ee ee es oie sais New York State Callege of Agriculture At Gornell University Dthara, N. Y. Library Cornell University Library QK 525.T Th 6 iAH 3 1924 001 717 333 fort mann Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu3 1924001717333 “Pokin’ round mid ferns and mosses, Like a hop-toad or a snail — Somehow seems to lighten crosses, Where my heart would elsewise fail.” A Fern Lover The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada BY GrorGE Henry Tinron, A. MM. 1 WITH ONE HUNDRED AND ELGHTY-ELGHT ILLUSTRATIONS “This world’s no blot for us Nor blank; it means intensely and it means good: To find its meaning is my meat and drink.” Rohert Browninuse BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1923 Copurtyht, L922, By Grorarn Tenney Triron. Add rights reserved PRINTED IN THE UNITED STaTES OF AMERICA DEDICATION To Alice D. Clark, engraver of these illustrations, who has spared no pains to promote the artistic excel- lence of this work, and to encourage its progress, these pages are dedi- cated with the high regards of Tue AUTHOR. CONTENTS List of Hlustrations Preface Introduction Key to Genera : Classification of Ferns The Polypodies : The Bracken Group: Bracken Cliff Brakes Rock Brake ere The Lip Ferns (Cheilanthes) The Cloak Fern (Notholina) The Chain Ferns The Spleenworts: The Rock Spleenworts. Asplentum. The Large Spleenworts. Athyrdim Hart’s Tongue and Walking Leaf The Shield Ferns: Christinas and Holly Fern Marsh Fern Tribe . The Beech Ferns The Fragrant Fern The Wood Ferns The Bladder Ferns The Woodsias 5 The Boulder Fern (Dennstirdtia) Sensitive and Ostrich Ferns The Flowering Ferns (Osnmunda) Curly Grass and Climbing Fern Adder’s Tongue . The Grape Ferns: Key to the Grape Fern Moonwort . 2... Little Grape Fern Lance-leaved Grape Fern Matricary Fern Common Grape Fern Rattlesnake Fern “1 > Or mer OW wesAr ~1 1 wa) . 90 103 lO 114 121 128 130 Lh 157 165 1700 cali 187 191 193 194 196 196 19S 199 204 8 Tue Fern Lover’s CoMPANION Filmy Fern . : Noted Fern ‘Authors : Fern Literature . Time List for Fruiting at Fens Glossary Note: Meaning of Gemis anid Species Checklist . Latin Index. English Index 226 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS A-Fem Lover. 2... 2.4 25 # se 2 ee a om a Frontispiece PAGE Prothallium Diagram eee ee oe ee en ee ee PinnatesPronds, 8 u.. pseudocaudata Spray of Maidenhair Sori of Maidenhair : Maidenhair. Adiantum pedatum Alpine Maidenhair es eer Venus-Hair Fern. Adiantum capillus-venerts Purple Cliff Brake. Pell@a atropurpurea Dense Cliff Brake. Cryptogramina densa . Slender Cliff Brake. Cryptogramma Stellert Parsley Fern. Cryptogramma acrostichoides Alabama Lip Fern. Cheilanthes alabamensis Hairy Lip Fern. Cheilanthes lanosa Slender Lip Fern. Cheilanthes Fee? Pinne of Slender Lip Fern Powdery Cloak Fern. N otholenn Fi atbiater Common Chain Fern. W"eodwardia virginica Net-veined Chain Fern. JVoodwardia areolata The Spleenworts Pe ORS are en at Pinnatifid Spleenwort. Asplenium pinnatifidum Scott's Spleenwort. Asplentum ebenoides Green Spleenwort. Asplentum viride ros Maidenhair Spleenwort. Asplentum Trichomanes . Maidenhair Spleenwort. Asplentum Trichomanes (Fernery) Ebony Spleenwort. Asplentum platyneuron Bradley’s Spleenwort. Asplenium Bradleyi Mountain Spleenwort. Asplenium montanim Rue Spleenwort. Asplentum Ruta-muraria | Rootstock of Lady Fern (Two parts) Nowwmwos i ee ie ee oO Tue Fern Lover's Companion 11 Sori of Lady Fern. Athyrium angustum oo 0 0... 98 Varieties of Lady Fern. . 2 2 6 2) 2 eee ee es 94 Lowland Lady Fern. Athyrium asplenioides . . 2... . 96 Silvery Spleenwort. Athyrium acrostichoides . . . . . 99-100 Narrow-leaved Spleenwort. -Athyriim angustifolium =. . .101 Pinne and Sori of Athyrium angustifolum 2 2 2. 7... 102 Sori of Scolopendrium vulgare... Sosa fue) somn Yodo BLOB Hart's Tongue. Scolopendrium aidgare ae Sere es 104 Walking Fern. Camptosorus rhizophyllus =. 2 2. 2... ..106 Christmas Fern. Polystichum acrostichoides . . . . . 