1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns — IV 51 



Division C. — Rootstocks caespitose, i. e., forming tufts or little 

 bunches. 



As this guide is intended especially for winter and early spring use, 

 only the first section (with more or less evergreen fronds) will be 

 considered here. 



Under Division A (with rootstock rhizomatose) we have the follow- 

 ing ferns : — 



* Fronds climbing ; rhizome long and slender ; stipes and flexuose rachises 

 twining on shrubbery in rather open woodlands. 



1. Lygodium PALMATUM, Swartz. Climbing Fern. Sterile portion 

 persistent, fertile portion perishing; pinnae pahnately divided, or 

 lobed. N. H., Mass., Ct. 



* * Fronds not climbing, green all winter, stipes articulated to a moderately 

 stout scaly rhizome. 



2. Polypodium vulgare, Linnaeus. Common Polypody. Abun- 

 dant on boulders, ledges and rocky hillsides. Me., N. H., Vt., Mass., 

 R. I., Ct. 



Obs. — Var. eambricum has been found in Connecticut (Dr. Under- 

 wood) and New Hampshire (Mrs. F. G. Webster*) , and some very 

 interesting abnormal forms have been collected in Vermont by 

 Miss Slosson. 



Under division B (Rootstocks caudiciform). Plants large. 



* Rootstock erect, or partially so, growth upright. 



3. Nephrodium marginale, Richard (Aspidium, Swartz). — Mar- 

 ginal Shield-fern. Fronds once or twice pinnate, margins entire or 

 crenate ; sori marginal. Rocky hillsides with no. 2, ravines and 

 swampy woodlands with 4, 5 and 6. Me., N. H., Vt, Mass., R. I., 

 Ct. 



One or two forms have been designated but appear to me little 

 more than states of development. 



4. Nephrodium cristatum X marginale, Davenport. Fronds 

 resembling no. 3 in the upper portion, and no. 5 in the lower ; lobes 

 toothed more as in no. 5. Sori sub-marginal or medial. Found 

 always with no. 3 and no. 5 between which it is a natural hybrid, as 

 Miss Slosson has successfully demonstrated by raising it by artificial 

 crossing from spores. Me., Vt., Mass., R. L, Ct. 



