to the hrst songs of the robin and th bluebird, we notice that last year's fronds are still fresh and green. Low down among them, curled up like tawny caterpillars, are the young fronds. The arbutus will have made way for pink and blue and white hcpaticas, for starry bloodroot, and for tremidous anemones ; thrushes and orioles will liave joined the robins and the blue- birds before these new-comers present much of an
Portion of fertile frond
(jO
I IIKF, IKUNUS
■s) two and a
roniracUil :iU hallHTd- • upprr oiu's .,/,,/s round. xU\cv of d\c ;ed ccntrr.
t, fitted to r (crn has liohly pol- 'hcy iK'cd ,{ red bcr- closc rival Christmas
ofarnicnt
the )ouni; Christmas the world woods in lo the first notice tluit leen. Low iterpillars, have made I, [or starry thrushes ll the bliic- uich of an
Hi
;i ii
'i
II
!.!
'I : I
VJ^^-.^.-'* /I'M'.''- J
.^ ,7 — *_ '»><■" ■,>■ I'L'Kli/' !i\ .k». Vs
Vi'i 11"" - ,
i8. NARROW-LEAVED SPLEEN- WORT
■■<">
Asf'I, niion a>r.^i<sti foli itiii
Canatl.i to Kentucky, in moist woods. Two to four fcft Iii,s>li.
Strrih' fronds. - Thin, sinoolli, laiicc- shripi'd, pcrisliabic, onre-pinnatc.
l'\) tile fro>i(fs. — Taller, narrower, loni;er- stalked ; pinnw more narrowly lance-shaped than on sterile fronds ; fruit-dots linear, a row on each side the midvein ; indusiuw slii^ditly convex.
If we make an expedition to the woods early in July we may, per- haps, find some plants of the Nar- row-leaved Spleen wort. At this season they are specially attract- ive, with smooth, delicate, pale-screen fronds, so re- cently unfolded as to be full of little undulations, which they lose more or less at maturity, and which are as indicative of youth as the curves and
dimples of a baby.
98
SPLEEN-
liiiiii
voods. Two
looth, lanrc-
c.
iwcr. loni;cr-
lancc-shapcd
\fots linear, a
|i ; iiidusim!'
:ion to the may, per- il the Nar- At this ly attract- tids, so re- idulations, urity, and curves and
NARROW-LEAVED SPLEENWORT a Maanifiod pinna of fertile frond
99
GROUP III
FFRTILr, IRONDS UNlKtRMI.Y SOMIWIIAT l.F.AK-.IIKE, Yti DIFFl-KINd NonCFAHI.Y FKUM STtKILL FKDNUS
llf tli
ill
r? :
Late in August the plant has reached a stately licii^^ht, perhaps oi three or four feet. The fronds arc still smooth and delicate to a dei^ree unusual even in ferns. But they wear a deeper green, and their texture seems a trifle more substantial. Oc- casionally, though rarely in the deeper woods, we find a frond which is conspicuously longer-stalked, taller, narrower than the others, with pinnic more distant and more contracted, A glance at its lower surface discovers double rows of brown, linear fruit- dots.
Though one of the largest of its tribe, the Nar- row-leaved Splecnwort suggests greater fragility, a keener sensitiveness to uncongenial conditions, than any other of our native ferns. A storm which leaves the other inhabitants of the forest almost un- touched beats down its fronds, tender and perish- able even in maturity.
This very fragility, accompanied as it is with beauty of form and color, in the midst of the some- what coarse and hardy growth of the .Vugust woods, lends the plant a peculiar charm.
I find it growing beneath great basswoods, lichen- spotted beeches, and sugar maples with trunks branch- less for fifty feet, soaring like huge shipmasts into the blue above.
Almost the only flowers in its neighborhood, for in midsummer wood-flowers are rare, are the tiny pink blossoms of the herb Robert, that invincible little plant which never wearies in well-doing, but persists in flowering fr(.ni June till October, the
lOO
F-l.lKE, -KONDS
GROUP III
FF.KTII.r FRONDS I'MFORMI Y SOMFWIIAT I.FAF-I IKF, VLI UlUlKINti ^()II(;1AIU.V IKO.M SlI.Kll.l 1KUM)J»
I stately c fronds uiuisiuil ecu, and ial. Oc- oods, we r-stalkcd, naj more its lower lear Iruit-
thc Nar- [ragility, onditions, inn which ilmost un- \d perish-
is with he some- ist woods,
ds, lichen- ksbranch- iiasts into
[-hood, tor
the tiny
invincible
loino^, but
[ober, the
;i
I
violet-blue iieads ol the almost equally untirini:" sell- heal and the yellow pitchers of the pale toueh-me- not or jewel-weed. This j)lant, a close lelative of the more southern and belter known spotted touch- me-not, grows in great jjatches almost in the heart
o
f the woods. The lack of flowers is
somewhat
atoned for by the coral clusters of the red baneberry and the black-spotted, china-like fruit of the white baneberry.
But ferns chiefly abound in the woods. Every- where 1 notice the thin, s[)reading frond and with- ered fruit-cluster of the I'J.attlcsnake Fern, in my e.x- perience the most ubiquitous member of the Botry- cJiiuui group. More or less fre([uent are graeeful crowns of the Spinul(3Se Shield Fern, slender shining- fronds of Christmas Fern, dull-green groups of Sil- very S^jleenwort and stately phnnes of Goldie's Fern. As we draw near the wood's border, where the yellow sunlit helds of grain shine between the tall maple shafts, we push aside umbrella-like Brakes. At the very limits of the woods, close against the rails, grows the sweet-scented Dickso)iia.
lOl
yj
GROUP
FFPTII r rPONDS IINUORMI Y SOMF WHAT I TAF-LIKF, VLl DIMLKlNti NOTICI.AHLV 1 K(^A\ iiilKll.i; I KUINDS
!^
19. NET-VEINED CHAIN FERN
11 'i>(></:i'i! /■(//(/ (iir^iisti fi'/ia Swanip)' places from Maine to Morida, in wet \vf)0(ls near the coast.
Sti'n'lt' f)0)iiis. — Twilve to ei^hieen inches hii;Ii, pinirititkl with minuti'ly toothed (Hvisions iniited by a i)road win^-.
lurtih' fronds. — Taller than the sterile, onee-pinnate ; p/iinw much contracted ; yy/^/Z-^/r^/.v in a sinj^le row each side of the sec- ondary midribs ; iiidusiinn fixed by its outer margin, opening on the sitle next the miilrib.
Tlic \V()(xl\var(lias are associated in my mind with sea-air, [jinc-trees, and the flat, sandy country
near Buzzard's Hay, Mass. Both species were met with in one walk not far from the shore.
A little stream, scarcely more than a ditch, divided an open, sunny meadow (rom a bit of evergreen wood, and on the steep banks of this runlet srrcw the briofht fronds of Woodzvardia august i folia, i^iving at first glance somewhat the im})ression of 0)io- clca scusibilis. The fronds of both arede- scribed as pinnatifid, and in this Wood- zvardia we find the divisions minutely toothed (<?), giving them a rough outline which is wanting in Ouoclea scusibilis. These are the sterile fronds. Among them and taller than they arc the fertile fronds with very narrow divisions, covered on the versed
side with the chains of fruit-dots (b).
102
y
■-LiKr,
KUNDS
r the coast, vitilkl Willi
tr ; pimne
of the SL'C-
upcning on
ny mind ' country ,s. Both one walk
I'i
'
i
•f
NET-VEINED CHAIN FERN
I
^
vr*
m V,
1, '
I !•
GK(jUF III
FLKTM I IROINUS LMIOKMLY SOiMtWHAl LEAF-LIKE, VLl UIMLKliNO ^UllCLAbLY I kUAl SILKILL ^KU^Db
It is a luindbunic Iciii and very satisfactory to the novice in fern hunting, because, taking- leitile and sterile fronds together, it cannot be confused with any otiier sj^ccics.
Crossing tlie tiny stream, a })atli dim with the shade of h)w, dense evergreens and soft and elastic underfoot from their fallen leaves, leads through the woods. Here among the partridge-vine that runs over the rocks, growing from the soft, spongy soil, are groups of the sterile fronds only ol this Woochvardia, charming little clumps of fresh green that invite one to dig them up and i)lant them m boxes or baskets tor decorative purposes.
1 1.
i t.
Tn,j
.tu
EAF-LIKE, L hKUNUb
jry to the citilc and used with
with the and elastic s through i-vine that ){t, spongy ily of this resh green nt them in
^ I
GROUP IV
FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND SIMILAR ;
SPORANGIA ON OR BENEATH A REFLIiXOD PORTION
OF THE MARGIN
20. BRAKE. BRACKEN. EAGLE FERN
J'ti-ris aqnilitia
Almost throughout North America, iu dry, somewhat open places. One to two feet high ordinarily, occasionally much higher.
Fronds, — Solitary, one to two feet wide, cut into three primary divisions which are twice-pinnate, widely spreading at the summit of an erect, stout stalk ; sporangia borne in a continuous line along the lower margin of the frond ; indiisiiim formed by the reflexed edge of the frond.
Of all ferns the Brake is the most widely dis- tributed. It occurs in one form or another in all parts of the world. With us it grows commonly from one to two feet high, occasionally higher. In Oregon it attains a height of six or seven feet, in the Andes of fourteen feet.
It is a vigorous and often a beautiful and striking plant, growing abundantly on sunny hillsides and
in open woods.
105
r
p
*i|ffl
'! 1
TiRl nil' IV '^'"T" ^'^" "^11 i'li I ll'itNDS II Ml IK I AND SJMII AK ; sj'MKANiilA (IN UK IIIINIAIII A KM HMD MAKdIN
III llic s|>iiiii;- or cailv siimincr ils solilinv spread- ing IioikI. Iii;lil-i;r((ii and dclicalf in color, niii;lil alnH)s( \)v conlnscd uifh tlic Oak I'Ciii. l.atci- ils j;rccn takes on a (kirk, dull shade, and its <;ciK'ral
aspect becomes nioK; hardy tlian tliat of an\ otlier fciii.
The li r a k e is hc-
wV
f>
v^:
^^-';:;^
&»«'^--^'
.1 \'
('
Saxons and to have s^iven this pre- 4>** f ^7?^.*/^^^- 7^^'%>>S"S fix to many Eno-hsh towns and vil- / y,;;<-;>^>"';- %
kiges, such as Fearnhow or I'arn- how, Farnins^hani, etc.
It is one of th(^ few ferns men- tioned by name in j^eneral b'tera- tnre. In the "Lady of the Lake"
-:"n< - ■•-.
/" i
Buike
it is alhided to in the soni^ of the heir of Armanduve
" 11u' heath this nij^ln must be my bed,
The Bracken curtain for my head." io6
\v ; (.IN
ri'jul- nij^lit IT its
lUTlll
more \\ of
is l)c-
1>N - .1-
i^V
lliive :
CKdlll' IV "Tlir AND MIKIII IkoNhS IIM-IIM AM>sn\||,\K; M'nKANdlA ON ( (K III INI A I II A Klll.lMli MAKi.lN
JVcris rsc/f /,•>//(/, ;i vaiic 1\ ol our niiikf, is said to I)a\c hccii mil' (»t llic cliicl ailiclcs < t| IcmxI in New /calaiul. It was called •' Ici ii-i i lot," and in j )r. TlHHnpson's '' Slot V ol New /calatid " is s|>(iktii ol as IoIIdws: "This lood is (•clchi alcd in soul;, and the yoiiiiL; woincii, in layin<; hclorc travcllcis bas- kets <»l cooked lern-i(»()t, cliaii* : * What siiall he our lood?' Shall shelllish and lei ii-iool ? That is t he root ol t lie earth ; that is I he lood to sat isl)' a man ; t he Ioiil^ik's L^row l)V reason ol the lickiiiL;-,
as il it were the toni;ue ol a
I» ti
Idic titles IJrakc and l-tacken are not always conlined to their lawliil owner. J''reqnently they are apjilied to any laii;e lerns, such as the ( )sinnndas. oi- even to such supcrlicially Icrndikc plants as Myrica (iaU\ the sweet ^^alc, or sweet lern.
'Idiere is a difference of oi)i!u"on as to the oriii^in of the plant's scl- ent ihc naine, which si^nilies ea^lc win<^. Some snpj)osc il to be derived from the oulline of the heraldic ea^le which has been seen by the imasj^inativc in a cross-section of the younj^ stalk. It seems more likely that a resemljlance has been fancied Ijetwccn the sprcadini,^ frond and the
[^lunuii^c of an eagle.
">7
Pirinulo of Bfikw •.lio//iiii/
|
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|
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j.Koi'nv
tIKIIII \M< MM III tlMiNlf, M M I IK AMt'-IMIMW. sri>K\\til\ i"S t'l III Nl VIII \ I (Ml Ml* i^*^^.!^
rilC I ll ,|l\i ( lllir. In < iVV II III ,11 1 1 II III II, I Mil I |i M '. IK )l
NVilliri .iw AS lill iIh' I.'IImw hi;; \ . ,ii
!*til
ji. MAIDI' NMAIU
1, 11, 1 ft /h"/ /'••hi/ii'u
NiU.l Sii'li.i li> niitr.li t .'IiiimIii,i. -oiiili in < .i nici.i .iinl Ai Kiir.r., in miM'.l wnml . I i n i>> i irlili ■ n iin In • lih'li
/ f. "/.;'« I'KiLiI ,(i ilii Mininni "I iIh '.|iiii|<i M.mI. .iml |«i| l«.l\it| '.l.dlv. ill. i.iuiv.il Im.uiiIi. •• 111, nun; i>ii nin Milt mmmI si. Uil. I . '•pit .ulmr 1 Mil 11,11. .h\ iM.'ir. , .-^z ';v,v/, > I'liji. jii. I\ iii.hm'iiI.ii oM.Mu; . >/\" .»»/);. '.» Ill '.lii'il liiiil .l.ii'. .Ill tile iiml. i iii.ii\;m ..I i lulu ol llii' li.Mul . i>i,i;t\i:t"; I.miii. .1 l'\ Hi. i. ll. v. .1 l"l'. <'i Ln'ili '•! ll"
ll.Ml.l.
I'lM pill |<ns(". «»l l.lcill lilt ,ll 1. >ll ll wniiM •,(•(111 • ilmtist Mi|»('i llijoii'. li» (liMiiltc llic M.iii ll iili.iii . ;i
pl.ml w III* ll |ti I )| i.il il \ •'. iii« »i (•
' J '*' "1 'Mnci .ill \ .IppM ( i.ilct I I ll.lll
•• .ill 1 lie I c'.l til I lie Ici II'. 1(1
' ' ., <M"1 lici . N (1. s 1 I .1 II !• (■ I N
v" ("Ml )ii:',Ii. ll i"^ « ( )iiliis('(| (ttii
St., In w ll h nl lici |»l;iiils ;iiiil
w It ll |il.iiils \viii( ll .11 (' not
1(1 lis. > 1 I\m1i.11>S lIlC (.11 IN IIK.kIoW MIC
\v.^«-"^v/ '^ '*i> , is the iW.iiil most (tMunuMiU' iiiis-
J t.ikiMi loi the M.iii Kill 111 il . While
it (loc's iu)l sii^L^csl st I iUiiii;! V out'
cMstcMii Umii. its lohcd and loiindcd
Icatlcts bear a likcm^ss t() rei tain spciMCs nat ivc to
otlicr parts ol the rnuntiw notabh to ./. i'd/^l/lns-
Wneris. the X'enusdiair 1\ in ol the souliiern States.
i.'S
A pinnn >•.? M.iu1ei'lia
■A
|i II , in 'I
I AiK.in
nil M M I .ll
II I.IIU'II
I.M
III 1 l| .1 It'llC
l.inlll I'l ill'
ill) '.(•cm
(11
li.in. .1
1 \ ■'. Mil »i «'
led lli.iii
Id 11*. I« •
.1 n :■, <• I \
r.cil inn
hulls ;iiul
.11 (■
nnl
low IIIC
luilv Miis-
Wliilc
|nL;lv our
roimdrd
IkiIIvc 1(>
( 'r //'/////. V-
lii wStalcs.
i.l/nlll' IV
M t' MM A Nh 11 Mil I l»"iN|i , I • Al I Ikl ANh .IMll Af , • I'l )f AN( ,|/S nn np III rij A III A MIIIIMIi m^\'|,^'t
r.iii
I I I ■ I I < 1 1 ( . I , \ I I t ( < 1 1 1 \' I I M (
.1 MM iKi I li.il ll' li.r
MM) If ,1 nil III.) Ill I III . I ' :', .1 1 'I \ 'III I h ini ( In Im i|ii\in!' I>\ .1 ImiiL '»v'i!'M»vvn willi lli» f.iily iin ,n| I in \\ III n III I ,1 11. \' III I ,it t ' lit I' III I ' I I Im iinii .11,1 1
M\V
.1 1 III III 1,1 III I III M .1(1 1' II I III I I II I In in i|' ll I •' ll III I' I' I I ' ( III, I, Hint III' In' ii.inl .III I III ,( \(iii Ml,", !',''. I 1 1 nil llir pi, ml lie ■■iw w.i. in»l M.inl'iili.H I , Iml llm riirly
iin.nl) I \v III)
II In li.K • III' i' .1 .1
I ' v ' I ' I n f I'll
\'Miii It' ll ,iiin .ll .ll I .iiiiiin III . In " iin I;' in;' I y ;n I till I' ih.il |i'i'. ilil\ ll \\;i'. mil III' ' .1 ' liiMi \' ,M;iidriili;iii
ImiI
III. I ml. nil'
I' III 1 1 \ 1 1 1,1 1 1 1 \\:r, ;i tin n « ii in ' nii-
iinni ■.!»♦( If. wlinli ;ili'iiiinl. in lii'. ••,[»»•( i,i| in ii'ji
I M ii III II II I. II ImiI\ ' 1 1 1 ill iiii.iI n \''Mi li'il'l yiiM [if ;n i , 1 1 1 ' I < 1 1 . 1 1 1 : ', I 1 1 n . II 1 1 1 ' ' 1 , 1 1 1 1 1
II I II I', •,«•','.(( I I »\' ;i I ' iiiin III ill^ |i »\ r ' i| I I III ll \\ III' ll i'. .ll w ii \', ;■, ' I I III !', \ ) Ml iiih »
I I I nihlc, \) III '.l.iln •.;nll \ Inil III inly I li'il < *ii I in ll I In ;i',l (I II .S|;ili", li;i\'( lull ' iin .|if- ( ics ol .Miiif If'iili.iii , .iinl I li.'il
il is linn (• I li.iii iinpi ) ih.ihic I li.il t Im f;i vor nd ini;dib'n IkmkI mI his lioiiic (I'M il is ;ilvv;i\'s ;iii iiimMi;ill)' tif.h |( K ;i lit \' ) ( tllci s .'iinttlni. I In- I'sult '»( I liis disfiis- sidii islli;il iiiciil.'ill y \')ii ;im- [ti ')in>iiin,f:d holli r, on- ceiled iiiid |)ii4 lic'idcfl. I')! ;i (r,\v unnks tin- piaiifs ill (|ncsli()ii aic p.'issfd willnnil ffiinnn nf, Inif [;)' .'iti- ollicr siimmcf I In- t i( li lm^wI h of .M.iidfriliair is a;^.'iiii proudly cxliilatcd. Oiil\' in onn wa)' r.'iti von savf; vour rnptilatioM ami pf>ssilj|y convince yrjiir fricnrl. Wlu'ii concci iii;^^ him, if yon i^lihly rf:rriark tfiaf
(O'l
t I
It
>o^>
.s:-:i
^4. :f ' A
1i*iil 'Vl
-i^'
;%
«^
'^^
X'
,,....1.