108-109 Varieties of Christmas Fern. oes ste sels Se LALO) Braun’s Holly Fern. Polystichum Brant ee eer eee Holly Fern. Polystichum Lonchitis —. f AZo Sicnmiraeas als Marsh Fern. Aspidiwm ee ; Pee ete eee le Marsh Fern, in the mass . , fw ities een aa eo Massachusetts Fern. Aspidium sum ulatum. metic © elle, New York Fern. Aspidtum noveboracense 2 2 0... 118 Sori of Aspidium noveboracense . Meech at ory AAO Pinne and Sori of Aspidian nonebarneen HWSO x wt a we gl 20 Oak Fern. Phegopteris Dryo pteris rae telr eae ee Northern Oak Fern. Phegopteris Robertienta ee oy ls Broad Beech Fern. Aspidium hexagonoptera . . 2... .124 Long Beech Fern. Aspidiim polypodioides . .. . . 126-127 Fragrant Fern. Aspidium fragrans . |. ete ge tee ale29) Marginal Shield Fern. Aspidinm marginale Se itn tees sal rl Crown of Fronds of Aspidium marginale. eae 132 Sori of Aspidiwm marginale... . Solio Le dh de AEDS Male Fern. Aspidium Filia-mas 2 0 0 0 2 2 1. 188 Aspidium Filiz-mas and details 2. eases. 186 Goldie’s Shield Fern. Aspidium Goldianum eae fa eS Aspidium Goldianum,in the mass . . . en : . .139 Crested Shield Fern. Aspidiwm cristatum , : . 141 Crested Shield Fern. Aspidiim cristatum ( (No, rae otk 142 Clinton’s Shield Fern. Aspidium cristatum var. intonianum 143 Crested Marginal Fern. Aspidium cristatum X marginale .145 Aspidium cristatum % marginale, in the mass... . . . .146 Boott’s Shield Fern. Aspidiwm Boottii . . . owe ee SAT Spinulose Shield Fern. Aspidium spinulosum . . . . . .149 12 Tue Fern Lover's Companion Aspidium spinulosum var. intermedium Aspidium spinulosum var. americanum : Bulblet Bladder Fern. Cystopteris bulbifera Cystopteris bulbifera with sprouting bulb Fragile Bladder Fern. Cystopteris fragilis Rusty Woodsia. Woodsia alvensis . Northern Woodsia. Woodsia alpina . Details of Alpine Woodsia ay ; Blunt-lobed Woodsia. Joo0dsia oben : Smooth Woodsia. JVoodsia glabella Hayscented Fern. Dennstedtia punchilobula, Forked variety of Dennstadtia punctilobula Field View of Dennstedtia punctilobula . Pinne and Sori of Dennstedtia punctilobula . Meadow View of Sensitive Fern . : Obtusilobata Forms of Sensitive Fern, Leat to Frit ; Sori of Sensitive Fern ; : Sensitive Fern. Onoclea sensibilis : Sensitive Fern. Fertile and Sterile Fronds on Same Plant 3 Ostrich Fern. Onoclea Struthiopteris. Fertile Fronds Ostrich Fern. Sterile Fronds . Sori and Sporangia of Ostrich Fern Royal Fern. Osmaumnda regalis spectabilis . Sori of Roval Fern aye Interrupted Fern. Osmunda C laytoniana Interrupted Fern. Fertile Pinnules Spread Open Cinnamon Fern. Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon Fern. Leaf Gradations Two Varieties of Cinnamon Fern Osmunda cinnamomea glandulosa Curly Grass. Schizea pusilla . Sporangia of Curly Grass : Climbing Fern. Lygodium mmatriataian. Adder’s Tongue. Ophioglossum vulgatum . Moonwort. Botrychium Lunaria Moonwort, Details ee Little Grape Fern. Botrychium staple v : Lance-leaved Grape Fern. Botrychium lance olatiein 179 .180 181 .182 183 184-185 .186 .187 188 189 .192 194 195 LOT 197 Tue Fern Lover’s Companion 13 Matricary Grape Fern. Botrychium ramosum |. . 198 Common Grape Fern. Botrychium obliquum . F : 200 Botrychium obliquum var. dissectum re . ea Botrychium obliquum var. oneidense . . bees 202 Ternate Grape Fern. Botrychinm te rnatin var. ‘ite r nodiann 203 Ternate Grape Fern. B. ternatum var. intermedium . . . .203 Rattlesnake Fern. Botrychium virgintanum 2 2... 2205 Filmy Fern. Trichomanes Boschianum .. Phy Rade 2 oUF Fruiting Pinnules of Filmy Fern. 0... 2» » #208 Crosiers . . ene Oy ee tip ees 209-210 Noted Fern Authors Ni py oo eee Poe eer ee Spray of the Bulblet Bladder ‘Ferm ner wee ee » 4219 PREFACE LOVER of nature feels the fascination of the ferns though he may know little of their names and habits. Beholding them in their native haunts, adorning the rugged cliffs, gracefully fringing the water-courses, or waving their stately fronds on the borders of woodlands, he feels their call to a closer acquaintance. Happy would he be to receive instruction from a living teacher: His next preference would be the companionship of a good fern book. Such a help we aim to give him in this manual. If he will con it diligently, consulting