34 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



frag His, and fragile enough the tender little fronds appeared. A few 

 groups, extending over a rod or two, were all there were to be seen, and I 

 have never found it elsewhere in this section. But the piece of woods in 

 which it occurred was doomed to the axe, and in process of clearing, and 

 the little ferns either already are or in a year or two will have been extinct 

 in this locality. 



"The Adiaiitum, or Maiden Hair fern, one of the most delicate and 

 graceful of the family, is not uncommon, being found in scattered groups 

 or masses irnder the deep shade of the beech and maple woods. Nowhere 

 have I seen it more abundant and luxuriant than in the neighborhood of 

 ' The Cascades ' at Gun lake, but it is a native of the whole state. For 

 purposes of decoration the Maiden Hair is always a favorite, the tender, 

 grayish green of its leaflets, its glossy black stripes, and the peculiarity of 

 its form rendering it specially attractive. In striking contrast comes next 

 the Pteris, or common brake, one of the coarsest and most familiar of the 

 ferns. Unlike most of the other kinds, it is at home in the open sunlight 

 and exposure, and is not confined to damp ground. Springing from the 

 thick sod, in fence corners, by road, or on hillsides, and generally in neg- 

 lected jjlaces, its tough and stringy growth will be found, and it seems 

 better fitted than most of the other ferns to hold its own in the struggle for 

 existence. In the northern part of the state, toward Petoskey, I have 

 noticed, in passing through, large spaces of open barren tracts, acres in* 

 extent, densely covered with a thick growth of this brake, unlike anything 

 to be seen in the southern parts. The Woodicardia Virginica is one of the 

 rare species of this section, being found only occasionally, though throughout 

 the whole district. It is peculiar for the chain-like growth of its fructifi- 

 cation, which gives an odd and unusual appearance to the under side of the 

 fertile leaflets. The only other variety of Woodicardia known to the flora 

 of this country, the W. angusii folia, may possibly be found in Allegan 

 county, the catalogue of 1880 in quoting it saying: 'The only known 

 locality of this fern in Michigan is at South Haven, where it was detected 

 in 1880 by L. H. Bailey, Jr. ' As South Haven is close to the southern line 

 of this county, it may perhaps have been within our limits that this variety 

 was found, or at all events within them it may possibly yet be met. Of the 

 Asplenium group I have met three varieties, the Angiisfifoliniu, Thelijp- 

 teroides, and Filix-focmina, the first of which is far the rarest. The 

 second, the silvery spleenwort, is peculiar for the metallic or silvery 

 appearance of its largish fruit dots. These are all the kinds apportioned 

 to the southern portion of the state by any catalogues, with the noteworthy 

 exception that Miss Josie A. Williams is awarded the distinction of having 

 discovered the A. eheneum at Allegan, the only locality of its occurrence 

 mentioned in the state. I have not seen this curiosity, but hope to add it 

 to my collection, if it be not yet extinct. When the state catalogue of 1860 

 was compiled, none of the Phrgopferis family had been discovered, evi-. 

 dently, as none is mentioned; though in the last compilation the three sub- 

 varieties known to this country are quoted. Of these I have in two or 

 three localities met the Hexagonopfvra, spoken of as 'rare.' The 

 Dryopteris I have not found hereabout, though it is spoken of as occurring 

 throughout the state, but 'frequent north of lat. 43°.' In Mackinac, 

 however, I found it common. 



"The Aspidium group numbers more varieties of Michigan ferns than 

 any other; of this we find here the ThcJijpierisj the New York fern; 

 Spinnlosum, var. iniermedium; chrisfafuni; Goldianum, and acrostichoi- 