(^:::
-■-«J-"5<**-
•'■;;. i>
diantuvi pcdatuvi, our northeastern Maidenhair, is the only species which has been found in this part of the country, that A. Capil- Ius-Vcncris,\\\c Maidenhair whicli some- what lesembles the early meadow rue, can hardly be found north of Virginia, while A. tencrum is found only in Florida, and A. cuiarginatnni is confined to the Pacific coast, you will have redeemed yourself, not
<;^
r-
1k>.,
wm
%
vm^
', pcdatmn^ hcastcrn lir, is the
found in : A. Capil- licli sonic- adow rue, Hid north A. tencrum orida, and confined
, you will rself, not
TROIIP IV '"''•^Tlir. AND Sri-RIIF. FRONDS IFAF-I IKH \m SIMII AP ; l.jt\UUJ IV i^poKANGIA ON OK_Bl.NLATll A KLU.F.XFD MAKi.lN
from the stiij^ma of conceit, far from it, l)ut from that of error. Tlie j^lib utterance ol Latin names is attended wit li a strange power of silencini^ ^our opponent and filHni^ him with a sort of i^rudi^ing lieHef in your scientific attainments.
The trutli is that the averai^e ia^-man who takes an interest in plants is as sensitive re<^ardin<^ tlie Maidenhair as he is about his recoj^nition of an orchid. By way of warnini^ what more need be said ?
Thou<:rh the Maidenhair has a wide ramre and grows abundantly in many localities, it possesses a quality of aloofness wliich adds to its cliarm. Even in neighborhoods where it grows profusely, it rarely crowds to the roadside or becomes the companion of your daily walks. Its chosen iiaunts are dim, moist hollows in the woods or shaded hill-sides sloping to the river. In such retreats you find the feathery fronds tremulous on their black, glistening stalks, and in their neighborhood you find also the very spirit of the woods.
Despite its apparent fragility, the Maidenhair is not difficult to cultivate if provided with sufficient shade and moisture.
Ill
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GKOUl' IV
FrHTII.F ANI> TFRll.l' I RONI>S I.LAK-I IKT. ANH SIMILAR; Sl'OKANiilA (JN OK ULNLAlll A KLILIiXliD MARGIN
22. HAIRY LIP FERN
ClhilaiitJics I'cstita {C. /anos,:)
Cirowing on rocks. Southern New York to Georgia. .Six to fifteen inehes high, with, brown and .shining .stalks.
Fronds. — 01)long-hniee-shape(l, rough with rusty hairs, twice- pinnate; //////«■ rather thstant, triangular-ovate, cut into oblong, more or less incised pinnules; fniit-dcfs roundish; indusium formed by the rctlexed margins of the lobes whii'h arc pushed back by the matured sporangia.
Till a few years aj^o the nio.st, northern station (or the Hairy Lip Fern was siii)i)()sed to be within the limits ol New York City. The })lant was diseov- crcd, in i866 or 1867, on Manhattan Island, near Fort Tryon, growing- on rocks with an eastern exposure. If one shoidd visit this station to-day he would find himself at 196th Street, in the city of New York, some two hundred and thirt3'-three yards west of the Kingsbridge road, an 1 I fear there would be no tra "e of this to us rare fern.
Since then the plant has been discovered close to the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie.
Its narrowly oblong, dull-green fronds, more or less covered with red-brown hairs, which give it a somewhat rusty appearance, spring from the clefts and ledges of rocks.
112
I SIMILAR; » MAKiJIN
PLATE X
III
ix to fifteen
airs, twicc-
ito obloni^,
indttsiuni
ushed back
ation for thin the ; discov- car Fort x'posiire. )uld find ^v York, west of Id be no
close to
iiore or ive it a le clefts
" 4f I.
HAIRY LIP FERN « A fruiting pinnule
fiKOUP IV
1 1 K I II I AND Sll Kll I IkOlSDS I I M I |KI AND SIMM AK ; SI'OKANdIA ON OK HI M A I II A KIIIIXID MAKiillN
23. HAY-SCENTED FERN
/)i, k.u'iiiii />il,(>st'!/Si/t/,i {/>. f'liih tiloht4la)
Two to three- fci-l liis^li ; hill-sidos. nirailows, and thickets from
Canada to 'I'ctiiu-ssct'.
/•'; ('//(A. ( )vate-laiu-e-shaped. loiii^-tapcrini;, palc-,q;rccn, thin and very di'hcati- in texture, shi^htly ,'L;laiuhilar and hairy, usually tliriee-pinnalilid ; piniur lanec-shaped, pointed, re|)eatin,i; in minia- ture outhni' of frond ; f'inntilrs cut a.^ain into short and obtuse lolies or sc'^nients ; f) uii-dots eaei\ on an elevated globular rcrcp- taele 'U a yccurvid ioothlct ; iiuiusiuii: cup-shajied, open at Lhc top.
Ill pai'ts of the country, especially from Connecti- cut southwaid, the IIa\-scentecl Fern is one of ilic abundant plants, 'riioui^h not essentially a rock- lovino- plant, it rejoices \\\ such rocky, upland jxistures as crown many ol our lower mountain ranges, " oicat stretches ol o-fayish or sa_<]^e-^reen fields in which everv bowlder and outcrop of rock is marked by masses of the bri^^ht-jj^recn fronds of Dicksoniiu over which the air moves lazily, heavy with the j)eculiar frai^^rance of this intcrestin<^ fern." Its sino;ularly delicate, tapering-, pale-green fronds, curvinii^ i^racefully in every direction, rank it anionic our most beautiful and noticeable ferns. Often aloiii^ the roadsides it forms <;reat masses of feath- erv folias^c, temptiiii^ the weary pedestrian or bi- cycler to tlini^ himself upon a couch sufficiently soft and luxurious in ai)pcarance to satisfy a syba- rite. But I can testify that the Hay-scented Fern docs not make so good a bed as it promises.
Two years ago, during a memorably hot August,
114
I> SIMILAR ; I) iVlAR(im
r"! ATK XIV
.<^^
liickcts from
-.ijrcrn, tliin lairy. usually ny; in iniuia- aiul obtuse )bular reccp- opcn at the
Coniiccli- nc of tlic i a rock- ', upland mountain :ii^c-grccn p of rock n fronds \y, heavy ui; fern." n fronds, it amon^ ;. Often
of fcath- in or bi- fficicntly y a sy ba- ted Fern I.
August,
.-t^'
SM^i'
HAY-SCENTED FERN « Early stage of Suiting p.^nule
iL
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GKOlll' IV
MRTIIF AM> STIRIII KRONOS IIAF-I.IKI AND SIMIIAK; SPORANGIA ON OR IIINIiATH A Rhll.f.XI I) MAR(jlN
an afternoon drive over an nnnscd mountain road brought us to a picturesque spot where tlie clear stream tumbled into a rock-paved basin, sui;i;eslii\ii;- so vividly the joy of
" — the cool silver shock Of the iiluni^e in a pool's iiviii^f water,"
that then and there we resolved soon to pitch our tent upon its banks. In all respects it was no' a suitable camj) site. There were no balsams or ever- f^reens of any kind available for beddiuij^ in the nei^^hborhood, so wiien, a few davs later, we had taken up our (juarters just above the rock-paved pool, we went into our temporary back-yard where the Dicksonia «:^rew al)un{ianllv with its usual soft and seductive appearance, and j^athercd i^reat arm- fuls for the night's rest. I must frankly own that I never slept on so hard a bed. Since then I have been more than ever inclined to believe that ferns inhabit the earth chiefly for decorative ends. In the })resent age they do not lend themselves as once they did to medicinal jnirposcs. Usually they are without culinary value. So far as 1 know animals refuse to eat them on account of their acrid juices. And experience proves that when used as a bed they do not
" medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday."
The Hay-scented Fern is very sensitive, wither- ing with the early frosts. Sometimes in the fall it
ii6
IMII AW ; MAK<ilN
lin road ic clear
;-i;cstiniJ^
itcli oiH" as no^ a
or cvcr- r in the
we had ck-paved n\ where siial solt real arm-
n that 1 n I have
lat ferns
luls. In Is as once
they are animals
d uiices.
IS a
bed
with er- ic fall it
rWOIlW IV ff^""- A'^'^ STI,K1I.I. IKONDS IIAI-UKI ANh SIMILAR; ^^'^^' Sl'dKANCIA ON OK ItIM A III A PIIIIXIi) MAK(ilN
bleaciies almost white. Then ils slender fioiid; seem like bcautiliil wraiths of their former selves.
The Dicksofiia, as he always calls if, is Thoica
n s
favorite amon<^ the ferns, lis fronds are sweet- scented when crushed or in dryini^, and t(j their
fragrance he was {jecniiarly sensitive :
" Cioinsj^ aloiif^ this old Carlisle road . . . road where all wild thini^s and fi !l.s abound, where there are countless rocks to jar those who venture in wai^ons; road which leads to and throui^h a jj^reat but not famous ijjarden, zoolo<^ical and botanical, at whose gate you never arrive — as I was going along there, I perceived the grateful scent (A the Dick- sonia fern now partly decayed. It reminds me of all up country, with its si)ringy mountain-sides and unexhausted vigor. Is there any essence of Dick- sonia fern, I wonder? Surely that giant, who my neighbor ex[)ects is to bound up the Alleghenies, will have his handkerchief scented with that. The sweet fragrance of decay ! When I wade throu^ by narrow cow-i)aths, it is as if I had strayed into an ancient and decayed herb garden. Nature per- lumes her garments with this essence now espe- cially. She gives it to those who go a-b, rberryi and on dark autumnal walks. The very scent of it, if you have a decayed frond in your chamber, will take you far up country in a twinkling. Vou would think you had gone after the cows there, or were lost on the mountains."
n;
ivofain
Why can we not oftener refresh one aiKjther
1 1'
^ 1^^
I
«
i
iti
!
CKOUr IV ' ' '^"" '^'^" ''T"'" ' "'<'>'^'"> II ' ^^^ AND SIMM \V ; * M'OKAlNtJA (t,N OK HI M A I II A I.IXII) MAPdlN
willi oiioiiial llioii^lils ? II llic lia^r;incc ol IIk' I )iclvS()iiia \cv\\ is so _i;ral('liil and sii_ni;-(\slivc to us, iiow imith nioi'c rclrcsliiiii; and ('n(:ouia_L;ini^, khit- atini;, would he Ircsh and Ira^rant tlioui^lils coiu- luunicatcil to us from a man's cx|)(iii'iuc' '' I want none ol his pity nor sympatliy in llic common sense, hut tiiat he should emit and communieale to me his essential I ?:iL^rauce . . . ^oini;- a-huekleherryiui; in the fields ol thoui;ht, and enriching- all the world with his vision and his joys."
In connection with IIms fein i'horeau in(lul<rc\s in one of those whimsical, enchant inj^ disciuisitions with the Sj)irit of which you are in complete accord, even t.houi;h you may seeiu to contiadict the letter:
" It is only when we lorget all our learnini;- that we bej^in to know, I do not i;et nearer by a hair's- brcadth to any natural object, so loni; as I |)resume that I have an introduction to it from some learned man. To conceive ol it with a total apprehension, 1 must lor the thousandth time apj)roach it as some- thing totally strange. II you would make accjuaint- ancc with the ferns, you must forget your botany. Not a single scientific term or distinction is the least to the ])urposc. Vou woidd fain perceive something, and vou nrust ai)proach the object to- tally unprejudiced. You must be aware that noth- insr is wliat vou have taken it to be. In what book is this world and its beauty described ? Who has plotted the steps towarc the discovery of beauty ? Vou must be in a different state from common. Your greatest success will be simply to perceive
iiS
MMII AR ; AUK(ilN
c ol the
,'C to US,
j;, rccrc- lits com- I want >n sense, I) ine Ill's henyiiiij;- le world
liili^es ill uisitions ' accord, e letter : lino- tjiat a hair's- presunie
learned hension, IS sonie- cquaint-
botany. n is the jerceive )ject to- at noth- at book i^ho has beauty ? ommon. )erceive
(iK( )LII' IV " "' " ' '^^" "^ " "" ' < •" 'M's 1 1 Ai I
SI'di^INdlA ON (»p lilMAI
IK I a;m» si.vui Ak
A PI II I Mil .MAh'(.|N
that such things arc, and
\"ii will I
>''\(' no com
nuinication to make to the ivjoyal S
were rc(|uired to know the position ol il,,. |n,ii.,|
o( Id V
or the chara( Icr ol ihc i,,(|
ot;
(;asier tli:in to ascertain il ; hni ji ,|
iisiiim, iio||,in,L; could j,
you l)c allcctcd by Icrns, thai 1 1
IS rc(|iiirc(| thai
'MU!
if
><')■ amoiiiil to aiiv-
si,i;nily anvthin- to yon, that they I
sacred scripture and icvclation t
red
cem your lile, this end is not
y he aiiollicr " yon, hclpinu- |,,
J)lished.
so casi,
y acconi-
nq
GROUr V
■?
FCRriM; AND STrivMl.i; I^^ONDS LKAF-LIKI" AND SIMILAR; Sl'OKANc]IA IN LINIiAK OK OBLONG rKlHT-DOTS
24. LADY FERN
AspliHimn I''i!iA-j\im'nta
A wood and ro.ul.sidi" fiMii, i; rowing;- in all parts of the country ami prt'scntini; many \;uyinn forms. OiU' to three feet high, witii luftid. siraw-i'olorid, reddish, or brownish stalks.
Fronds. -Hroadly lanre-shapcd, tapcrinj; toward the apex, twice- pinnate ; pinuic laP'-e-shaped ; pi)inulcs oblong-laneeolate, toothed or inciscil ; f) nit-dots short, curved; indnsium delicate, cin-ved, sometimes shaped like a horseshoe.
The Lady Fcni is louiicl in all parts of tlic conn- try. Sometimes it tonus a part of the tangle of wild, i;racclid thiiiixs which ori'ow close to the roadside fence. Ai;ain, in company with the Silvery Spleen- wort, the Eveigrccn Wood Fern and the S})imilose Shield Fern, forming perhaps a background for the brilliant scarlet clusters of the wile' bergamot, it fringes the banks o( some amber-colored brook which surprises us with its swift, noiseless flow as we stroll throusfh the woods.
The earliest fronds imciirl in May. In June the
120
PLATE XV
IS
: country eet liigli,
ilks.
-x.twire- , toothed , curved,
^' conn, •f wild, ladside >plecn- luilose id for ^amot, brook low as
le the
^
yV
'iiter
'■<:>/ "
a Fruiting pinnule
LADY FFRN
i?A
I' Portion of sa
nne
r.RDlIP V
FrKIIII ANKSIIklll nriNh, MAI I Ikr AND SIMII AR: SPOHANtjiA IN IINLAK UK iMILUNij IKDII-lHUSJ
|)Iant is vri \ Liiaccliil and pliasiiii;. When j^rowinj^ ill sIkkIimI phu'i's it is oltcii ("oiispitiioiis hv reason (»l its l)rii;lil piiilv or it'ddisli slalks, whicli contrast cllci liv(.l\ with llic delicate j;;ccn ol tlic lolia^c. Hut ill later siiiiiiik r, jucljjjinij^ by inv <»u n ex|>erience, the l.ad\ l-'ei n l()st;s nuicli ol its delicacv. Many ol its Iroiids hi'conie disli^ured and |)!esent a latlier hlotclied and coarse appearance.
'11. is seems strani;i' in view of tlie facM that the plant iscalU"(l by l^owc, a well-known l*Ji<;^lish writer, the " ()neen ol I'erns, " and that it is one of the few leins to which we lind reference in literatnre. Scott pays it the compliment, rarel)' bestowed upon ferns, of mentioniiii; it by name:
" Where the copse wood is tlic ifrccnest, Where the fountain j;nslcns sheenest, Where the :uorninj; dew lies lon.i;est, 'I'here the Lady l'\'rn j^rows stronj^est."
In Entclish worivs devoted to ferns I find at least two jioems, more remarkable for enthusiasm than for poetic inspiration, in its honor. 1 (juote a portion of the one which occurs in Miss l^ratt's " Ferns of Great Britain and Their Allies":
" I)iit seek liernot in earl.y May,
For a Sibyl tlien she looks, With wrinkled fronds that seem to say,
• Shut up are my wizard books ! ' Then search for her in the summer woods,
Where rills keep moist the j^round. Where Foxgloves from their spotted hoods.
Shake pilfering insects round ;
122
CUl )lll' V "•'"" AMI S II Kill IHdM.S II M I IK I VMi SIMII AK ; ' M'DKA.NdIA IN MM AH i )K ( lUI i iM , IKIII imlS
When ii|) ,iii<l (Limbering all ahotit.
'I'lu; IravclliT's Joy llm,i;s forth Its snowy .luiis, that in and onl
lake fcalhci'. sir.w ihr cnth : I'air arc I he tiifis of niiadow-swcci
'I'liai haply blossom niv;h ; {■'ail' arc llic whirls of violet
I'l iiiicll.i show s li.inl hy ; r.iii nm liy hnin in wond, or vale,
( irows anythinj^' so fair /\s the plinny crest of emerald pale, That waves in I he wind, and soii_nhs in the v;alc, Of the l.ady ICrn. when the snnheams iiiiii
To y,old her delicate hair."
Tlu; otlici", wliicli I L(ivc in lull, on accomil of its (|iKiiiitii( s, .'i|)[>carc(l in I In- llolaniidl l.oohcr-ont of
K(l
Will l.l'fS
Wlu'ti ill splcinlor and beanly all natnrc is ('rf)wn'd, The !''eni is seen (iirlinL; half hid in the ,v;round, lint of all tlu- ^M"ei-n brackens that rise by the bnrn, Commend me alone to the swcel 1-ady i'"i'rn.
I'olypodiiiin indented stands stiff on the rock, Willi Ills sori exposed to the tempest's roiij^h shoi k On the wide, ehilly heath A(|iiilina stands stern, Not onie to be named v.ith the sweet I,ady I'ern.
ilix-mas in a circle lifts up his tureen
froiuh
And the Heath I'^ern delij^hts by the boi^^s and the ponds ; Throui;h their shadowy tufts th(ni,t,di with pleasure I turn, The palm must still rest w itli the i lir Lady Fern.
IJy the fountain I see her just sprinj^^ into sight. Her texture as frail as though shivering with fright , To the water she shrinks— I can scarcely discern In the deep humid shadows the soft Lady Fern.
11'^
CROUP V
rrRTIII- AND STIKIir FRONDS I F.AI -IIKT AND SIMILAR; S1'()KAN(.IA IIN l.lMiAK l)K ()lll.()N(i iklUr-UUlb
'• WluTf tlic water is poiiriiii; foirvcr she sils, And beside her tlu- Ou/el, the Kiiij^fisluT Hits; TIkmv, suprcMU" in lu-r bi-aiity, beside the full nni. In the shade of tlu- roek stands the tall Lady I'eiii.
" Noon bnrns np the mountain ; but here by the fall The Lady l-'ern iKuirishes i;raeeful and tall. Hours speed as tlioui^hls rise, without any eoneern, Antl lU)at like the spray gliding; past the i^reen I'ern."
25. SILVERY SPLEENWORT
Asplriti mil t/ir/v/'tnoiit\.\- (.7. (jrrostir/u'i </(■•<)
Hi Hi'"
Canatki to Akibama and wi'stward, in rieh woods. One to three feet high.
/■yoNi/s. — L:mee-shaped, taperini; both ways from the middle, onee-pinnale ; piiuuc linear-laneeolate, dei'])ly cut into obtuse sei;- ments ; /> 7/ //-^/(V.v oblong- ; htdusiiiiii silvery when young.