its glossary for the meaning of terms while he quickens his powers of observa- tion by studying real specimens, he may hope to learn the names and chief qualities of our most common ferns in a single season. Our most productive period in fern literature was between 1878, when Williamson published his “Ferns of Kentucky,” and 1905, when Clute issued, “Our Ferns in Their Haunts.” Between these flourished D. C. Eaton, Davenport, Waters, Dodge, Parsons, Eastman, Under- wood, A. A. Eaton, Slosson, and others. All their works are now out of print except Clute’s just mentioned and Mrs. Parsons’ ““How to Know the Ferns.” Both of these are valuable handbooks and amply illustrated. Clute’s is larger, more scholarly, and more inclusive of rare species, with an illustrated key to the genera; while Mrs. Parsons’ is more simple and popular, with a naive charm that creates for it a constant demand. 15 16 Tue Fern Lover’s Companion We trust there is room also for this unpretentious, hut progressive, handbook, designed to stimulate interest in the ferns and to aid the average student in learning their names and meaning. Its geographical limits include the northeastern states and Canada. Its nomenclature fol- lows in the main the seventh edition of Gray’s Manual, while the emendations set forth in Rhodora, of October, 1919, and also a few terms of later adoption are embodied, either as svnonyms or substitutes for the more familiar Latin names of the Manual, and are indicated by a differ- ent type. In every case the student has before him both the older and the more recent terms from which to choose. However, since the book is written primarily for lovers of Nature, many of whom are unfamiliar with scientific terms, the common English names are everywhere given promi- nence, and strange to say are less subject to change and controversy than the Latin. There is no doubt what species is meant when one speaks of the Christmas fern, the ostrich fern, the long beech fern, the interrupted fern, etc. The use of the common names will lead to the knowledge and enjoyment of the scientific terms. A friend unfamiliar with Latin has asked for pointers to aid in pronouncing the scientific names of ferns. Fol- lowing Gray, Wood, and others we have marked each accented syllable with either the grave (>) or acute (‘) accent, the former showing that the vowel over which it stands has its long sound, while the latter indicates the short or modified sound. Let it be remembered that any syllable with either of these marks over it is the accented syllable, whose sound will be long or short according to the slant of the mark. We have appropriated from many sources such mate- Ture Fern Lover’s Companion 17 rial as suited our purpose. Our interest in ferns dates back to our college days at Amherst, when we collected our first specimens in a rough, bushy swamp in Hadley. We found here a fine colony of the climbing fern (Lygodium). We recall the slender fronds climbing over the low bushes, unique twiners, charming, indeed, in their native habitat. We have since collected and studied specimens of nearly every New England fern, and have carefully examined most of the other species mentioned in this book. By courtesy of the hbrarian, Mr. William P. Rich, we have made large use of the famous Davenport herbarium in the Massachusetts Horticultural library, and through the kindness of the daughter, Miss Mary E. Davenport, we have freely consulted the larger unmounted collection of ferns at the Davenport homestead, at Medford,* finding here a very large and fine assortment of Botrychiums, including a real B. ternatum from Japan. For numerous facts and suggestions we are indebted to the twenty volumes of the Fern Bulletin, and also to its able editor, Mr. Willard N. Clute. To him we are greatly obligated for the use of photographs and plates, and espe- cially for helpful counsel on many items. We appreciate the helpfulness of the cfmerican Fern Journal and its obliging editor, Mr. E. J. Winslow. To our friend, Mr. C. H. Knowlton, our thanks are due for the revision of the checklist and for much helpful advice, and we are grateful to Mr. S. N. F. Sanford, of the Boston Society of Natural History, for numerous courtesies; but more especially to Mr. C. A. Weatherby for his expert and helpful inspection of the entire manuscript. * Recently donated to the Gray Herbarium. 