:^5)»I^C:
^V>)^1
-•^v
Tlic Silvery Splccnwort. i^^rows
in c\)ni})any with its kinsman, the
"^r^^^^K''' ''■■■■-■ " Narrow-leaved Spleenwort, and
"^^^^Cwiu?'''..'"^'"" ' '^^^'^ ^^'^^'^ many of the Aspidiiims, such
as the Spinulose Shield Fern, the Ever- green Wood Fern, the Christmas and Goldic's Fern. I tind it <2:rowinix in larjre patches in the rich woods, often near M-ater, either in boggy ground or on tlic very ahre of the clear, brown brook. Sometimes it is difficult to detect a sinirle fertile frond in a group of plants covering- many
square feet of ground. This is probablv owinir
124
Entire frond
PLATE XVI
if
1 ■ I
i
(l^^^\\^ \ I MO 111 I .\NI> Ml K'll I IKOINliS II Al ||KI ANI« MMII AK ;
SI'OKANiilA IIN I IM Al> OK ( »ltl (>IN( , I K|i| | 1 1( » | S
In \\\v (1("<'|)1\ sli.uicd sihi.itinns wliitli il l.ivnis, ;is m suiniv ('\|»()Mir(\s I li.ivc n«»lirtMl an .ilxindaiuc (il l(Mlil(' liomls,
lis lolor is .1 (lull i;i('('n. Ihc silvci v iii(liisi.i on llic lo\V(M sui l.ucs (ij \\\c i>iMn.r lmvuii' llicpl.iiil ils I'ji!'- lish lillc. ,\llh»ui;;i\ usiiallv ils Iio-mIs aic laijMM, ihiMT (Mil Iiiu\ lajxM iiii; as il docs hoi li \va \ s liom 1 lie middle. S(Miu'\vhal siil;o(\s1s llial ol llic New N'oik 1'\m II. ll is icadilx idciil iiuMl. as 1 he oMoiii; or linear hiiil dols al onee pro(Iaiin il a Spleen woi I. and no olher inemhiM ()! ihisliihe has tiondsol llie .s.ime shape.
.\llhouj;h il eannol he ilass(Ml ainoniv Hn- rare l(Mns. il is ahseiil honi inanv proinisin:' loealilies, and is assoiialc^l in inv mind willi es|)e(iall\ siie- eesslul e\^H^lilions.
!»iil
26. RUE SPLEENWORT. WALL RUE
./>///■;,'///';/ Kut,}-"iuf •>> /,;
.•\ sin. ill i(M-k Icni. .v^rowiiii; dii Imirsimic, XCrmont lo Micliiy^.m .uul sonthw.iid. I'mir t(> vsovrii inolu'S loiiv;. wiih _v;ircn, slcndci-.
tiitic^l stalks.
/'>r>:.;y. I'l i.inv;ular-(nMU\ stiiO(Mli. cvcr^i ccn. (wire ctr lliricc- pinnatr boK^w ; pimur cut into st,»lk(-ii piiuuiKs; i'rui/-,/,>/s con- lluont at niaiunty, (Mvc-rinv; luaiiy tlio whoU- lower surfaci^ of pin- nules; ;>;</,v,v;,v"; licliiMlo.
Mv tirst acqnaintanee wilh llu" little Rue S|>h>en- wort in its cnvn lionie dales hack lo the inemorahle day wiicn we (liseoveied the new slali(»n (or (he Hart's Tongue.
12b
'■lAlf njw
RUE SPLEENWORT
127
r.KOUP V
II Kill I AM> SIl KIM IKONIiS II A! I IKl ANh SIMM AK' ; SI'()KAIN(ilA IN IIINrAK OK ()lii(>IN(; 1K|I||-|)()|S
! .
As 1 have alrc^ad}- iiuMilioiuMl in my dcsci ii)li()ii of the I'lirplc Clilf Hrakc, on a chance inorniiiL; call I learned Ihat t wcnl y-livc years before the Kiie Si)leen- wort and the Turple Cliff Brake hiid been lonnd on certain clilfs which overhuiii; some neij^hboiinjj^ falls.
On these ver)- clilis a ciuinter of a cenlniy later wc found a few sj^eciniens ol each |)lant. The liny fronds of the Rue Si)leenworl i;rew from small hs- sures in the cliffs, Ilattenini2- themselves ai-ainst their rocky background.
About a nuMith later we ixMuined to the spot for the purpose of securiiii;- phot(\i;rai)hs of the natural gallery where the plants i;iew. The seamed, over- hano^ino^ rocks, the neii;hboriiii; stream phin_<;in_<:^ nearly two hundred {rc\ to the iaviiK> below, the bold opposite clilis showiiio- here and there through their cloak of trees, and above and beyond the smil- ing upland pastures, the wood-ciownet' hills, and the haze-softened valley, had left a pielure in the mind that we hojied to reproduce, howevei- inadecjuately, by means oi the camera.
This morning we had ai^iiroached the cliffs from an opposite direction. In climbing a gradual ascent from the bed of the stream, we found a plant of the Rue Spleenwort which was more vigorous and t hi-ifty than any we had previously seen. In the single tuft, about as large as the palm of one's hand, we counted forty-five green fronds. Their lower surfaces, in many cases, were covered with confluent fruit-dots.
The plant had much the eficctof a rather small spec-
128
CKOIll' V '"''"" A^ll' ^11 I'll I IK<'NI.^ I I Al IIKI ANI. SIMM AR; SI'liKAN<.IA IN I INI AK OK ( iJlldM , IKlJl-i.or^
imciiof the Moiintain Splcfii woii, 'I'lic sliott, lnoad lioiids were somewhat h-alhei y, with only a (ew piii- iKL'. Coiisi^hTiii^- its laek o( size, the litlh; cluster, s[)rinj^iiii^ lioiii the hare rock, iiia(h; so fh:riMite and interest iiii;- a picture that we tried to photojj^raph if as it ^rew. IJul. alter ome time s|)etit. in striving; to vsccure a loothold lor the tripod, and at the same time for the photo.L(ra[)her, we ,L,^ave up the attempt as ho[)eless.
Ill Hnj^land the I^ue Spleenwort is found j^-iowini^ on old walls, specially on their northern sides, also on church-towers, brid^-es, and ruins. It is said to l)e dinicult to cultivate.
I'\)rmerly this fern yielded a decoction which was supi)()se(l to be beneficial in attacks (jf pleurisy and of jaundice.
129
I
I '('
27. MOUNTAIN SPLEENWORT
'^"'^l'^
^4
Fromh. — Ovale-lanccolalc in outline, somewhat leathery, eut into oblonj; pinnre, the lower ones of wiiieii are cut ai^ain into more or less oblonj^, toothed divisions, the up- per ones less and less divided; rachis i-^reen, broad, flat ; fntit-dols ^;;iear, short; iiuiusiuin thin, hidden at leni;th by the sporangia, which mature in July.
f
With us this plant is decidedly rare. New York and Connecticut are given as its northern limits. 1 have found it only in one locality, in the neighbor- hood of a mountain lake in Ulster County, N. V. Though growing here somewhat abundantly, the fern is so small that, unless your eyes are trained to search every cranny in the hope of some new find, you arc not likely to notice it. Even with trained eyes you may readily fancv that the narrow chinks in the cliffs which rise sheerly from the lake are merely patched with moss. But wdien you have pulled your boat close under the shelving rocks,
i.^o
HLAIt XVIII
^A^^.O
MOUNTAIN SPLEENWORT
a A fertile frond
b A
pinni of fertile frond
I.^I
GKUUP V
llh'llll ANKSTIKIIl IKOINhS l.rAI-l IKI. A!Nn MMII.AK; SI'(»KAN(ilA IN IIMAK ( tK nU|.()N<i IKIUi-DOTS
and liavc sccurctl a liold dial, enables you to stand 14) and examine at leisure the susj)ici()us patches, your heart l)()unds with delij^lit as you i^et a near view of the fringe of bhie-ij^recn, leathery fronds which flatten themselves against tiie gra}'
^^^>^^'
Mountain Sploenwort
cliffs. Apparently
only the plants that
grow under specially
favorable conditions
are able to develop fronds that attain a length
of five or six inches. Only in what must have
been almost constant shadow, under the shelving
rocks, directly above the lake and refreshed
always by its moisture, did 1 find these really
132
'^
illy
Dns
-th
mcr
tlly
i
1^
11
■u
^Pi H^
!'f!
GF-fOUl' V ^^^^^^^ ^^^' STFKIII FPOND; IFAF-I.IKr AND SIMILAR; M'OKANCilA IN I.IMAK UK QUI ( )N(J |Kll. f - IK)I S
attiiictivc, tluifty-lookiii*;- plants. Tlic spcciiiR'iis, which were lucatcd at sonic (hstancc from the lake, «,n-()win<; in one instance on top of a mountain, again in the shaded crevices of a cliff, were tiny, indehnite-lookin«; plants with iu)tiiin<,r to recoinniend them to any eyes save Ihose ol the fern collect(jr. In every instance they <rrew from fissures in the rocks, rootin*; ai)parentlv in a mere pinch of earth, yet with such tenacity that it would have been very difficult to extract a i)!ant unharmed. In almost every case tiiey were shielded much of the time from exposure to the sun.
The large plants in the immediate vicinit v of the lake were noticeably bluish-orcen in color.
It is to be hoped that the few known haunts of the Mountain Spleenwort will be respected in order that this rare little plant may be preserved.
133
If
CiHiiVV V
MR nil AN!) SlIKIir FKONDS I FAF-I IKI AM) MMII AK . SI'OKANr.lA IN I INI AK ( »K (illlONC, IKlUl-lKrrS
28. EBONY SPLEENWORT
// V"/,;/////// ,'/itnrii»i (./. pliilyiuio ,>ti)
Maine t(» I'lorida and westward, dii rocks and liill-sidcs. Nine l(» i'ij^liii( n inches Iii.v;li, with l)laikisli and sliiiuni; stalks.
J-yonds. Uprijj^ht, narrowly ohiantiolate, fertile fronds niiK h the taller, onee-pinnale ; f^huuc nsually alti'rnali-, oblong, I'lnely tootlu'd. the base aiirieled on the npper or on both sides ; yVv///- dols many, oblony^, nearer niidvein than margin ; ifuitisiuiit silvery till maturity.
The slender fronds of llic Kbony Spleenwort liold tlieniselves with a sort of riLj'id ii^race which siioi'oests
a combination <»1 delicacy and end ti ranee.
It is an attractive j)lant with an eliisiveness of habit which serves, i)erha|)S, to increase its charm. Its ran^eis from Maine to Florida and westward; it is said to j)refer limestone soil, and my past experience has proved it a fairly common plant, yet so far this sum- mer, in many expeditions in a part ol the country rich in limestone, 1 have found only one specimen, while last year alon^^ the road- sides of Lon<^ Island I found its black- stemmed fronds standin<^ erect and slim in crowded ranks under groups of red cedars. In other years it has abounded in localities of a different character, sometimes foUowinj^ its little relative, the Maiden- hair Spleenwort, into moist ravines or aloni^^
134
Portion of fertile frond
Ferlilo pinna magnified
IIIC
is
.il.
las
1111-
try
^"vT~;:;^ ^
#
PLAft XIX
"&" %
EBONY 5PLEENW0RT
("UOlll' V 'f •'''"' '^'^" sriKiir iKONi>s iiaf-iiki and SIMIIAK;
' SI'OKANt.lA IIN l.liNLAK UK OHLUNti IKUH-UUIS
the shelves of sliadcd rocks, ai2ain cliiiil)iiii>- ex- posed hill-sides, where its fresh beauty is always a surpiise.
The fionds of ihc Rbony S|)leen\v()rl usually face the suu, e\c'U il so doiuii^ uecessilales the Iwislinir ol its stalk.
29. MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT
AspLitiuDi 'i'ricJioniiDU's
Almost llir()U!L;h()ul North AnicriiM. A small rock fiTii, four to Iwflvi' iiuiu'S long, with purplish - brow n aiul sliijiini;, thread- like stalks.
/•;vv/</.s'.— IJiicar in outline, somewhat rigid, onee-piimate ; /'/;///«' rountlisli or o\al, une(iual-sided, atlaehed to raehis by a narrow point, tiuire or tootheti ; fniit-ilots short, oblong, narrowed at the ends, three to six on eaeh side of the midrib; spoiaiii^ia dark-brown when ripe ; iiidiisiuni tleliealc.
lu childhood the delicate little frouds and dark, olisteuino:. thread-like stalks ol the Maidenhair Splcenwort seemed to me a token of the ni3'stcrious,
ecstatic presence ol the deeper woods, of woods where dark hemlocks arched across the rock-broken stream, where the sponi^v ii^round w'as carpeted with low^, nameless plants with white-veined or shininsi: leaves and coral-like berries, where precious red-cupped mosses covered the fallen tree- trunks and strans^e birds sang- unknown songs.
Perhaps because in those days it was a rare plant
13b
Fertile pinnae
■M-k
he :lie
[th
re ■e-
iiit
GKOUr V
MKIII.E AND STr.Fll.r, [Kr)Nr)S I.TAF IIKR AND SIMILAR; bl'OKANGIA IN LINl.AK Ok OiUONii hKlU 1 - U J I b
to he met. willi on nire oceasioiis, in a s|>irit, ul hreathless exullatiou, 1 ahiiost, heii-iiKlii-e riiKlnii:- it
GROUP V
FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND SIMILAR , SPORANGIA IN LINEAR OR OBLONG FRUIT - DOTS
li^-htiii": on Ihe rocks in order to secure some in-
sect, now tilting backward and forward with the
comical motion peculiar to them, now gliding swiftly along the pebbly shore till their brown and gray and white coats are lost in the brown and gray and white of Lowor pmn.D shorc, rock, and water.
in such a retreat as this ravine the JVIaidenhair
Spleenwort seems peculiarly at home. Its tufted
fronds have a fresh greenness that
is a delight to the eye as they spring
from little pockets or crannies too
shallow, we would suppose, for the
necessary moisture and nourishment.
Its near companions are the Walk- ing Fern, whose tapering, leaf-like,
blue-green fronds leap along the
shelving ledge above, and the Bulblet Bladder Fern,
which seems to gush from every crevice of the cliff.
Upper pinnao
30. GREEN SPLEENWORT
Aspleuium '^'iridc
Northern New England, west and northward, on shaded rocks. A few inches to nearly a foot long-, with tufted stalks, brownish below, green above.
Fronds. — Linear-lanceolate, once-pinnate, pale green ; pinner ovate, toothed, midvein indistinct and forking ; friiit-dots oblong ; indiisiuDi straight or curved.
The Green Spleenwort in general appearance resembles the Maidenhair Spleenwort. I^erhaps
i3«
Plate xx
I
nL/-^3
vV
o
^x)K.,
4?> >P 0^ ciOOM'
v^
1MH
GREEN SPLEENWORT
'sy
rRO''l* V ff'^T""'' ^NI) STr.RII.n FRONDS LEAF-LIKF. AND SIMILAR , '"^ SI'ORANCilA IN LINLAR OR OHI.()N(i FRUIT - DUTb
its most dislinij;iiisliing' feature is its stalk, wliich, though brown l)eh)\v, becomes i^reen above, wliile that ol its little relative is dark and shinin*;- throui^h- out. its discovery on xMt. Manslield, V't., by Mr. Pringle gave it a place in the flora of the United
States, as is shown in the following passage from Mr Pringle's address before the Vermont Botanical Club:
" On this first visit to Mt. Mansfield my work was re- stricted to the crest of the great mountain. About the cool and shaded cliffs in front of the Summit House were then first brought to my view Aspidiuni fragrans . . . and Asplcnium %nridi\ . . . for 1 was still on my fern hunt. The finding of the former added a s})ecies to the Vermont catalogue ; the latter was an ad- dition to the flora of the United States. Such little discoveries gave joy to the young collector."
Fsrtile pinna?
I
31. SCOTT'S SPLEENWORT
Aspleuium cbcnoides
Connecticut to the Mississippi and southward to Alabama, on limestone. Four to twelve inches long, v, ith blackish and shining iitalks.
/^?•(;v/^/'.y.— Lanceolate, tapering to a long, narrow apex, generally pinnate below, pinnatifid above ; fndt-dots straight or slightly curved ; indusium narrow.
140
PLATE XXI
SCOTT'S SPLEENWORT 141
GROUP V
I-LKTII.E AND bll.KILL lKUISlJi> LtAl-LlKE AND SIMILAR; bl'OKANGIA IN LlNllAK UK Oltl.ONG FRUIT- DOIS
i
!M
Tiie known stations of this curious little plant arc usually in the immediate neighborhood oi the W^'alk- ing Leaf and the Ebt^ny S[)leen\vort, of which ferns it is supru>eerl to be a hybrid. The long, narrow
apex occasiona
liy fo
rming a new p
lant,
anC
th
e ir-
regular fruit-dots remind one of the Walking Leaf, while the lustrous black stalk, the free veins, and the pinnate portions of the fronds suggest the ebony Spleenwort.
Scott's Spleenwort mntures in August. It is rare and local, except in Alabama. The fact, however, that it has been discovered in widely distant locali- ties east of the Mississippi should lend excitement to fern expeditions in any of our limestone neigh- borhoods where we see its chosen associates, the Walking Leaf and tlie Ebony Spleenwort. To find a new station for this interesting little fern, even if it consisted of one or two plants onl}', as is said to have been the case at Canaan, Conn., would well re- pay the fatigue of the longest tramp.
32. PINNATIFID SPLEENWORT
Asplenium pinnatifidiim
New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Illinois, and southward to Alabama and Arkansas, on rocks. Four to fourteen inches long, with polished stalks, blackish below, green above, when young somewhat chaffy below.
Fronds. — Broadly lance-shaped, tapering to a long, slender point, pinnatifid or pinnate below ; pi)in(c rounded or the lowest tapering to a point , fruit-dots straight or somewhai curved ; in- dusium straight or curved.
142
PI ATE XXII
PINNATIFID SPLEENWORT
H3
r-iP<»iii. \/ lll^riir AND STFKII.I IKniNDS IIAI I.IKL AND SIMILAR; IjKUUI V s,i.,,pAN(ilA IN MM:AK OK UULONG I Kill f- DOTS
Tliis plant rcscmhk-s tin- W'alkiiii; Leal to such an extent that lornierly it was not considered a sep- arate species. The Ionics slender apex ot its frond, which, it is said, sometimes takes root, as in the Walkin^r Leal, i^ave ground for its confusion with that fern. But the taperini; apex ol t!ie frond ot the PinnafVl S; ' 'cnwort is not so long and the veins of the ff.>n'j 'X free.
The F. !■ fUiid Spleenwort grows on rocks. Its usual companioned < re the Mountain Si)lccnwort and the Maidenhair wSpleenwort. Williamson tells us that, though it is quite common in Kentucky, he has never found a Irond which rooted at the apex. Eaton, liowever, speaks of "one or two instances of a sligiit enlargement of the apex, as it there were an attempt to form a proliferous bud."
i
33. BRADLEY'S SPLEENWORT
Asplcnimn Bradlcyi
New York to C.eorsia and Alabama, westward to Arkansas, on rocks preferring limestone. Six to ten mches long, with slender, chestnut-brown stalks.
Fronds. — Oblong-lanceolate or oblong, tapering to a point, pin- nate ; piiiihc oblong-ovate, lobed or pinnatifid ; friiit-dots short, near the midrib ; iiufusijDii delicate.
To my knowledge the only place in the northeast- ern States where this rare and local species has been collected is near Newburg, N. Y., where Dr. Eaton found a plant growing on lime rock in 1864.
144
PLATE XXIII
•
'
h§
tM
en].,.,., Vfvu<
^-?1
8
»■ *■»
B.^.ui^^^,.«ii^.„— .,.,^,^..,ll^„|HmAju ^i,,,!
BRADLEY S SPLEENWORF a Kertile pinna
145
fl
II
l-f
34. WALKING FERN. WALKING LEAF
Caiiiplosonis ild:.ophyllus
Canada to North Carolina and westward, no shaded rocks, prcferrini^ limestone. Four to eighteen inches lung, with light-green stalks.
/•Vvv/^/.v.— Simple, lanceolate, long-tapering toward the apex, usually heart-shaped at base, the apex often rooting and forming a new plant ; fniit-dots oblong or linear, irn^gularly
scattered on the lower surface of the frond ; Indusiuin
thin.
To its unusual and sugij^cstivc title this plant lui- doubtedly owes much of the interest wliich it seems to arouse in the minds of those who do not profess to be fern-lovers. A friend tells me that as a child, eagerly on the lookout for this apparently active little plant, he was so much influenced by its title that he thoug^ht it luight be advantageous to secure a butterHy-net as an aid ixi its capture. I find that older people as well are tempted to luiwonted ener- gy if promised a glimpse of the Walking Fern. Then,
146
1
vesiwanl, ic. I'Our
j-tapcrinj,^
;d at base,
a new
rrfijfularly
iiihtsiuni
lilt iin- sccms profess a child, \r active its title ecu re a nd that sd euer- . Then,
GROUP V
Fl Kril.l AM> Ml Kll I H<->NI>S IIAF-LIKIi AND MMIl AK ; SlM»KAN<ilA IN LINIAK UK OHIONd FKIIl-liorS
'■
■1
ti)(), tlif scarcity ul the plant in many lucalities, or, indeed, its entire absence (rc^ni certain parts ol the country, j^ives it a reputation for rarity which is one of the most certain i"oads to fame.
For many years I was unable to track it to any o( its haunts. During' a summer spent in Kensselaei- County, N. V., the Walkini; Leaf was the object of yarious expeditions, 1 recall one driye of twenty- live miles deyoted t(j huntinjj^ up a rumored station. At the end of the day, whicli turned out cold and rainy, and fruitless so far as its special ob- ject was concerned, I felt in- clined to belieye that the plant had justified its title and had walked out of the nei^i^hborhood. Yet, after all, no such expedi- tion, eyen with wind nnd weather ai^ainst one, as in this case, is really fruitless. The shar[) watch along the roadside, the many little expeditions into inyiting pastures, up j)romising cliffs, over moss-grown bowld- ers, down to the rocky border of the br(^ok, are sure to result in disccjyeries of value ur in moments of delight. A llower yet unnamed, a butterfly beautiful as a gem, an unfamiliar bird-song traced to its source, a new, suggestive outlook oyer the well-known val- ley, and, later, "a sleep pleasant with all the influences ot long hours in the open air " — any or all of these results may be ours, and go to make the day count.
•47
Portion of fertile frond
fr
liKoiir V
II kill I ANItSJlKIII IKMNDSIIM IIKI ,\lN|t SIMM AK , M'ttKANCilA IN MINI AK HK' nlll iiM , | h'l I I I h » I S
IfifH
I''iii;illv, OIK- Sc[)|i'iul»( I altc'i iiooM, slii ii 1 1 \' ImIoic k'aviiii;' tlic ncinhboiliood, we ic'S(»Ivl'(| tipoii :i last scaicli, in (|iiiU' a new diicct ion. Scvcial milis Irom lioiiu", at a loik in llii- road, slaiidiiiL;' in a pailiallv wooded pasture, we iiotit ( d just siu h a laii^e, sliadcd i"(H k, with moss\' ledges, as hail liUcd ii^ with vain hopes iiiaiiN' times. J. siiL;;i;esled a elosef exain- inalioii, whic h I diseoiiia^cd, remeinhiTiii:; previous ihsapjtoiiit ineiits. Hut soiuet hiiii;' in the look ol the j;!"eat howhUr i)i()Voked his luriosit \ , so over the fenec and nptlie K"dL;es he sei'amhhML Ahuost his liist !TSt ini;-|'hice was a projeet ini;' shc-ll whi( h was carpeted witli a mat ol l)luish-_i;i('en lolia^c. It necdeil onlva moment's invest i^'at ion to identilv the leathery, laperiii!:;' IVonds ol the Walkini;- I'ern. \o one who has not spent honis in some such search as this can svmpathi/e with the delii^hl of those mo- ineiits. We faiilv i:;h)ated ovei^ the (piaint little jilants, foUowin::;- with our rini;(M-s the sIcikKm- tips ot the li'onds till thev rooted in the moss, startini;' another generation on its lile journey, and eai"n- iiiij^ lor itself the title of Walkinj^ Leaf oi- Walkini;' Fern.
Althoni^h since then I have found the W'alkinjj^
Leal litHjuentl V, fmd in j^reaL abundance, 1 do not re-
meinhei' ever to have seen it make so line a displaw
The plants were unusually lari^e and vi^^orous, and
the aspect of the matted lufts was uncommonly
luxuriant. To be sure, sonu' allowance must be made
lor the glamour ot a hi^st meeting:;.
The Walkiui^ Leaf i^rows usually on limestone
148
2
Ui
J J'
H^
i
! !
GROUl' V fERTILi; AND STIRIl i; fronds LLAr-l.lKl. AM. Sl.MILAI' • bl'(JKANGlA IN LINtAK_OR_ OBLONG FRUIT - DOTS
rocks, thouirh it has been fouiul on sandstone, shale, and conglomerate as well. 1 have also seen it on tlic stumps of decaying trees near limestone cliffs in Central New York, where it is a common plant, creeping along the shaded, mossy ledges above star- like tufts of the iMaidenhair Spleenwort and fra<nle clusters of the Slender Cliff Brake, venturing to'^he brook's edge with sprays of the J3ull)let J]lad(ler Fern, and climbing the turreted summits of the hills close to the Purple Cliff Brake.
Although without the grace of the Maidenhair, the delicacy of certain of the Spleenworts, or the stately beauty of the Sldeld Ferns, the oddity and sturdiness of this little plant are bound to make it a favorite cver3'wher'\
Occasionally a plant is found which will keep up its connection with two or three generations; that is, a frond will root at the apex, forming a new plant (the second generation). This will also send out a rooting frond which gives l)irth to a new plant (the third generation) before the two hrst fronds have decayed at their tips so as to sever the connec- tion.
At times forking fronds are found, these forks also rooting occasionally at their tips.
149
If
!
(iKour V
llKllll ANliSIIKIll I K'oiNlis I I Al IIKI ANDSIMIIAK; .S|'(>KA^»,IA IN IINl AK' ( »l< OHI ( (INl , I Pill I li(»|S
35. HART'S TONGUE
Sk'/i'/"/')!,/' itl'l/ ,ll/;^i!l,' (.V. u ,'I,'f',lh/> iiini)
Sli.'uK'd r.ivincs iiiiiK r Imu'slDiic ( lills mrciiir.il \( -a N'oiU .iikI near South I'iiI'-Imii\;, Tcihi. A lew inrhcs in ik ,irl\ two tccl \yn\\\, Willi stalks winch arc chally iiclow and sometimes to the h.isc ol (he leaf.
/■'>,>;;, /s. XaiTowlv obloiij^, uiKhvidcd, from a somewhat heart- shaped b.isc, l)riv;hl-!L;reen ; //////-, /<>/.s linear, eloni.;ated, ;i row on eithei" side of the midrib .iiid at i'i,i;ht am;les to it ; iiuliisiioii appearinv; l<i be donblc.
When (Irav (k'scribc^s a Iciii as " vcm^v rai('"a!i(l \^\'. l^rilloii limits it to two small stations in ncii;Ii- hoiiiii;' cOiintic'S in tlu^ whole noitlicin United
Slates, the feiii lover looks lor- \vai"(l with a sense of ea<;(M" antici- pation to seeing" it lor the lirst time.
nniini;" a week spent al Ca/e- n(n'ia, N. N'., a few vc-ais ai^o, I liM! lu^l that t he rare I larl's roiiL»"ue liiew al Chit tenaniio I-'alls, only lonr miles away. Hnt mv time was limited, and on a sins;lc brief \isit to t he pictnrescpic sjH)t where the broad Chittcnaiis.;"o stream dashes over idilfs one hnn- dred and lilty feet hii;h, losing' itsell in the wild, wooded i;len below on its journev to the distant valley, I did little more than revel in the beauty ol the foaminj^ !nas»; v\ Inch for many tlavs " hauntetl me like a pas-
-j
1
II AK ;
1 1( » I s
ork .111(1 ret li)iu;, ■ l)asc (it
;i( lic.irl- 1 t(i\v on ih/usiiiiii
v " and
Unitc'd :)ks lor- r anlici- hc lirsl
it Ca/c-
irs ai^o,
Hart's
cMiaMj;o y. Hut ul on a urcs(iiic tcnauL;*) n\c liiin- , losini; cd L:,len V, I did foainini; Vc a pas-
- i
t
1
''■"i:'0^n^:^
//' '
sion." I saw no siij^iis of the; plant wliicli lias done almost as imicli as "the sou lid i ml;" cataract" to make I he spot lamoiis.
'Idic combined recollection of the Ixantiful falls and tlie (or mc un- discovered fern, joined to tli(; fact, that, Madison and the adjoiniiii^ ( )nondai;"a C'ounty arc; favoiitc hunlini;" grounds lor the fern Io\er on at:count, of the many species which they harbor, drc;w us t(i ("a/enovia for iiie summer Iwo years later.
(inidcd l)y the exjdicit. direc- tions ol Mr. J. II. Ten I'Lyck Ihirr, a fein enthusiast, who is [dways ready to sliare witii (Ahers, oi whose; j^ o o ( I faith he is as- ('^ sured, iiis en- jo\ nienl of tlie h idi 11 i;-p laces ol his fayorites, we found at. last the Hart's ronjT-ue ill its uwii home.
Pih' \ ■ ffri M\ '
■^^.S^mm
:'p ~ " "7-' '. - ■
Harfs Tongue
iii
(iKiUll- \
Mi.' nil AINh ^1 I KIM ll.OMiSIIAI IIKI AND SIMM M', SlMl|OA^t■IA IN I li\l AK tt|0 (lllJOINi, l|o|l| 1 IKIJS
li Ml. Imiii's kmdiic'vs ill '^cikIim;' iiic :.(>iiic line )M('S'>C(1 s|>c( iiiicii^;. iiiK I llir il lir.l I .il i(>ii'> I had seen ill \.ni(Mis hooks. li;nl iiol ,ihc;i(l\ iii.kIc iiic hiiiiihiir wilh the iMiuM.il h)ok ol ihc phiiil, ihc h>ii;'. nil th\ i (h^h loniMh' hivi' lM)ii(h', so (iillciciil hi)iii one's |M('CoiU('i\ ('(I notion ttl ,i Ici n, woiiiil h;i\c hccii ;i ;^i(Ml ••nrpiis(\ I'.vcn now . .ih hoindi I h;i\c \ isilcd ni.iin limes its hi(hh"n icIkmIs. and h.ixc iiolcd \\i(h didii;hl c'\<'i\ iK'I.iil ol ils ;'h»ss\'. \i:',oions !;io\\lh. il S('(Mns lo nu' .il\\.i\s as rair and unusual as il «hd (he hi si ihi\ I h)iind il.
Al CdiitUMiani;() I'"alhs Ihc Mail's roiiiMU- jmows a lew \ards Ironi ihc hasc ol l>ohl, oxcihan^iiii^' lime s1(>nc clills. llir lojts t)l w hi( h arc hinged l>\ pcii- (KmiI rools ol ihc nu\ cedar. Ncaih' al\\a\s il is cauijil JKMUMlh niossLirown liai;incnls ol ihc lall- c\\ Iinicsloiu\ ihc hiiL^hl .i;rc'(Mi. nndiilalini;'. flossy Kmv(~s iMlIuM" slandinj; alinosl creel (curxinL;' oul- waid sli:;hll\ ; ()\(-) or else lalh'iii; over loward (lie slope ol llie la.ii ! ■-'■■ as lo prcscnl a ncailx' i)r()s- trati^ aj^iu .irane ■. '^l limes lliesc iroiids are vei^y iuim(M"i>us. as man\' as lilM lo a planl, lormiui;- i^rcal clumps ol h)liai:,(\ A^ain we liiui a planl wilh onix' halt a do/en or (^\ (Mi U^wcr i^ixHMi Ironds. Al nialni"- il\- llu^ liiUMi". bri^hld)ro\vn huil-dols. a row on either side liu^ midrih. are eonspiciKMis on the Io\V(M" surtaees ol llu^ lr(>nds.
Tliis haunt o\ the 1 lart's I'onmie is shaded by a ^TiMvlh ol tall bassxyoods and maples, of sturdy oaks ami hemloc'ks. The neii^hboi'int.;- (dilfs are ibapcti with the sleiulcM- Iriuuls ol the l>ulblet Hlad-
i;^
Mil M' , 1 >» t I S
(.l'( (111' \'
II I' I II I AM". I I I'll I I I'liNh , I I \l 111,1 ANh .IMIIM-', M'' i|.'AN( ,IA IN MM Al' i i|' ' ■'■' m,'N( , ||.' Ij I r ,i 1 1 S
Muc Imc ;i(l seen lainiliiir )n<', nil illl (iiic's ■ Itccn ;i (• visil("(l 1((1 willi ;• I ( »\\ I ll.
as il ili<l
oiows a ni; limc-
1>\ pcti-
avs il is
llu- lall-
^•, l; lossy
,inL; oul-
ward Ihc
ily juos-
Avc vvvy
ill*; |L;i"ral
villi only
\t matiir-
row on he lower
tied by a )f sturdy rlilTs arc )lel Hlad-
i
del' I' (I II. ( )li <'\( I \ ',idc I i,c I lie t;i|| ( c* >\viis < »( I ll(• <^mlli | iH'Sciil i',\(| ;■ I ((Il \\'(Mid i'CMi. Ll »\\ (I (|( i\\ II, (losr lo llic iii'.liiii;^ sin am wlinii we sec injlily llir<uiL;li llic !M< ( II hiaiK lies, its loai al\va\s in oiii cars, i; I ( iw IIk W'alkiii", l.cal aii'l lli<' Maidciilia ir. Tlic lilllc r'il\|M»(|\- (liiiil)', i»\(i llic I ( M 1^ , ,iiid I »('! ( lies ( ( till (III (■( 1 1 \' (Mi 1 1
( '.I )i ( Ml ll ii:- \ < )( >\\ ( »l 1 1 (■<•
w
1 1 i I ( ' .1 lew 1 1 a ; m' I ( • | • I a 1 1 1 . • » I llic S I ( • 1 1 d i ■ i ( ' h 1 1 li la k
.1
III
soiiicl Iiiiil; <h a laiilv m IIksc |»air>, aic laM( iicd lo I lie im »sss' IcdiM's.
Tlic <»lli(i |tiil)li'dicd IK »i I Ik'i II '.lalioii ol the I I. Ill's ToiiLMic is al. .laiiicsN'i lie, M tine lillccii miles liiiiii ( liil l('iiaii:;i I i'alls, iicai a small ,li(cl nl \\al''r known ( ( Miiim )iil \' as (iircii j'oiid, ( li lislciic' I liulan- ically S('( )li)|)(aid I iu III Lake. Ilcic also il lmows ainoiiL; lli<" laliis at llw lool ot limcsloii'' cliffs. I lie planl s which I loiiiidiii this lo( alii y were |cs^ lux u- rianl lliaii those al ( 'hit leiiaii:;(» i'alls. They ^^low in niofc exposed, less shaded spots.
Scolopcndi inm i/ake has hecome soinewdiai fa- mous in the woild of lein tiidenls hy reason of M?\ lliider wood's claim thai i il s imiiK diafe vt' iii- ily, within a radius of lift' ods from the walei's ed|L;'e (the lake heiiuj^ a m< pond), i^iow Iwenty-
scyen different kinds of fei i ,, while within a ciich; whose diametej- is not o three miles tlcity-four
species haye \nn'i\ found. I)urini4- this one day we i;"ave lo Ihe ueii;li!)orhood. we conid not Iiope lo liiul so L^real a niimher, llie result., perhaps, (>{ many (lays' iuveslij^at ion, and were foi'ced to conletil (air- selyes with liie lw(i!l\ oik >, f cies we did tind. In
¥
iiii
,.,....,. IIKIll I AM> SlIKII I IKoNhSMAI IIKI AND SIMM AW ;
'^ si'dh'AiNi.lA liN 1 IM AK MK t >|ll ( ilN( , ||o|i|| | k ) I N
liis lisl Mr. I 'ikIci wood in.iiks (lie rmplc ('lill r)i.ik(' ;is lound l)nl oik (\ so I |iuI:m' lie did iiol dis- ro\c'i llii^ sl;ilion o\\ \\\v liiii<l<-d (lills close hy \\ licfe il j^iows ill ('\l I .i\;ii;;ml prolusion, inodiu iiii; Iroiids not omI\- iiuu li Ioii:;cr and liiu r lli;m I li;id s('(Mi clsc'w lu re, hiil siipnioi lo lliosc j)ii(ui("d in I lu- illiisl i.ilcd l)ooivS.
I>niiii:; llic s.inu" siinnncr, on ;m ('\|>cdil ion lo I\Mi\\illc' I'alls. which we had planned loi the express purpose ol lindini; ihe l\ue Spleenwoil and llie I'lirple C'lill liiake, a new slalion was diseov- e'/ed lortlu^ Mail's Tongue. \\) Miss iMunav l.ed- \"anl. ol C'a/enos ia, l)eloni;slhe honor ol lindini^lhe 111 st plants in this loialitv. \\\- had heiai sueeess- liil in ihe oriL;inal ohjcxi ol our jonrnev, and had erossed ihr stream in order 1() exaniine liie oppo site eliils. J. and l,euri.>us lo sludv ihe wel wall ol roek eh^se lo ihc shecM' white veil ol wahM', whi(^h lell more ihan oiu^ hundred \cv\, hnallv secured an unsubstantial loolhold amon<;- i^iac-c^lul lulls ol llu^ i;i\ enish, liU-like llowcMS. whic'li ouLdtt lo re c^M\e a nmre 1 omelv and appropriate title than y^ r^'' f ' /'/!''/ s ('/<X()/L\'. I laviiii;' satistied oursc^lves thai llu^ nuvssv ereviei^s harbored n<^ plants ol llu^ Slen- der (_'!ill l>rak(\ now the immediate^ object ol our seaic-h, we lollowed the natural ])ath beneath the en cMhan^iiii;- rock and above the sheer descxMil lo the ravine, exaniiniiii^- (he clills as we eauliouslv piekcnl (Mir way. Miss l^edvard had remained be- low, and suddenlv we heard her i^ive a Iriumjihanl
shout, K)llowed by the jovlul announeenieni that
>54
i
1
:.''
i
(iWOlll- V
I I P I II I ANI> S I I Kll I I |'( (MiS MAI IIKI ANI' SIMIl AC , SrnkAINi.lA IN I IINI Al' ni.' (i|;HiN(, 11(11 h( 1 1 s
'Ik Ii.kI (oiiikI the l|;ii('s lOiii-iic. 'I lie stiili
.>~)
Oil
ilinnl that
' '
'^
Ixiii;; |M<vi()iisly (|iiilc iiiikiiowii, this was a most inlcKsliiii; discoxci y. ( )ii cntrriiiw |l,c nviix; we had discussed its |K)ssihilit \ , hut I had hiiK icd ihat aii\' hope ol it wouM h( iiiih )iiii< h d, as i :iiji|>o,((| the ,L;i<)iiiid had hccii I h<)i()iiidd\' ( an va- srd l;ythr iiiai)\' liolaiiists who had visited th( iicii' hhoj ))Ood.