18 Tue Fern Lover's Companion The illustrations have been carefully selected; many of them from original negatives bequeathed to the author by his friend, Henry Lincoln Clapp, pioneer and chief promoter of school gardens in America. Some have been photographed from the author's herbarium, and from living ferns. A few are from the choice herbarium of Mr. George E. Davenport, and also a few reprints have been made from fern books, for which due credit is given. The Scott’s spleenwort, on the dedication page, is reprinted from Clute’s “Our Ferns in Their Haunts.” INTRODUCTION (HOREAT tells us, ““Nature made a fern for pure leaves.” Fern leaves are in the highest order of cryptogams. Like those of flowering plants they are reinforced by woody fibres running through their stems, keeping them erect while permitting graceful curves. Their exquisite sym- metry of form, their frequent finely cut borders, and their rich shades of green combine to make them objects of rare beauty; while their unique vernation and method of fruit- ing along with their wonderful mystery of reproduction invest them with marked scientific interest affording stimulus and culture to the thoughtful mind. By pecu- liar enchantments these charming plants allure the ardent Nature-lover to observe their haunts and habits. “Oh, then most gracefully they wave In the forest, like a sea, And dear as they are beautiful Are these fern leaves to me.” As a rule the larger and coarser ferns grow in.moist, shady situations, as swamps, ravines, and damp woods; while the smaller ones are more apt to be found along mountain ranges in some dry and even exposed locality. A tiny crevice in some high cliff is not infrequently chosen by these fascinating little plants, which protect themselves from drought by assuming a mantle of light wool, or of hair and chaff, with, perhaps, a covering of white powder 19 20 Tue Fern Lover's Companion as in some cloak ferns — thus keeping a layer of moist air next to the surface of the leaf, and checking transpiration. Some of the rock-loving ferns in dry places are known as “resurrection” ferns, reviving after their leaves have turned sere and brown. A touch of rain, and lo! they are green and flourishing. Ferns vary in height from the diminutive filmy fern of less than an inch to the vast tree ferns of the tropics, reaching a height of sixty feet or more. REPRODUCTION Ferns are propagated in various ways. A frequent method is by perennial rootstocks, which often creep beneath the surface, sending up, it may be, single fronds, as in the common bracken, or graceful leaf-crowns, as in the cinnamon fern. The bladder fern is propagated in part from its bulblets, while the walking leaf bends over to the earth and roots at the tip. Ferns are also reproduced by spores, a process mys- terious and marvellous as a fairy tale. Instead of seeds the fern produces spores, which are little one-celled bodies without an embryo and may he likened to buds. A spore falls upon damp soil and germinates, producing a small, green, shield-shaped patch much smaller than a dime, which is called a prothallium (or prothallus). On its under surface delicate root hairs grow to give it stability and nutriment; also two sorts of reproductive organs known as antheridia and archegonia, the male and female growths analogous to the stamens and pistils in flowers. From the former spring small, active, spiral bodies called anther- ozoids, which lash about in the moisture of the prothaéllium until they find the archegonia, the cells of which are so Tue Fern Lover’s CoMPANION MALE SHIELD FERN. Archegoniuw in sectional elevation and plan. Sectional elevation. Sys hy’ Development of Spore rae Young Frond. § Prothallium,under surface Prothalliuu< Archegonia. Antheridia. Root hairs. Antheridium. your. Mother cells of fA ant herozoi.as 22 Tue Fern Lover’s Companion arranged in each case as to form a tube around the central cell, which is called the ddsphere, or ege-cell, the point to be fertilized. When one of the entering dntherozoids reaches this point the desired change is effected, and the canal of the archegdnium closes. The empty ddsphere becomes the quickened ddspore, whose newly begotten plant germ unfolds normally by the multiplication of cells that become, in turn, root, stem, first leaf, etc., while the prothallium no longer needed to sustain its offspring withers away.