I he plants were still yoiiii^, hiil hir^^e and v';")i <tiis, <j MOW iuL; in a |»ailial ()|)eniii^ anion;', th( hass- wn'»(h>, niaphs, and heei hes, on a steep sloj;c eov- ried with lia:onents ol linieslone, some thirty or iorly I<'<'1 Iroin \\\c hase of the < lilfs. VV'e must ha\c h)nnd iiom twenty to thirty plants within a radins ol as man v le( t.
Unlort iniale! \-, as it f;irncd ont, the diseoveiy found its \va\' to !he c 'iainiis ol the local jtajxr, and <>]\ tn\r ictnin to the station, some weeks later our <'aL;ei' expecfation ol seeini^ tin; yonni^ ph-mls in the splendor (>l mafnrity was crushed hy lind- insj;" thai Ihe spot had heen int hlessly in vaded and a numher oi Ihe linest plants had disai)peared. He- lore; loni; it. will be necessary for hotanists to form a secret societ)-, with vows f>l silence as to fern lot al- ities and some sort of lynch law for the punishment ol vandals.
This fei^n, so rare with us, is a common plant in Rniope, its fronds attainiiiL;- at times a leni^th of two or three feet. In Ireland and the Channel Islands it is especially abundant. In Devonshire. Kn^i^land, it is described as j^rowini;' " on the tops and at the sides of walls ; hanj^in^" from old ruins . . . drop-
'S5
M
Jl
GKOUP V
, FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND SIMILAR ; SI>ORANC;iA IN LINEAR OR OBLONG FRUIT - DOTS
pin<^ down its long, green iroiids into the cool and liini)id water of roadside wells hewn out of the rock ; often exposed to the full blaze of the sun, but always in such cases dwindled down to a tiny size " (" The Fein Paradise").
The Hart's Tongue has been known as the Cater- pillar Fern and the Seaweed Fern.
I
36. VIRGINIA CHAIN FERN
IVoodwiVi/id 1 'irgiiiitd
Swampy places, often in dcc-p water, from Maine to Florida. Two to more than three feet hi;^h.
Fronds. — Once-pinnate ; piiuice pinnatifid, witli oblong seg- ments ; fruit-dots oblong, in chain-like rows along the midrib both of the pinnx^ and of the lobes, contluent when ripe ; indnsiitm fixed by its outer margin, opening on the side next the midrib.
Emeruinij fi-om the shade and silence of a little wood ui)on the rolling downs where one has glimpses of the blue bay, our attention is attracted by a tall fern beside the path, growing among a tangle of shrtibs and vines. It does not grow in symmetrical crowns or tufts like an Os))iunda, but its fronds are almost as handsome, the divisions being wider apart and more scattered. Turning over two or three of the rather glossy fronds, we find a rusty-backed, fertile frond, covered on one side with the regular chain-like rows of fruit-dots which make its name of Chain Fern seem very
appropriate and descriptive.
i;6
i:.AR ;
DOTS
: cool of the iC sun, a tiny
Cater-
PLATE XXIV
la. Two
Dng scg- le mitlrib indiisium drib.
a little nc has Iractcd mong a rrow in nda, but i visions \irning n.ls, we on one uit-dots \\\ very
UPPER PART OF FROND OF VIRGINIA CHAIN FERN a Portion of fertile pinna d Tip of fertile pinna
fi
GK(JUl' V
II Kill I AINi) Ml Kill, I^KOINhS ILAI-I.IKIi ANI» MA\I1 AK ; bi'()KAN(,lA IN I.IMAK OR OHI ONt ; I Kl'l T - |)( tiS
In tlic l(nv, (laiii|) j^round near the const one may expect to lind this (cni ; its haunts, where the nar- row path winds between tall masses of swect-peppcr bush and wet meadows where pogonia and calopo- jj^on delijj^iit us in July, and ihe white-frin_L';e(l orcliids may be found in hiter sunmier, are amonj^ the tuost beautiful ol tlie nuuiy beautiful kinds of country that the fern and llowcr lover knows, to which liis feet stray inevitably in the season of j^-reen thing's, and which are the solace of his "inward eye" when that season is [)ast.
158
GROUP VI
FbUriLl: AND SU'RILFi FRONDS IJ;AF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR, l-RUlT-DOrS ROUND
37. NEW YORK FERN
AspidiuHi Xoveboraci'usc [Dryopti-ris AW'e/>oy(i,ri!.u's)
Newfoundland to South Carolina, in woods and open mead- ows. One to more than two feet high, with stalks shorter than the fronds.
Fro/i(/s. — Lancc-?<ha\.2(.], tapering both ways from the middle pinnate ; //-'/;/c;' lanee-shaped, the lowest pairs shorter and dellexed, divided into Hat, oblong lobes which are not rellexed over the fruit- dots \ fruit-dots round, distinct, near the margin ; indusiuni minute.
At times the palc-p^rccn fronds of the New York Fern throng to the roadside, which is llaiikcd hv a tani^led thicket of Osniundas, wild roses, and elder bushes.
Again, they stay quietly at home in the open marsh or in the shadow of the hemlocks and cedars, wliere
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FF.PTIU AND SIFKIM IRONhS IFAI-LIKE AM> ISIAI.l.t SIMILAR i I Kll I -IK » IS KOIIINl)
they have fraij^rant pyrola and jjipsisscwa for cotn- pany, aiul where the loiii;, niehmcholy note of the pee wee breaks the silenee.
This plant is easily (Hstiiiij^uishecl from the Marsh Fern b}- the notieeable tai)ering at both ends of its frond, and by tiic flat instead of rellexed inari^ins to the kjbes oi the fertile piniue.
38. MARSH FERN
Aspidium TlulypUyii, {Dnvptiris Tlu-lyplois)
New ]>ruiis\vi(k to Florida, in wet woods atid s\\am|is. One to
nearly three feet hi.^h.
Fronds. — I.ance-shaped, sli;^litly downy, once-pinnate, fertile fronds longer-stalked than the sterile ; //////«■, the lower ones hardly smaller than the others, cut into obloni;. entire lobes, which arc ob- tuse in the sterile fronds, but appear acute in the fertile ones from the strongly revolute margins ; veins once or twice forked ; fniit- dots small, round, lialf-way between midvein and margin, or nearer margin, soon e<Hitluent ; i/uhtsiuiii small.
In our wet woods and open swainps, and occasion- ally in drv pastures, the erect, Iresh-i^reen fronds of the Marsh Fern i^row abundantly. The lowest pin- nrc are set so hii^li on the loni^ slender stem as to jj^ive the fern the apjiearance of tryiui;- to keep dry, daintily holdiui^ its skirts out of the mud as it were.
The plant's ran^-c is wide. As 1 pick mv way throui-h marsh V inland woods, usinir as bridires the fallen trimks and interlaciui;- roots of trees, its briq-ht fronds standino- nearly three feet hii^h, crowd about me. Close by, securinj^:, like mvself, a firmer foot- hold by the aid of the trees' roots, I notice the Hat,
160
I
ir coin- of the
Marsh
s ()( its iriiis to
One to
Le, fertile les hardly h arc ol)- )nes froin d ; fruit- ox nearer
:casion- onds of est pin- 111 as to }ep dry, it were, ny way i2:es the s briirht d about cr foot- the flat,
PLATE XX/
^X,
^/M0^f'^
:^^^^^*lii^ &v,vVl<^^S?' -
>!5S:^s?
:^-
a Portion of fertile pmna
NEW YORK FERN
l6i
■p of pinna ifi.Twmg vc-i
GROUP VI
FERTILE AND SITKILt KRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USL'ALLY SIMILAR; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
■1:
ttcs and the
ttlcsnakc
orcliicl. Ill tlic open swamps beyond the
fern's companion is another
orcliid, the hidies' tresses,
with braided strikes of white,
case deliciously
'crs.
larslies near tlie lis i)hint associat- ing^ itself with the violet- scented ad- der's moutli, with glis- t e n i n g sundew, and with gaudy T u rk's- cap lilies. Fro m the New
York Fern it may be distinguish- ed easily by the some- what abrupt
i
Marsh Fetn
1O2
F-1.1KE KOUISI)
;s and the rutllcsnukc )cyoncl the
is another cs' tresses, 2S of white,
deliciously
es near the ;int associat- liT itself with lie violet- cented ad- Icr's mouth, with glis- t e n i n ^ sundew, and with gaud y Turk's- ca[) lilies. Fro m the New
York Fern it m a y be distinguish- ed easily by the some- what abrupt
TLA IF. XXVI
•-C^
^H^^
Cm*:
rrJ'
yS^■yly^■^■ /
^id^iVid
MARSH FERN
Fertile frond Sterile frond
163
GROUP VI
IFRTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
instead of tapering base of the frond, by the strongly revolute margins of tlie fertile frond, and by its long stalk.
From the Massachusetts Fern it may be distin- guished by its simple veins, the less revolute mar- ins of the fertile frond, and by its thicker texture md deeper green.
<r
ilR'
I'll I-
hi
39. MASSACHUSETTS FERN
Dryoptcris sini ulatum
New Ilanipshire to the Indian Territory, in wooded swamps. One to more than three feet high.
I'^onds. — 01)!ong-lanee-shaped, little or not at all narrowed at the base, rather thin, pinnate ; pinncc lance-shaped, cut into oblong, obtuse segments, which are slightly reP.exed in the fertile fronds, veins not foiled ; fruit-dots rather large, somewhat distant ; indu- siuni " withering-persistent."
This species closely resembles the Marsh Fern. The less revolute margins of the fertile frond, the simple veins, its thinner texture, and its more distant fruit-dots aid in its identification. It is found in woodland swamps from New Hampshire to the Indian Territory.
164
s
.trongly by its
e disun- ite mar- textuic
PLATE XXVII
amps.
One
larrowed at into oblong. 2rtile fronds, Btant ; indt'-
rsh Fern, frond, the >re distant found in re to the
SPINULOSE WOOD FERN
Aspiil iiii^ Spinulosum, var. intermed'uiTi .( Pij't,on of fortile pinnule
i('5
'!
II
)fir^
(iKon- \i
II Kllll ANIi sij Kll I IKnNKS || Al I Ikl AlSn I'M AIM MMIIAK. IKIII iXHS K(t|[Nh
40. SPINULOSE WOOD FERN
Anpi'iium spi»ulosutti {Pt yifto is i/i/«/^/,'i.;)
Ncwfoniitll.iiul In Kcniiiikv. Tlic cominoii I'linipcan iV|'C, i.nr in NcHlh Ainciii'.i. ()iu'lo two .iiid .1 hall led lii.i;li. uilli si. ilk'. li.iviny; ,1 It \v iMli-lirowii ili'i-iduoiis scales.
/•■;.'//,/.». -I.ainc-dvalc, l\vic<"-pimiatc ; />/;/;/</• ()l)li(|iic lo the ra- ( Ins. (>lt>nv;alt'(I-triaiiv;nl.ir, tlu" lower ones broadly lii.iii.v;iilar ; fun nulis oblniuc to ihc nndiil). eonneeted by a narrow wini;, cut inio thorny-tooilu'<l scv^mcnts; ftuit-iiots round; iiuiusiuin smooth, without inai\v;inal v;lands. soon witherini;.
To niv knowledge I liavf only scimi lliis Icru in I he Ikm i)ai"iuin. it 1>imii_i; rare in Ihi.s count ly. It is lonnd, I iiavr DcHMi fold, cliicllv toward the tops ol nioim- tains. Its piiuuu arc noticeably asccndino;.
Wir. lutfyou'diiini {/). spivulosa iiiti-rt»c/iii)
I,.'il)r;i(U>r to North C'.irolin.i, in woods .'ilniost evervwhcre. I'stKillv lari;c, with somewhat chalfy stalks, haviiij;- brown, daik- ccntri'd scali'S.
/•'/('fii/s. — Oblonti-ov.ite, 2-3 pinnate ; //;///r/' vihlon,'L;danee-sliai)ed, siMc.idinvi, rather distant. i!ie lowest nneciually trianv;ular, the pin- nules on the lowm- side loniL;<M" than those on the upper side; /'///- f!u/<:\' (n'ate-obloni;, spreading, with obloni^' lobes thorny-toothed ;it the ;\pex ; fruit-tiots rouml ; inJKsiuiii delicate, bi'si't with tiny stalked glands.
This is tlic form of tlic species that, abonnds in onr woods. IV^Iiaps no one j)lant does more for tlieir beauty tlian this stately fern, whose rich-i;reen, out ward-curviner fronds sj^riner in circles from fall- en trees and dccayini;^ slumps as well as from the aground.
The }>lant varies greatly in heii^ht, breadth, and
166
I
I IKI (UNI*
f\
an lyi'C, i.iri- I, with stalls''
ilf to the ra- ij^iilar ; /'/-'/ viiij;. tilt mio iuiii siiKMith.
Icni ill llic t is loiiiid, >; ol tuoim-
ir
cvcrywlicic. bfowii, (laik-
-laiicc-sliai)ril, j;ular, the pin- jUT side ; pin- honiy-tootlud H'scl with tiny
iboiiiKiS in s more for rich-^rccn, s from fall- :is from the
ircatlth, and
r^
<^;
Cl A'C XXVIII
r-v\',,/»'
< "y 7
r,>
'Si;.
,1 ''..■^'^
•^n fi<V,\
».iV\i
BOOTT'S SHIELD FERN
(I fip of fertile pinna
167
I ! i j
I
'(J
f III i !
CIHOIJI' VI
MKIILL AM) brtKILt FRONDS If.AF-LIKF. AM» I'Sl'ALLY bIMIlAK; FKIJ|T-U()TS K(JL'NU
way <il li(»l(liii<^ itself. wSoiiutiiiics the fronds stand three leet lii«;h,aml are broad and spreach'nj^. Aii^ain, they are tall, slender, and soniewhat erect. A^ain, thev are not inoie than a foot high.
At its hesl it ,<;ro\vs with almost tropical luxuri- aiiee and is a plant of aie bcanly, its fronds hav- \nir a certain featheriness of aspect uncommon in the Aspidinins.
J',!). (///,ifii/N>/i (/). s/'inulosa (iiliitata)
Newfoundland to North Carolina, cliictly in the mountains.
Fronds. — I'sually larj^c, broader at base than in cither of the pre- ceding; speeies, ovate or trianifiilar-ovate, ofienest thrice-pinnate ; //'///////'.v lanee-obloni;-, the lowest often much elongated; fruit- dots round ; indusiitin smooth.
This form of the Spinulose Wood Fern is distin- ji^iiished chieily by its broader fronds and by the smooth indusia. As these indnsia can be seen satis- lactorily only by the aid of a magnifying-glass, there is frequently some difficulty in distinguishing this variety. Occasionally it occtirs in a dwarf state, huiting when only a lew inches high.
41. BOOTT'S SHIELD FERN
Aipidiitni Boottii {Dryoptcris Boottii)
Nova Scotia to Maryland, about ponds and in wet places. < )ncand a half to more than three feet high, with somewhat chaffy stalks which have pale-brown scales.
Fronds. — Long lance-shaped, somewhat narrowed at base, nearly or quite twice-pinnate ; piniue, the lowest triangular-ovate, upper longer and narrower ; pi)inulcs oblong-ovate, sharply thorny- toothed, somewhat pinnatifid hc\o\\ \ fruit-dots round; i?idusiuin
slightly glandular.
K)S
I.IKF. JUNU
luls stand :. Aj;ain. . A};aiii,
al luxuri- jiuls liav- )inm()n in
juntains.
er of the prc- rice-piniuite ; ited; fnti/-
, is distin-
nd by the
seen satis-
lass, there
shing this
arf state,
wet places, lewhat chaffy
t base, nearly -ovate, upper irply thorny- d ; inifitsiinn
PLATt XXlX
7 m
^\
CRESTED SHIELD FERN
a A pinna /' Portion of fertile pinna
lb9
GROIIP VI
i i
I
FFKTiir AND STPRII F TRoNDS IfAF-LIKC AM) IMAIl.V MAMIAKi hKII I >-l>( > I N KnliM)
Boon's Shield l-'ciii is loiind in moist woods and near ponds. It is dislinnnislicd by its lon<^, narrow Injnds and ininiilt-ly s^lamlular indusinin.
42. CRESTED SHIELD FERN
.\^/<iJiuni t>i stilt inn (liryo/'tiris iii\t,ita)
Ni'wfnimdl.iiid Id Kiiiiiiiky, in swamps. Our to luori- than iliiff (I'ct lii.i;li. with stalks whit li aft* chalTy. csptfially htlow. and wiiich liavc hv^lil-hiowii scales, stalks of sterile fronds inncli
sliortt r that) ilvi^^e of fcilile fronds.
/•V,';/,/v. I.ine.n'-oblonj.; or lancc-sh.i|). d, iKariy lwiee-pinn:itc, fertile onest.ilK'r and lon'^er st.alked tli.in the sterile; pimiir (of the ferlili- frond, tnrnini; their f.iees lou.inl the api\ of the frond) r.ithiT shoi't. Linee-shaped or trianj^iil.ir-oblonv;. di'i-ply inij^resscd Willi Veins, eiil (Keply inio ohloiii;. obtuse, finely toothed dixisions ; I'l i(il-,lots larv;c, romul, lialf-w.iy betwicii iiiidvt in ;ind ni;irv;in ; iiiiliisiidit l,ir.;e, ll.it.
hi wcl woods, <;"ro\v inn;* citiicr from the <^i-{)und or I torn the tiuidvs of fallen trees, and also in o[)en nieadous, we notice the tall, slender, (hirk-<^rcen, somewhat lustrons fronds ol the Crested Shield l"'ern, nsiially distins^niished easily from its kinsmen by the noticeably upward-tnrnini^ pimia^ of the fer- tile fronds, and by the deep impression made by the yeins on their upper surfaces.
The sterile fronds arc much shoiter than the fer- tile ones. They arc eyeri^rcen, lastini;' throuj^h the winter after the fertile fronds have perished.
Near the Crested Shield Fern we find often many of its kinsmen, broad, feathery fronds of the Spinn- lose Wood Fern, more slender ones of Boott's Shield
170
xxx
'<^; ! iotva
^/^^i^^
vc^
Part of CLINTON'S WOOD FERrj
a Port On ■ f f-.Tt le p r,na
V->
GROUI' VI
FERTILF. AND STFRIIF. FRONDS I.EAF-LIKE AND USUAII-Y SIMILAR; FRl'ir-DOIS ROUND
Fern, great tufts made by tlic magnificent bright- green fronds of Goldie's Fern, symmetrical circles of vigorous Evergreen Wood Fern, and shining clus- ters of the Christmas Fern. All these plants, belong- ing to the one tribe, seek tiie same moist, shaded retreats, and form a group of singular beauty ..nd
vigor.
v
43. CLINTONS WOOD FERN
A sj^ it! ill III cristatum, var. Cliiiton'uiniini (Dryo/iltris cristata Cliiito-
tiiiiiiii)
Maine to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in swampy woods. Two
and a half to four feet high.
Fronds. — Larger in every way than those of the Crested Sliield Fern, nearly twice-pinnate ; piiniiP broadest at base, cut into from eight to sixteen pairs of linear-oblong, obtuse, obscurely toothed di- visions ; fruit-dots large, round, near the midvein ; indusiitm or- bicular, smooth.
This is a much larger and more showy plant than the Crested Shield Fern. Its tall, broad, hardy- looking fronds arc found in our moist woods. While not rare it is exclusive in its habits, and cannot be classed with such ever3'^-day iinds as its kinsmen, the Marsh, Spinulose, Evergreen, and Christmas Ferns.
172
LIKE
)11NI>
t bri<;ht- al circles ningclus- s, bclont^- t, shaded 3auty .»nd
PLATF. XXXI
istata Cliiito
oods. Two
rested Shield
put into from
y toothed di-
ndusium or-
plant than d, hardy- s. While cann(3t be kinsmen, Christmas
Part of fertile frond of Goldie's Fern ,j Portion of a fertile prir.a
"7t-
f
i«f>» «iini.ii«.H>M
;!!i
'I':
(iKOl'l' \l
II |.nM MNI> ^n I'll I ll'niNl.'. MM I IK I
AiNi>i"Ni'Mn siMiiM''. urn hMr< i-oinm
-<4. c;()i.mi'.s iiiHN
,1 '/"niin"! (,',\',ii,>iiit"/ ( /'' i.'/A ; /> (<•'/, iir.iihi)
New llninswitlv l" \.>iih« .1 liii.i.md I i iim '-mc, id mli wnod.. I w o (11 moic ih.in I "in li rl liiv;li, w illi '.l.ilk. w Im li .iic < Ii.ill v m .11 llii h.isr,
/•"',"/,/» HiiMtllv ov.llr. ihc (Ml Iv '-((I lie ours inili li IiCoadrr ill piopoi tii'M .niil '.lu.illi r, uMi.illy .'» I"«'l "' inci 1 u iilr, nm (- pmn.ilr , /^/'/'/,/ jMunaliliil . ,'■' ,\),ii \f in f^h- nihfifi'. (I lir ilr.|in< I h in li 1 mi ( In; Ion's Wood I'l'inK lilt- duiMoii'.. .il'oiii iwcniv p. 111., (iMnni; Iiikmi, sli\;lillv loothi'd , /'//;/-</.'/> \v\\ lUMl llu niid\i in ; ithlnsitdn \k\\ l.u v;!'. 01 Imi 111. 11 .
In \\\c o»>I(l<Mi (wiliohl ol (he (Iccpci w ( xxis ( liis sl.»l('l\ i>l.inl imtmis ils (all. hioad, hi i;.' hi - okmmi litHuis. stihidrtl on lluMi l).i(ks wilh tlic loimd Iriiil- *i«>ls wliirli arc so iuilii(Ml)h" in (his , /.v/v,////;;/. ad dino niiu!i 1*) ihcij all rarl i\ cncss hv llic sn^ot-sijon o\ l(Mlih(v.
rhis jWanl ranks wilh iho ( )sinnn(his and wilh \\\v Oslriih h'cMiiin si/i^ and vi^orons I)(mii1 v. lis rclii- ino hahils oivc ii a n-pnlalion h»r raril) or al IcasI Ktr oxchisivcncss.
174
J
Kl
INIi
( ll \\ immI'.. ll.lllV in -H
tio.nlcl 111
(' piini.il' ,
limn i In: •
Hu; liiuMi,
/\innt V( I V
)( »(Is 1 his 1 - L;r('<Mi lul hiiil-
L;i;cslinii
willi \\\v lis iclir- r at least
i
riATE ///n
, lit )
^^'/''"^>v
uiA/.-'w^
'^^iW^ a
ll Tip of fertile pinna
EVERGREEN WOOD TERN
/' M'ltjr.itiGfi *"jit (lot, -jt-o/zing indusi'jm and '.po'angi
175
T
ntiji;-
GROUP VI
hRRTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY Sl.MILAR ; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
45. EVERGREEN WOOD FERN. MARGINAL SHIELD
FERN
Aspidinm niar^^inalc {Dryoptcris margin a I is)
Canada to Alabama, in rocky woods. A few inches to three feet high, with more or less chaffy staiics having shining scales.
Frauds. — Ovate-oblong, smooth, tliick, somewhat leathery, once or twice-pinnate ; pinmc lance-shaped or triangular-ovate, tapering at the end, cut into pinnules ; pinnules oblong, entire, or toothed ; fruit-dots large, round, close to the margin ; indiLsiuni large, con- vex, persistent.
Above the black leaf-mould in our rocky northern woods rise the firm, i^racefid crowns formed bv the blue-g-reen fionds of the Ever<^reen Wood Fern. The plant bears a family likeness to the Crested Shield Fern, but its conspicuously marginal fruit- dots identify it at siglit.
It is interesting to read that it comes " nearer being a tree-fern than any other of our species, the caudex covered by the bases of fronds of previous seasons, sometimes resting on bare rocks for four or five inches without roots or fronds " (see Eaton, p. 70). This peculiarity in the plant's growth is often striking and certainly suggests the tree-ferns of the green-house.
Frequently in this species I notice what is more or less common to nearly all ferns, the exquisite contrast in the different shades of green worn by the younger and older fronds and the charming effect produced when the deep green of the centre of a frond shades away in the most delicate manner toward its apex and the tips of its pinnules.
As its English title signifies, the Evergreen Wood
176
;i
",
GROUP VI
riKiii.r. AM> sriRiir. froM'S iiai-iiki.
AND USUALLY SIMIl.AK; 1 Kl 1 I IK ) I S KDIM)
HIELD
Lhree feet :ales.
lery, once
, tapering
toothed ;
irj^e, con-
orthcrn 1 bv the d Fern. Crested al fruit-
" nearer
cies, the
:3revious
for four
Eaton,
owth is
ee-ferns
is more exquisite kvorn by harming |e centre manner
;ii Wood
Fern flourishes throughout tlie winter. In one ol the October entries in his journal, Th(jreau records his satisfaction in the enchirance of the hardy Icrns: " Now they are conspicuous amid the witliered leaves. You are inchned to approacli and raise each frond in succession, moist, trembhng, fragile green- ness. They linger thus in all moist, clannny swamps under the bare maples and grapevines and witch hazels, and about each trickling spring that is halt choked with fallen leaves. What means this per- sistent vitality ? Why were these spaied when the brakes and osmundas were stricken down ? They stay as if to keep up the si)irits of l!ie cold-blooded frogs which have not yet gone into the mud, that the summer may die with decent and graceful mod- eration. Is not the water of the s[)riiig improved by their presence? They fall back and droop here and there like the plumes of de[)arting sumiuer, ol the departing year. Even in thctn I leel an argu- ment for immortality. Death is so far lr(jm being universal. The same destroyer does not destroy all. How valuable they are, with the lycoi)odiinns, for cheerfulness. Greenness at the end of the yeai-, after the fall of the leaf, a hale old age. T(j my eye they arc tall and nol^le as palm-groves, and always some forest nobleness seems to have its haimt under their umbrage. All that was immortal in the swamp herbage seems here crowded into smallei- compass, the concentrated greenness ol the swamp. I low dear chey must be to the chickadee and the rabbit! the cool, slowly retreating rear-guard ol the swamp army."
177
GKnl![' V
FTRTIir AMt SIIRIII I PONHS IFAF-IIKE AM) Isl All V MA\II.AK ; I Kl 1 1 -DOTS ROI ,^D
46. FRAGRANT SHIELD FERN
Aspidhiiii J r, I ^y alls {Drwpti'ris J'liigraii.)
NortluTii Xi'W l!nj;laiul to Wisconsin and nortlnvartl, on rocks. Five lo sixttH'n inclics long, with very chaffy stalks having i)rn\vn, ,^li)ssy scales.
/•'rom/s. — Lance-shaped, tapering to a point, nearly twice-pinnate, fragrant; f^iniiu' oblong-laiux'olate, pinnatilid ; fntit-dols round, large ; indtisiiiin large and thin.
Tlic Fragi'ant wShicld Fern thiivcs in a colder climate than that chosen b\' many of its kinsmen. ThotiL^h [oiiiid in the White Mountains, in the Gieen Mountains (where it climbs lo an elevation o( four thousand leet), in the Adirondaeks, and in other si)eeial localities of abotit the same latitude, yet it is rare till we jouinev iarther north. It loves the crevices of shaded cliffs or mossy rocks, often thriviuLC best in the neiij^hborhood ol rtishiui^ brooks and waterfalls. Frequently it seems to seek the most inaccessible spots, as if anxious to evade discovery. Mr. J. A. ]5ates, of Ran(l()li)h, Vt., writes that he first saw this little plant throtiL:,h a telescope from the piazza ot the Summit House on Moimt Mansfield on an appaientU' inaccessible ledi^e, the only instance in my e\'pei"ience when the fern student has sou<;ht this method ol observation, suo-i^estinij^ " Ferns Throuij^h a Sj)V-i;lass " as a com])anion volume to "Birds Throui;"h an ()i)era-i^lass." But even the most care- fidly chosen sj)ots are not safe from invasion, as Mr. Bates tells us, for some tmprincipled persons, having felled neiijhborino; trees and constructed a rude lad-
M
17S
KF.
, oil rocks. Iks having
cc-pinnalc, io/s rouiul,
a colder kinsmen. s, in tiic c'lcviition vS, and in ; latitndc, It loves cks, oltcn Hi:; brooks llic most liscovery. at he iirst from ilic nsField on iistancc in onobtthis ; Thronjrh o " Birds most care- on, as Mr. ns, having rude lad-
FLATE x/Xiil
^^^(^
^^«fe^^
,oMm>
FRAGRANT SHIELD FERN
a Portion of fertile pinna
179
^i!
tiKori' \i
IIKIIII AM> SIIUIII IKONDS MAI IIKI AM> IM Al n SIMIIAK, IKIII l»<)|S KUHNIt
(III, liMVc siu I (idcd ill iipi <M)I ini; cvcrv \Aa\\\ Irnin tlic l''i ;»L;raiil Sliichl I'liii (Mill on Momil
MilMSlulil.
The !n)M(ls(»l \\\c l''r;ii;r.'int Sliicld I'rrn <:fro\v hi a (•rowii aiu! the liMlili" oiu's liiiit in <;rc'al al)iiM(laiuc.
MaloM wiiU's as lollows loiicliiiiL; \\\v l!ai;!anct; nf tins IcMii and its use as a hex «.'ra<;(' :
" I'lu- |)l(asaMl (lor ol this plant remains many Ncaisinthc lu'rhaiinm. The early w ritei s i nmparc; the lia<;iaiu'e to I hat ol raspberries, and M ilde repeats the ohseivation. ilookei" and (irevilli' thouj^ht. it, 'not nnlike that ol the common |»rimrose.' Ma\i- mowie/ states that tlu^odof is somet imes larkiiiii-. Mildi" (jnotes Kedowsky as sayin*^ that the ^'ako()ts of Siberia nsi* the plant in |tlaec of .ea ; and, havinu^ tried the experiment myself, I can testify to tiie not unpleasant, and very fragrant astriiii^ency of the infusion,"
The followiui; (leli<;ht Jul description ol the Fra- grant vShield l'\Mn was written bv Mr. C. Ci. I'rin<j^le,
and is taken from Meehan's " Native Flowers and
t-. It
•erns :
" In the several stations of AspidiuDi frn^i^rdiis
anionic the Green Mountains which I have cx|)l()red,
the plant is always seen i^rowiniL:^ from the crevices
or on the narrow shelves of drv cliffs — not often
such cliffs as are exposed to the sunlii^ht, unless it
be on the summits of the mountains, but usually
such cliffs as arc shaded by firs, and notably such
as overham; mountain-rivulets and waterfalls. When
I visit such places in summer, the niches occupied
iSo
s
I I)
plillll Mount
<)\v \\\ ;»
aiicc nl
IS iiKinv ()mi>;n(' • repeals )ii^lil, it Maxi- lackini:-. Vakoots
1, haviii.L: 1) the not nl the
CUCWIV VI
iikiiir ANt) siipiii iKHNtis irAiMKr
ANIi llsrAI I V SIMII Af' , I CI I I IKil s Hnl Ml
I))' the |»laiit,s aic (|iiilc dry. • think it woiihl he iatal to tlic |)hiiit it iiiiieh s|May shoiihl hill on it
tl
(iniin<r tiu; season ol its ac tivc iriowtli.
W
hen
>■
on
enter the shade and so
litnd
e ol the hannts ol this
lern, its piesi'iice is hetiayec! hy its resinous odor ; looking; tip the lace ol the ( lill, nsnally mottled with lichens and moss, you see it olteii lai above your reach han<j;inji^ aii^ainst. tlie rock, masses ol dead l)r()\vn fronds, the aetnmnlat ions ol many >cais, pie- served by the resinous |»rineiple which jtervades them; for the fronds, as they disport re<.^ularly about the elonjj^at in<; caudex, fall rii^ht and lelt |)re- cisely like a woman's liair. Above the tiilt oi droop- ing" dead fronds, which radiate Irom the centre ol the plant, <j^row from six to twenty L;"reen Ironds, which represent the i^rowth ol the season, those of the precedinj^ year dyini; toward autumn."
Ilie iM-a-
l'rin«;le,
wcrs and
fyaorniis \j)lored, crevices not often unless it t usually bly such Is. When occupied
iSi
(iKtti r \ I
IIKIIM ANIi SIIKin IKONliS M^IIIKI' AM! I M \| M sn\ll AK . I HI II KM IS KtlllNIi
.jy. MKAIIN :. HOl l.Y IMKN
» ,ii\.iil.i 1i> M.im.' ilic niMiinl.Mir. n| I'l nir.\ l\ iiii i .iinl ui '.Iw.iiil. Ill ilt> |» li<iK\ W.'n.l. I lui li> iimu ill, III IWti l( ( I lnn>;. Willi 1 l\,ill\ '.lalK'.. Ii.iv mr Imhw ii m ,iI< •..
»
•n
/ 1
/'».'»/./». rin. L.lwi. . |iinn.ili . /•/;/;/>( I, iiu rnl.iti. I. i|i. i mv; Imlli \\.i\'', /'I't'thi', \ tii\(i.(| Willi li.iir. .Mill M .ill '.. liiiiii.iii. IK, Illy
li . l,llh'.ul,U .11 ill. I>.r..- . / ' I,!/ ,i,\'\ I.MIIull'.ll, Mil. ill, 111(1'. ll\ IK .11 llir
iiihlviiii'. . i';,!;,\i:, i; ci l>h ul.ii , tiiliir.
rilis Icin i^ s.iid to h.ivc liccn Insl disiovctrd hy lu«lrMilx riii'^ii ill iSo/ ill Smiii;i;l('rs Nnh li, M«)iin( M.insJK l<l, \ t. In (lie (iiccii Moiiiiliiiiis iiml in llu' ('.il'-lvills .s("\(i.il sl.ilioiis li.i\(' liccii ('s(;ih- lislu'ii. It li.is lu'cii loiiiul .iKo ill IIk" ,\(liM>ii(l;i(ks .iiul in ()s\\("LM> C\)iiiil\. N. N .. Miitl il is now ic- pv>rl("il .IS toinmon in llic nukx wnods ol noilli- (III M.iinc. .\iul hv inounl.iin brooks in iiorllicin N\'\v l''ni;l.iiul.
Hr.uin"s 1 l»tll\ l"(M n is one ol llic nnnicrons v;ii ic- tii\s 1^1 \\\c riiikU Sliii'lcl Vcrn i)v .1. iti ///,<!////// (/>.
riion^h \c\\ ol onr Um n-sf nilcnls w ill liavr ;m op- portnnitN to lolKnv the i'lii-klx Shield Vvvn tlironi;!! all tlu^ tonns it .issunu\s in diJlcMi-nl parts ol the world, vet undouhtedlv nianv ol them will have the pleasure ol seeiui;- in one ol its lonely and lovely haunts our own varietv. Hraun's llollv I^'ern.
1S2
IKI
innii)
\\ ( '.I w ,11 ll, InlU', Willi
jii i inv, liiilli
III . Ill .11 Iv
ll\ lu .11 iIh'
»V(M til l>\ ^ Nnhll. ll ;iiiis ;iii(l (11 <st;il)- ii ( )ii(lii( ks n()\v I {*-
(ll MOtlh
iiortluri)
Dus varic- /,<i ///>// (/>.
[\\c :m ()|)- M tlni)ii.L;l» lis ol the 11 liavc the uul lovely
Mil.
^
»•' A I » /// /
/'I
I , . •
»• ■».,
•*'iC
'• ,','■ '
,-//'
rl.
X /
"/■/''
/
'.'•ill- \ ■ I
•. <' ;.'
.4^'.
''^^;'
1/
0.
*{j
v;^wi;-''--wv>//y>/;v;|y:riTri:b;.>^ .
ll Portior> of pinni
BRAUIJ'S HOLLY FERTJ '«3
I. :■
I
m
a>
GKOLl' VI
FLRTII.r AND STHRII F FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND IJbl ALLY SIA\II.AR ; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
48. COMMON POLYPODY. SNAKE FERN
J'i'/y/Hh/, it)>t -i'tilgare
Almost throughout North America, on rocks, A few inches to
more than a foot high.
Polypody
I'^ronds. — iJblong, smooth, somewhat
rathery, cut into narrowly oblong, usually
ul)tusc divisions which almost reach the
rachis ; frt;it-iiots large, round, half-way
)etwcen the midrib and margin ; in-
(iiis/inii, none.
vStrangclv cnoiii^li, the Poly- pody, one of our most abundant and ul)i(iiiilous ferns, is not ri<4-litly named, if it is noticed at all, by nine out of ten people who come across it in the woods or along- the road- side. Yet the plant has a charm peculiarly its own, a charm aris- ino- partly from its vig- or, from the freshness of its youth and the endurance of its old age, partly from ils odd out- lines, and partly from its usual en- vironment, which 184
I
t i
-^•^
KE ND
GROUP VI '"'■''"M.r AND STr.RiiE fronds leaf-like
AM> LSHALLV SLMILAK ; FRUrr-DOTS ROLND
^N
inches to
somewhat
ng, usually
reach the
1, half-way
irgin ; in-
le Poly-
ibiindant
is not
noticed n people e across 5 woods he ioad- the plant icculiarly irni aris- n its vig- freshness outh and Li ranee of ge, partly i odd out- id partly
usual en- nit, which
entitles it to a more ready and universal recog- nition.
"The cheerful coninumity of the polypody," as Thoreau calls it, thrives best on tlie flat 'surfaces of rocks. I recall I he base of certain great cliffs where the rocky fragments, looking as though hurled from above by playful giants, are thickly covered with these plants, their rich folingc softening into beauty otherwise rugged outlines Usually the plant is found in somewhat shaded places. Occasionally it gi-ovvson the trunks of trees and on fallen logs, as well 3 on rocks and cliffs. A few weeks ag(j I found its fronds prettily curtaining the clev- erly hidden nest of a pair of black and white creei)ers. It is with good reason that these birds are noted for their skill in concealiu"- their dwelling-place. This sj)ecial afternoon, when persuaded bv their nervous chirps and fUitterings about the rocky perch where I was sitting that the young ones were close by, I began an investigation of my precipitous and very slippery surroundings which was not rewarded for an hour or more. Not till 1 had climbed several feet over the side of the cliff to a narrow shelf below, broken through a thicket of blueberries, and pushed aside the tufts of l^)lvpody which hid the entrance to the dark crevice in the rocks beyond, did
I discover the little nest holding the baby creepers.