* Fern plants have been known to spring directly from the prothallus by a budding process apart from the organs of fertilization, showing that Nature “‘fulfills herself in many ways.’’T VERNATION All true ferns come out of the ground head foremost, coiled up like a watch-spring, and are designated as “‘fiddle- heads,” or crosiers. (A real crosier is a bishop’s staff.) Some of these odd young growths are covered with “fern wool,” which birds often use in lining their nests. This wool usually disappears later as the crosier unfolds into the broad green blade. The development of plant shoots from the bud is called vernation (Latin, ver, meaning spring), and this unique uncoiling of ferns, “‘circinnate vernation.”’ * In the accompanying illustration, it should be remembered that the reproductive parts of a fern are microscopic and cannot be seen by the naked eye. 7 The scientific term for this method of reproduction is apogamy (apart from marriage). Sometimes the prothallus itself buds directly from the frond without spores, for which process the term apéspory is used. (Meaning, literally, without spores.) THe Fern Lover’s Companion 23 VEINS The veins of a fern are free, when, branching from the mid-vein, they do not connect with each other, and simple when they do not fork. When the veins intersect they are said to anastomose (Greek, an opening, or network), and their meshes are called aréole or dreoles (Latin, areola, a little open space). EXPLANATION OF TERMS A frond is said to be pinnate (Latin, pinna, a feather), when its primary divisions extend to the rachis, as in the Christmas fern (Fig. 1). A frond is bipinnate (Latin, bis, twice) when the lobes of the pinnz extend to the midvein as in the royal fern (Fig. 2). These divisions of the pinne are called pinnules. When a frond is tripinnate the last complete divisions are called ultimate pinnules or seg- ments. A frond is pinnatifid whenits lobes extend halfway or more to the rachis or midvein as in the middle lobes of the pinnatifid spleenwort (Fig. 3). The pinne of a frond are often pinnatifid when the frond itself is pinnate; and a frond may be pinnate in its lower part and become pinnatifid higher up as in the pinnatifid spleenwort just mentioned (Fig. 3). The divisions of a pinnatifid leaf are called segments; of a bipinnatifid or tripinnatifid leaf, ultimate segments. 24 Tur Fern Lover’s COMPANION PIONS \ VaRhtnees Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Tue Fern Lover’s CoMPANION 25 SporAncia AND Fruit Dots Fern spores are formed in little sacs known as spore- cases or sporangia (Fig. +). They are usually clustered in dots or lines on the back or margin of a frond, either on or at the end of a small vein, or in spike-like racemes on separate stalks. Sori (singular sorus, a heap), or fruit dots may be naked as in the polypody, but are usually covered with a thin, delicate membrane, known as the indusium (Greek, a dress, or mantle). The family or genus of a fern is often determined by the shape of its indusium; e.g., the indusium of the woodsias is star- shaped; of the Dicksonias, cup-shaped; of the aspleniums, linear; of the wood ferns, kidney-shaped, ete. In many ferns the sporangia are surrounded in whole or in part by a vertical, elastic ring (annulus) reminding one of a small, brown worm closely coiled (Fig. 4). As the spores mature, the ring contracts and bursts with consider- able force, scattering the spores. The spores of the differ- ent genera mature at different times from May to Septem- ber.