1S5
Tip of fprtile frond
J M
TROIIP VI Fl^'^TILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR; FRUTI-DUTS ROUND
Thorcau writes o( the Polypody with peculiar sympathy :
" It is very pleasant and cheerful nowadays, when the brown and withered leaves strew the ground and almost every i)lant is fallen withered, to come upon a patch of pcjiypcjdy . . . on some rocky hill-side in the woods, where, in the midst of dry and rustliiii^ leaves, defying frost, it stands so freshly green and full of life. The mere greenness, which was not remarkable in the summer, is posi- tively interesting now. My thoughts are with the polypody a long time after my body has passed. . . . Why is not this form copied by our sculp- tors instead of the foreign acanthus leaves and ba3^s ? How fit for a tuft about the base of a col- umn ! The siirht of this unwitherins: o-recn leaf ex- cites me like red at some seasons. Are not wood- frogs tlie philosophers who frequent these groves? Methinks 1 imbibe a cool, composed, frog-like phi- losophy when 1 behold them. The form of the poly- pody is strangely interesting, it is even outlandish. Some forms, though common in our midst, are thus perennially foreign as the growth of other latitudes. . . . The bare outline of the polypodv thrills me strangely. It only perplexes me. Simple as it is, it is as strange as an oriental character. It is quite independent of my race and of the Indian, and of all mankind. It is a fabulous, mythological form, such as prevailed when the earth and air and water were inhabited by those extinct fossil creat- ures that we find. It is contemporary with them,
1 86
GROUP VI
FERTILE AND STFRIl E FRIENDS LEAF-I.IKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR; Fklll-UUiS ROUND
culiar
when roiiiul come rocky ){ dry ds so niness, s posi- itli the passed. • sciilp- es and : a col- eaf ex- wood - roves ? vc phi- e poly- andish. re thus itudes. ills me it is, it ; quite and of I form, xir and I creat- them,
and affects us somewhat as 'the sight of them might do."
49. LONG BEECH FERN
I'/iei^optt'iis p(^lypodioidei (/'. rhei^optc>i\)
Newfuundland to AUiska, south to mountains of Virginia, wet woods and hill-sides. Six or eight inches to more tiian a foot high.
J'roiiih. — Tri.angular, usually lon-er ilian broad (4-9 inches long, 3-6 inches broad), downy, especially beneath, thin, once-pinnate ; piiuia; lance-shapetl, the lower pair noticeably standing forward and detiexed, cut into oblong, obtuse seg- ments \fntil-dols small, round, near the margin ; hidiisium, none.
I'
■^^^v
Of the three species ot PJicgoptcris native to the northeastern States P. polypodioides, com- monly called the Long Beech Fern, is the one I happen t(j have en- countered oftenest.
It is a less delicate plant than either of its sisters, the effect of the larger and older specimens being rather hardy, yet its downy, often light-green, triangular frond is ex- ceedingly pretty, with a certain od- of asuect which it owes to the
W^/i?;;^^
Kv„*^^
dity
aspe<
LotiiJ Beech Fe
1S7
rn
rRDlIP VI FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE VI AND I'SIJALLY SIMILAR; FRIIT-DOTS ROUND
11
lowest pair of pinnae, these beinj^ conspicuously deflexed and turned forward. This i)eculiarity gives it a decided individuality and renders it easy of identification.
The Long Beech Fern 1 have found growing
"^V~X
(I Portion of pinna
/' Tip of pinna
alternately in c()mj)any with the Oak Fern and the Broad Beech Fern. It loves the damp woods, clambering over the roots of trees or carpeting thickly the hollows that lie between.
so. BROAD BEECH FERN. HEXAGON BEECH FERN
Phcgopteris hexagonoptcra
Quebec to Florida, in dry woods and on hill-sides, with stalks eight to eighteen inches long.
Fronds. — Triangular, as broad or broader than long, seven to twelve inches broad, thin, slightly hairy, often finely glandular be- neath, fragrant, once-pinnate ; pinucc, the large, lowest ones broad- est near the middle and cut nearly to the midrib into linear- oblong, obtuse segments, the middle ones lance-shaped, tapering, the upper ones oblong, obtuse, toothed or ntire ; basal sei^ments of the pinnne forming a continuous, many-angled wing along the main rachis ; fruit-dots round, small, near the margin ; indusium, none.
In many ways this plant resembles its sister, the
Long Beech Fern, but usually it is a larger plant,
iS8
PLATE XXXV
Stalks
v.
V
h:^:^'^^'
^^'C
_y~
BROAD BEECH FERN 189
"IFf^
11
W'
(iuonr VI
IIKllll ANI» SlIKIir IKONKS I lAI I IKI AINI> I'SI'AI n SIMIIAK; IKIill DOIS KoniNIi
witli iiiori' l)r();i(llv t rianf;ulai" hoiids, wincli wear, to iiiv niiiul, a hrii^lilcr, fresher, more delicate j^reeii. Ill tlie Loiij; IJeeeli Vvvu the Jwo lowei* |)airs of piii- iKV (liffej- little in len,<;tli and hreadt li, wliile in the Broad HecH-ii Vein the h)\vest ])air are decidedly
ni;er and l)i()ader than the next i)aii
th
Id
le wniir
ah^nj;- the rachis formed l)y the l)asal se<;^menlsof the pinn;r seems to me more conspicuons in the hitter
tl
lan in
the f
(M'mer
Tiie iani;e of the Bioad Heecli Fern extends fai- ther south than (h)esthat()l its two kinsmen, neither oi wiiich are found, I believe, soutii ol \'iri;inia. It seeks also more open and usuallv drier woods. Its leaves ar(^ frai^rant.
Williamson says that its fronds are easily decolor ized and that they form a "i;-ood object h)r doublc- stainin^'^, a process well known to microscopisls."
w
51. OAK FERN
Northoastoni United States to Vii'i^iiiia, west t(i Orei^oii and Alaska, usually in wet woods, with stalks six to nine Indies loni;.
J'ri>/;t/s. — I'sually longer than broad, four to nine inches loiJ^, l)roadIy triani;ular. the three primary divisions widely spreadinj;, smooth, once or twiec-pinnale ; Jruit-dots small, roiuid, near the margin ; indusiion, none.
So far as I remember, my first encounter with the Oak Fern was in a cedar swamp, famous for it, i^-rowth of showy lady's-slippers. One July day
in the hope of finding- in flower some of these
1 00
^'1 A I F y/y vi
wnif;
''*.•""'!&■
OAK FERN
Ujl
(iKOUl' VI
HKTII.I AM) sriKII.I FKONI.S I I Al -I.IKE AM) IISIAI.I.Y bIMII.AK; IKIH-UOTS KOHNI)
m
orchids, I visited this swamp. It lay in a sc-ini- twili^ht, caused by the dense growtli of cechirs and licmh)cks. I'rostrate on the sponjj^y si)hau^num be- low were hosts of ui)roole(l trees, so (n'cnun with trailing- strands of partridi^e-vine, twin-flower, gold- thread, and creeping snowherry, and so soft and yielding to the feet that they seemed to have be- come one with the earth. The stumps and far- reaching roots of the trees that had been cut or broken off above ground, instead of having been uprooted bodily, had also become gardens of many delicate woodland growths. Some of these decay- ing stumps and ()uts})rea(ling roots were thickl}' clothed with the clover-like leaflets of the wood- sorrel, here and there nestling among them a pink- veined blossom. On others I found side by side gleaming wild strawberries and dwarf raspberries, feathery fronds of Maidenhair, tall Osmundas, the Crested and the Si)inulosc Shield Ferns, the leaves of the violet, foam-flower, mitrewort, and many others of the smaller, wood-loving plants. Among these stumps were jdooIs of water filled with the dark, polished, rounded leaves of the wWd calla, and bordered by beds of moss which cushioned the equallv shining but long and })ointed leaves of the Clintonia. Near one of these pools grew a j^atch of delicate, low^-sprcading plants, evidentl}- ferns. It needed only one searching look at the broad, triangfular, lio:ht-i::reen fronds — sugc^cstini'- somewhat those of a small Brake — with roundish fruit-dot::, be- low to assure me that I had found the Oak Fern.
iy2
I SCIUl-
ars and lum be- lli witli r, gold- [)ft and ave be- nd far- cut or ^ been tf many decay- thickly \v()(^d- a pink- oy side berries, las, llic ; !?aves many f\monf^ ith the 1 calla, led the I of the I jiatch ' ferns, broad, newhat lot::, be- er n.
FF.RTIir AND STKHIl-F. FWONOS Lr.AFllKr GWOUl' VI ^N,. USUALLY _SljV\ILAK^KUIT-lX)TS KOIM)
Every lover of plants or of birds or of any natural objects will appreciate the sense of something more exciting than satisfaction which I experienced as I knelt above the little plantation and gathered a lew slender-stemmed fronds. One sue i fmd as this compensates for many hours of fatigue and discom fort, or intensihes the enjoyment of an already happy day. The expedition had justihed itself with the first full view of the solemn, beautilul depths of the cedar forest. The discovery of the Oak Fern provided a tangible token of what we had accom- plished, and when we hnally found the tall, leafy plants of the showy lady's-slipper, without a single blossom left upon them, our disappointment was so mild as to be almost imperceptible.
As is often the case, having once discovered the haunt of the Oak Fern, it ceased to be a rarity. It joined the host of plants which climbed over the mossy stumps and fallen logs, and at times it fairly carpeted the ground beneath the cedars and hem- locks.
193
ti
■ ; I
^1
■^...,.. %i ■'\^:^'^^v,
.. (
'>•
z* ;j-»*'
^f^^i^-V "^^
52. BULBLET ''•r'A^;|NtX BLADDER ^ i ■' .;'" .sfijx
FERN •.■.',-;n?'^-^
Caiiiu'a to Trntirssro. on wet roi'ks. prcfcniiiv: liiucslonr. One to thrcr fiuM lonv;. vvilh liv;l\t- colotoil. somewhat brittle stalks.
/■'' (V/,/.s-.— I".lonj;at0(l, laiicr-sha|ir(l from a broad base, often brarinj; be- neath larv;i\ tleshv bulbs, nsii.illy twiee-iiinnate ; />/>»;/</• lanee-oblonv;, "^ pointed ; pitiuuh-s tootheii or deeply
loboii ; fndt-di^ts ronndish, ifuiusiN))! short.
hood-like, .\tt.\ehed by .i broad base on the sitle
tmvard t' - midrib, early
thrown back and witherinv;-
so that the mature fruit-dots
appe.\r arehed.
^^'^^
, "A>
'^^>^
Tho Bulblet Blad- der V'cfti is ncvci" more at home than when it i;rows close to falliiiii water, ch'njjinof to rocks
dark and wet with sj-trav. It seems to reflect
104
»),%»» Vr,«..»,
/^>'-
4" ' ' '^'*'
c-
^^^^U' .
'^?S,
^:/>
^^i^:
cks Icct
KAFf. XXX/II
1^ U'jT "••
. kV'/.".
■\
•7^.^ ; /-j>~::»
r^ ^..^ 5-^^;^
■^
BULBLET BLADDER FERN is Portion of fruiting pinna
195
T^
i.KMH'l' M
It f III I AM> Ml h'll I IfOMiS I I Al I IKI AINPI'SliAin MMIIAK. IKI'll |M 1 1 S ft MiNh
ll\<' vrry spiiil »»l llic \vnt«"i l.ill. .ill i(s lilc .md
i<
ii
("S. I jl tl ll
^raiv. as it s|»im^sln>!n \hv .li ippinj; Icd^ inj; tluMU wilh ;» «li;ipliinntns ^anncnt <•! «l(ln ale jijirrn wliic li vi("- wilh Ihcii mi^' lil»nriii^ veil ol white. MOW pouiini; ovrr snmr mmK\ sIhII a s«»li«l but silcnl inassoi ii.ilc liixtii iant Inlia^M, now h .liliii)', ilown \hc ilill its lt»n^. tapering liomis, siilc l»v si«l(' w ith s\l\ iM N si 1 amis ol w atci . i lose to lulls n| wind hlnw n. spia\ lippcil iiai ('-ixils.
/\Illu>ui;h lh<' |>i.ml is iicv ci seen al ils Ixsl save in some smh n(Mi;h i»oi liooii as I his. its siciifii i . Icalh (MV Iroiuis .\\c always possessed »)! sinj;ular ^laic and ehaiMi. whelher nndnlalini; alonj; the dried K^t'kv i>ed ol a inounl.iin hiook oi hendimv I'll theii slender lips neaiix loin h Ihe iiishini; stream oi iir(>wini; quite awav irom ihe Kxks which are their natural and usual eompanitms ainoni; the nu\ss-i;i own trunks and lalleu trees ol the wet wiiods.
1 kuinv n(> other leju. save the elimhiiii; leiii, whieh is s»> vine-like ami • ''Mj^inj;'. In reality its stalk and midrib are somewhat brittle, yet this brit tlencss diH's nt>t jMey^Mil its adaplini; ilsell wilh sup- ple aud exquisite curves to w hatevcr support it has chi^sen.
In its manner of i;T(nvlh. as well as in its slentler, taju^rinix outline, the RulblcM nhnlder Fern is so in- dividual that there can be no ditiicult v in identifying the full-sized fertile frctnds. i^ven in the absence of the little bulbs which s^i'^w on the under side of the
frond, usually at the base oi the pinna\ The sterile
196
KAfC jtvyviii
/
y
A/l/>>;t,^
FRAGILE BLADDER FERN
a Portion of fertile [jinna b Tip of fertile p nna
c Magnified fruit-dot showing indusium
197
;iil
i
r
I:
GROUP VI
FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR; FRIIT-DOTS ROUND
fronds are shorter and broader in proportion, and not so easily identified.
53. FRAGILE BLADDER FERN. COMMON BLADDER
FERN
Cystofiteris frag ill s
A rock and wood fern, found from Newfoundland to Georgia. Six to eighteen inches long, with slender and brittle stalks, green except at the base.
Fronds. — Oblong-lanceolate, thin, twice to thrice-pinnate or pin- natifid ; pinnce lance-ovate, irregularly cut into toothed segments which at their base run along the midrib by a narrow margin \ fruit- dots rountlish, often abundant ; i>idusium early withering and exposing the sporangia, which finally appear naked.
This plant may be ranked among the earliest ferns of tlic year. In May or June, if we climb down to the brook where the columbine flings out her bril- liant, nodding blossoms, we find the delicate little fronds, just uncurled, clinging to the steep, moist rocks, or perhaps beyond, in the deeper woods, they nestle among the spreading roots of some great for- est tree. Their "fragile greenness" is very winning. As the plant matures, attaining at times a height of nearly two feet, it loses something of this first deli- cate charm. By the end of July its fruit has ripened, its spores are discharged, and the plant disappears. Frequently, if not always, a new crop springs up in August. We are enchanted to discover tender young fronds making patches of fresh green in ev- ery crevice of the rocks among which the stream forces its precipitous way. Once more the woods
are flavored with the essence of spring. In our
19S
PLATE XXX, X
n
','.1
ev-
RUSTY WOODSIA
i9)
!u
! i
PH
GROUP VI
FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR ; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
delight in this new promise we forget for a mo- ment to mourn the vanishing summer.
The outline of the Common Bladder Fern sug- gests that of the Obtuse Woodsia. The two plants might be difficult to distinguish were it not for the difference in their indusia. At maturity the indu- sium of the Common Bladder Fern usually disap- pears, leaving the fruit-dot naked, while that of the Obtuse Woodsia is fastened underneath the fruit- dot and splits apart into jagged, si)rcading lobes.
The sterile fronds of the Slender Cliff Brake also have been thought to resemble this fern, in whose company it often grows.
Williamson says that the Common Bladder Fern is easily cultivated either in mounds or on rock- work.
54. THE RUSTY WOODSIA
]]\hhisia Ili'i'iisis
From Labrador and Greenland sout\ to North Carolina and Ken- tucky, us'ially on exposed rocks in somewhat mountainous regions. A few inches to nearly one foot high.
Fronds. — Oblong-lance-shaped, rather smooth above, the stalk and under surface of the frond thickly clothed with rusty chaff, once-pinnate ; pi)i!uc oblong, obtuse, sessile, cut into oblong seg- ments ; fniit-dofs round, near the margin, often confluent at matur- ity ; i)i(htsiu))i detached by its base under the sporangia, dividing into slender hairs which curl above them.
Last Decoration Day, while clambering over some rocky cliffs in the Berkshire Hills, I found the Rustv Woodsia c:rowing- in masses so luxuriant to
the eye and so velvety to the touch that it hardly
200
PLATE XL
mo-
a Portion of pinna
BLUNT-LOBED WOODSIA
/> Fruit-dot magnified, showing indusium
20I
i,il
GROUP VI
FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND USUALLY SIAIILAR; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
suggested the bristly looking plant which one finds later in the summer.
This fern reverses the usual order of things, be- ing gray-haired in youth and brown-haired in old age, with tlie result that in May its effect is a soft, silvery green. But even in August, if you chance upon a vigorous tuft springing from some rocky crevice, despite its lack of delicacy and its bristle of red-brow a hairs or chaff, the plant is an attract- ive one
Envi nment has much to do with the charm of ferns. The first plant of this species I ever identi- fied grew on a rocky shelf within a few feet of a stream which flowed swift and cold from the near mountains. Close by, from the forked branches of a crimson-fruited mountain maple, hung the dainty, deserted nest of a vireo. Always the Rusty Wood- sia seems to bring me a message from that abode of solitude and silence.
55. BLUNT-LOBED WOODSIA
IVootlsia obtusa
Canada to Georgia and Alabama and westward, on rocks. Eight to twenty inches high, with stalks not jointed, chaffy when young.
Fronds. — Broadly lanceolate, nearly twice-pinnate ; pinrtcc rather remote, triangular-ovate or oblong, pinnately parted into obtuse, oblong, toothed segments ; 7'eiHs forked ; fruit-dots on or near the minutely toothed lobes ; indusitan conspicuous, splitting into several jagged lobes.
The Blunt-lobed Woodsia is not rare on rocks and
stony hillsides in Maine and Northern New York.
202
GROUP VI •''EKTII.E AND STFRILE FRONDS LEAF-I.IKE AND USUALLY SIMILAR ; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
It is found frcquciUly in tiic valley of the Hudson. Though not related to the Common Bladder Fern {C. fragilis), it has somewhat the same general ap- pearance. Its fronds, however, are usually both broader and longer, and its stalk and pinnae are slightly downy. Its range does not vary greatly from that of the Common Bladder Fern, but usually it grows in more exposed spots and some- times basks in strong sunshine.
Meehan says the Blunt-lobed Woodsia is found along the Wissahickon Creek, Fenna., on dry walls in shady places. " One of its happiest jihases," he continues, "is toward the fall of the year, when the short, barren fronds which form the outer circle bend downward, forming a sort of rosette, in the centre of which the fertile fronds somewhat erectly stand."
The sterile fronds remain fairly green till spring.
56. NORTHERN WOODSIA. ALPINE WOODSIA
Woodsia Jivpcrborca ( W. alpiiia)
Northern New York and \'erniont, and northward from Labra- dor to Alaska, on rocks. Two to six inches long, with stalks jointed near the base.
Froiufs. — Narrowly oblon,g-lanceolate, nearly sniootli, pinnate ; pinme triany^ular-ovate, obtuse, lobed ; lohcs few ; fruit-dots some- what scattered ; inditsiiim as in IV. Ihcnsis.
This rare little fern has been found hv Dr. Feck in the Adirondacks and by Horace Mann, jr.. and Mr. Fringle in Vermont. In his delightful " Rem-
^03
u
Troup vi fKR^iiE and sterile fronds leaf-like
AND USUALLY SIMILAR; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND
iniscenccs of Botanical Rambles in Vermont," published in the Torrey Bulletin, July, 1897, Mr. Prin<^le describes his first discovery of this species :
*' 1 was on the mountain [Willoughby] on the 4th of August and examined the entire length of the cliffs, climbing upon all Lheir accessible shelves. Among the specimens of Woodsia glabella brought away were a few which I judged to belong to a different species. Mr. Frost, to whom they were first submitted, pronounced them Woodsia glabella. Not satisfied with his report, I showed them to Dr. Gray. By him 1 was advised to send them to Pro- fessor Eaton, because, as he said, Woodsia is a criti- cal genus. Professor Eaton assured me that I had Woodsia hyper borea, . . , another addition to the flora of the United States."
Later in the year Mr. Pringle made a visit to Smugglers* Notch on Mount Mansfield, when he was " prepared to camp in the old Notch House among hedgehogs, and botanize the region day by day." This visit was rich in its results. The most nota- ble finds were Aspidiwn fragrans, Aspleniiiin viride^ Woodsia glabella, and Woodsia hyper borea.
r?04
PLATE XLI
mont," )7» Mr. pecies : the 4th
of the helves, roiight g to a I were iabella.
to Dr. :o Pro- a criti- t I had
to the
isit to he was among day." : nota- viride.
rr2
mi4
^i!?'
')
NORTHERN WOODSiA
205
GKOUI' VI
irKTIli: AM) SIIKIII IKONC^ UAFI.IKL
A.M) USUALLY blA\II.Ak ; LKULr-l
ROUND
\\\\
m
^BS :
57. SMOOTH WOODSIA
Northern Xrw York aiul X'cnnont, and norihward from Labra- dor to Alaska, on moist rocks. Two to live inches \o\v^, with stalks jointed at base.
J'^rauis. — \'ery deUcate, linear or narrowly lanceolate, smooth on both sides, pinnate ; pinner roundish ovate, obtuse, lobed. lobes few ; fntit-dots scattered ; indiisiutn minute.
The Smooth Woodsia closely resembles the Northern Wotxlsia, and one may expect to find it in much the same parts of the ccjnntry. In texture it is still more delicate ; its fronds are almost per- fectly smooth, its outline is narrower, and its pinna; are but slightly lobed.
Mr. Pringle tells us that a letter fr(>m George Davenport, asking him to l(K)k for Woodsia gla- bella, awakened his first interest in ferns. Mis own account of these early fern hunts is inspiring in its enthusiasm :
" In 1873 George Davenport was beginning his study of ferns. A letter frc^n him, asking me to look lor Woodsia glabella . . . started me on a fern hunt. The sj^ecies liad been found on Willoughby Moun- tain, \'t., and at Little Falls, N. Y.; might it not be growing in many places in Vermont? When I set out I knew, as I must suppose, not a single fern, and it was near the close of the summer. You can imagine what delights awaited me in the autumn woodlands. 1 made the acq laintance of not a few ferns, though it was too late lO prepare good speci- mens of thein. In this first blind endeavor I got, of
206
PLATE XLII
I gla-
4
"■0,^
^'V>,
■-c'"1kJ' ^^u7\Z)
'1
SMOOTH WOODSIA
a Fertile pmna
207
GROUP VI
11^^ '
Fr.i^Tiii: ANit sfiKii.i: fP^NDs iiai like
AMJ usually SIA\ILAK; hKlll-DOIb KUUND
course, no clew to Woodsia glabclltx. The next sum- mer tlie hunt was renewed and persistently followed up. I found pleasure in securing one by one nearly all our VeruKJut lerns. At the time I thought it worthy of remembrance that a single held of diversi- fied pasture and woodland on an adjoining farm yielded me thirty species. Although the two com- mon species of Woodsia were near at hand, Woodsia i^Iabclla was still eluding my search. 1 sent a friend to the summit of Jay Peak in a fruitless quest for it. Finally, on SejAember ist, 1 joined Mr. Congdon at its old station on Willoughby Mountain, and made myself familiar with its exquisite form.
"During the hrst two years of my collecting in earnest, 1874 and ICS75, sevend visits were made to Camel's Hump, the peak most accessible to me. In this way some time was lost, because its subalpine area is limited, and consequently the number of rare plants to be found there is small. Yet, with such dogged persistence as sometimes prevents my mak- ing good progress, my last visit to that point was not made till the 20th of June, 1876. On that day I clambered, I believe, over every shelf of its great southern precipice and peered into every fissure among the rocks. At last, as I was climbing up the apex over the southeastern buttress, my perilous toil was rewarded by the discovery not only of Woodsia glabella, but of Aspidiiini fragrans. . . . There were only a few depauperate specimens of each which had not yet succ.mbed to the adverse condi- tions of their dry and exposed situation."
208
IKR
cxt siiin- fol lowed c nearly ou^Hit it di versi- ng faiiii wo com- IVoothia a friend :st for it. igdon at id made
ctinii^ in made to me. In Libalpine r of rare ith such ny mak- )int was It day I ts great
fissure ^ up the [ous toil IVoodsia
There :>i each I condi-
GK(JUl' VI
iiKriir. AND STiKiir fhonds hai IIK^ A^ID usually m.mii ak; IkMli-IKUS PnlM)
In tlie following passage Mr. I'lingle describes his pleasure, some years later, in the companionships fostered by a common interest in his pet hobby :
"... my delight 'n this preserve ol borcai plants was shared with not a few geiii;il liotanists. Charles Faxoti came before any of us suspected tliiit he possessed undeveloped talent lor a botanical ai- tist of highest excellence. Kdwin Taxon followed his young br(3ther, aiul with me made the tedious as- cent to Stirling l^)nd, a day of toil well rewarded. Thomas Morong came, befoi'c the hardships of his Paraguayan journey had broken him down. . . . Our honored President came. . . . Inthosedavs, as now, . . . he was often my companion to add delight to my occupation and to reinforce my en- thusiasm. . . . The gentle Davenport cam.* at last to behold for the first time in their native haunts many of the objects of his first love and study. Wiien I had found for him yet once more in a fifth Vermont station (this was under Chcckerberry Ledge, near Bakersfield) the fern he at first desired, and, together with that, had discovered within our limits three or four others quite as rare and scarcely expected, 1 might feel that I had complied with the reciuest of his letter. But that letter initiated a warm friendship between us and association in work ui)()n American ferns, which has continued to the present time. During these twenty-three years of botanical travel on my part my hands have gathered all but thirty- six of the one hundred and sixty-five species of North
American ferns, and from tlie more remote corners
209
il
ill
GKOlll' VI
FERTILE ANI) STIRIII. YVOSUS 1 1 AM IKE ANt) IISIIAI.I.Y SIMII AK ; IKIII l«)IS K( »l (SI)
of our continent I liavc sent home to my friend for clcscri|)tion and publication sixteen new ones. Yet I trust that the fern hunt upon which he started me in 1873 is still far from its chjse."
The above quotations illustrate fairly the entlr.i- siasm aroused by a pursuit which is full of peculiar fascination. Almost anyone who has made a study of our native ferns will recall hours tilled with de- light thi'ough their agency, companions made moie comj)anionable by means of a c(jmmon interest in their names, haunts, and habits.
210
INDEX TO LATIN NAMES
Ar)iANTirM capillus-Vencris, io8 Adi.uitiiiii t'm,it^,'iii;itimi, no AdiantiiMi pfdaiuni, io8 Adiaiitiiin tfiiuruin, no Aspidium acrusticlioidcs, q6 Aspidiiim acidi-atum, 182 Aspidium acidcalum var. Hrauiiii, 102 Aspidium nouttii, 168 Aspidium lirautiii, 182 Aspidium cristatuni, 170 Aspidium cristatuni, var. Clintoniu-
nuiii, 172 Aspidium fraiyrans, 178 Aspidium Cj( dicanuMi, 174 Asjiidium inarginale, 176 Aspidium Noveboracensc, 159 Aspidium spinulosum, 166 Aspidium spinulosum, var. dilata-
tuiii, 168
Aspidium spinulosum, var. interme- dium, 166 Aspidium Tlielyiitcris, 160 Asplcnium acrostichoidcs, 124 Asplenium anj,Histilblium, 98 Asplonium Uradleyi, 144 Asplcnium chcneum, 134 Asplenium ehcnoides, 140 Asplenium I''elix-fa>mina, 120 Asplenium montanum, 130 Asplenium pinnatifidum, 142 Asplenium platyneuron, 134 AspItMiium Rnta-muraria, 126 Asplenium thelypteroides, 124 Asplenium Tricliomanes, 136 Asplenium viride, 138
BOTRYCHIUM dissectum, 81 Botrychium gracile, 80
n<)trycliium lanceolaium, 86 Hotryeliium lamaria, 84 MotryeliiuiM iMatricariilnluun, 86 Hotryiliiuni simplex, 81 Hotrycliium ternatimi, 81 Motryehium Virginianum, 80
Camptos()Ri;s rliizopliyllus, 146 Chfilantlies lanosa, n2 Clieilanllies vestita, 112 Cystopteris bulhifera, 194 Cystopteris fragilis, 198
niCKSONU pilosiiiscnla, n4 Dicksonia punctilobula, n4 Dryopteris aerosticlioides, 96 Dryopteris aculeata, 182 Dryopteris Hoottii, 168 Dryopteris Hraunii, 182 Dryopteris cristata, 170 Dryopteris cristata Clintoniana, 172 Dryopteris fragrans, 178 Dryojjteris (Joldieana, 174 Dryopteris marginalis, 176 Dryopteris Novcboracensis, 159 Dryopteris simulata, 164 Dryopteris spinulosa, 166 Dryopteris spinulosa dilatata, 168 Dryopteris spinulosa intcrincdia,
166 Dryopteris Thelyptcris, 160
Lygomum palmatum, 75
Onoc:lka sensibilis, 54
Onoclea sensibilis, var. ol)lusilobata
56 Onoclea Struthiopteris, 56
211
INDEX TO LATIN NAMES
IJ 1 1
Ophioglossiini vulgatum, 77 Osnmnda cinnamomca, 60 Osmunda cinnamoniea, var. fron-
dosa, 62 Osmunda Claytoniana, 72 Osmunda rcgalis, 67
Pkll.'EA atropurpurea, 90 Pcll.x'a gracilis, 87 Pell.L'a Stelleri, 87 PliL'gopteris Dryoptcris, 190 Plicgopteris hcxagonoptcra, 188 Plicgopteris Phegopteris, 187 Plicgopteris polypodioides, 187 Poly podium vulgare, 184
Pteris aquilina, 105 Pteris cscuienta, 107
ScHiZi7-;A pusilla, 63 Scolopendrium scolopcndrium, 150 Scolopendrium vulgare, 150
WOODSIA Alpina, 203 W'oodsia glabella, 206 W'oodsia hyperborea, 203 W'oodsia Ilvensis, 200 VVoodsia obtusa, 202 \ .11. Jwardia angustifolia, 102 Woodwardia Virginica, 156
w
212
I50
INDEX TO ENGLISH NAMES
Adder's Tongue, 77 Alpine Woodsia, 203
Beech Fern, Broad, 188
Beech Fern, Long, 187
Bladder Fern, Bulblet, 194
Bladder Fern, Common, 198
Bladder Fern, Fragile, 198
Blunt-lobed Woodsia, 202
Boott's Shield Fern, 168
Bracken, 105
Bradley's Spleenwort, 144
Brake, 105
Braun's Holly Fern, 182
Caterpillar Fern, 156 Chain Fern, Net-veined, 102 Chain Fern, Virginia, 156 Christmas Fern, 96 Cinnamon Fern, 60 Cliff Brake, Purple, 90 Cliff Brake, Slender, 87 Clinton's Wood Fern, 172 Climbing Fern, 75 Common Polypody, 184 Creeping Fern, 75 Crested Shield Fern, 170 Curly Grass, 63
Eagle Fern, 105 Ebony Spleenwort, 134 Evergreen Wood Fern, 67
Flowering Fern, 67 Fragile Bladder Fern, 19S Fragrant Shield Fern, 178
GoLDlE's Fern, 174
Grape Fern, Lance-leaved, 86 Grape P'ern, Little, 82 Grape Fern, Matricary, 86 Grape Fern, Ternate, 81 Giape Fern, Virginia, 80 Green Spleenwort, 138
Hairy Lip Fern, 112 Huily Fern, Braun's, 182 Hartford Fern, 75 Hart 's Tongue, 150 Hay -scented Fern, 114
Interrupted Fern, 72
Lady Fern, 120 Lance-leaved Grape Fern, 86 Little Grape Fern, 82 Lip Fern, Hairy, 112 Long Beech Fern, 187
Maidenhair, 108 Maidenhair Spleenwort, 136 Marginal Shield Fern, 176 Marsh Fern, 160 Massachusetts Fern, 164 Matrica'y Grape Fern, 86 Moonwjrt, 84 Mountain Spleenwort, 130
Narrow-leaved Spleenwort, 98 Net-veined Chain Fern, 102 New York Fern, 159 Northern Woodsia, 203
Oak I'ern, 190 Ostrich Fer.i, 56
213
; ;
INDEX TO ENGLISH NAMES
i?'i!;
PiNNATlFiD Sploenwort, 142 Polypody, Common, 184 Prickly Shield Fern, 182 Purple Cliff Brake, 90
Rattlesnakk Fern, 80 Royal Fern, 67 Rue Spleenwoit, 126 Rusty VVoodbia, 200
Scott's Sploenwort, 140 Shield l-'ern, Roott's, 168 Shield l''orn, Crested, 170 Shield Fern, Fragrant, 178 Shield l-'ern. Marginal, 176 Shield Fern, Prickly, 182 Seaweed Fern, 156 Sensitive Fern, 54 Silvery Spleenwort, 124 Slender Cliff Brake, 87 Smooth Woodsia, 206 Snake Fern, 184 Spinulose Wood Fern, 166 Spleenwort, Bradley's, 144 Spleenwort, Ebony, 134
Spleenwort, Green, 138 Spleenwort, Maidenhair, 136 Spleenwort, Mountain, 130 Spleenwort, Narrow-leaved, 98 Spleenwort, Pinnatifid, 142 Spleenwort, Rue, 126 Spleenwort, Silvery, 124 Spleenwort, Scotts', 140
Ternatk Grape Fern, 81
Virginia Chain Fern, 156 Virginia Grape Fern, 80
Walking Fern, 146 Walking Leaf, 146 Wall Rue, 126 Wood Fern, Clinton's, 172 Wood Fern, Evergreen, 176 Wood Fern, Spinulose, 166 Woodsia, Alpine, 203 Woodsia, Blunt-lobed, 202 Woodsia, Northern, 203 Woodsia, Rusty, 200 Woodsia, Smooth, 206
214
INDEX TO TECHNICAL TERMS
Antheridia, 34 Archegonia, 34 Alternation of generations, 33 Asexual generation, 34
Frond, 28
Fertile frond, 3 Fertilization, 34
lNDi;siuM, 31
Onck-1'INNATk frond, 30
PiNN'ATiiin frond, 29 Pinnae, 30
Finnides, 30 Prothallium, 34
Rachis, 30 Rootstock, 23
Sexual generation, 2^ Simple frond, 29 Sori, 30 Sporangia, 30 Spore, 30 Sterile frond, 31
Tvvicr.-PiNN'ATi. Irond, 30
Veins, free, 30
215
til.'
, 1
ii'
|
i |
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I 1 • |
Other Books
by the Author of
How to Know the Ferns
9 CHARLES SCRIBNER^S SONS, Publishers
*
How to Know The Wild Flowers
A Guide to the Names, Haunts, and Habits of our Common Wild Flowers
By Mrs. William Starr Dana
New Edition, Revised and Enlari^ed. With 156 Illus- trations by Marion Satterlee. Square i2tno, $1.75 net
CONTENTS
1
Preface.
How TO Use the Rook.
1 NTRODUCTOK Y C 1 1 A I'TE K.
Exi'i.ANATioN OF Terms. Notable Plant Fami- lies. Flower Descrm'tions: I. White. II. Yellow.
HI. Pink. IV. Red. V. Blue and Purple. VI. Miscellaneous. Index to Latin Names. Index to English
Names. Index of Technical Terms.
MR. lOHN BURROUGHS has written: "One of these days someone will give us a hand-book of our wild flowers by the aid of which we shall be able to name those we gather in our walks without the trouble of analyzing them. In this book we shall have a list of all our flowers arranged according to color, as white flowers, blue flowers.
yellow flowers, pink flowers, etc., with place of growth and time of blooming."
This is what Mrs. Dana has done, and much more. Her book is a delightful companion for the country rambler and lover of nature.
Hon. Theodore Roosevklt.
"J am delighted with it. . . . It is so exactly the kind of book needed for outdoor folks who live in the country but know little of systematic botany, that it is a wonder no one has written it before. To me it appeals particularly, because you have combined love n^* outdoor life with what gives a tenfold zest to this love — the trained literary appreciation of the writers who have had eyes to see and the skill to write about what they have seen in the woods and fields."
l''ro)it 77ie A^i'70 York Tiuics. *♦ It is not often that a book so suggestive of pleasure pure and simple comes our way. So far as we recall books on flowers, it is the first that makes country walks an intelligent joy for those who know nothing of botany but who have eyes to see and minds to question. It is a very superior work, and the illustrations correspond with the text."
From 'J'hc A'ation. ** Everv flower-lover who has spent weary hours puzzling over a botanical key in the effort to name unknown plants, will welcome this satisfactory book, which stands ready to lead him to the desired knowledge by a royal road. The book is well fitted to the need of many who have no botanical knowledge and yet are interested in wild flowers."
From The Critic. " Mrs. Dana is a lover of outdoor life ; her heart is in what she describes. She has done well a piece of work which was well worth doing."
From Nature Notes, London. •• An excellent book, and cannot fail to bring about its object. Very excellent illustrations, nearly all of which are original drawings from nature."
According to Season
Talks About the Flowers in the Order ot' their Appearance in the Woods and Fields
By Mrs. William Sta'T Dana
i6nio, 7j cents
CONTENl'S
Introdi'ctory. April and Early May. May and Early June. Jink and I'"arly July. Midsummer.
Early Aucu'st.
Late August and Early
SeI'TEMBEK.
Autumn.
Index.
From The New York Times.
**Mrs. Dana writes always of the flowers as one who sincerely loves them. The happy phrases that escape her are those which love alone could have inspired. The charm of this book is pervading and enduring as is the charm ot nature. Here are new colors and new beauties held up to those who see well already, with new eyes for those who cannot see at all."
From The Boston Beacon. ♦« Avoiding technicalities, aiming above all to inculcate a love for nature, the author writes accurately and gracefully of her favorite pursuit, and is sure to win many disciples."
From The Hartford Courant.
** Mrs. Dana is a good student, a close observer, and she has the literary touch and sympathy, so that her treatment ot the subject is both illuminating and pleasant."
E" t
From Ptti'lic Opiniou. *' Whoever shall start out fur a Cfnintry v\alk with this little book will adtl greatlv to present enjoyment, ami will be lontinualK' acijuiriiig a fund of uset'ul and agreeable knowl- edge."
/•';■('/// 'I'lh' lioston Ad-i'ivtiscr.
•* Most charming. A fitting supplement to Mrs. Dana's previous book, and the two togethc constitute one of the most truly delightful descriptive studies of nature which has made its appearance in recent years."
A Selection of Fifty Plates
from '' How to Know
The Wild Flowers"
From the Designs by Marion Satterlee
/// a portfolio. $i.oo net
The plates are from original drawings from nature, and the aim has been to assist in identification of the flowers represented. The flowers chosen for illustration are those which seem best entitled to prominence, whether on account of their beauty, their interest, or their frequent occurrence. As thp plates are printed on special paper and arc suitable for coloring by hand, this portfolio cannot fail to prove attractive.
Charles Scribner's Sons, Publishers
153-1 5;7 Fifth Avenue, Nev York
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