THE PLANT WOELD 29 



The upper portion of the road was shaded by trees of Quercus Wis- 

 lizeni and Q. chrysolepis, which had evidently borne a fine crop of acorns 

 the pre\'ious season. Just before we reached a deserted, typical, old 

 California house, we left the wagon-road, and in a few moments stood 

 en the summit of Black Mountain, 2787 feet above the Pacific, which is 

 visible on a clear day. During the ascent a heavy fog had rolled in 

 from the ocean, and hid from view the picturesque Santa Clara valley. 

 Indeed, Santa Clara was in the cloud-land, a new sight to both of us. 

 At times the fog would raise a bit, revealing a little of the busy world 

 below, but such \dews were of short duration. Our lunch eaten, we 

 rolled large stones down the mountain side into the dense chaparral or 

 studied the centipedes which we found under them. The descent was 

 made more quickly, and we reached our rooms at dusk, tired but well 

 repaid for the trip. 



Vaughns, New York. 



THE DISCOVERY OF A PLUMOSE VARIETY OF THE 



EBONY SPLEENWORT. 

 By Frances B. Horton. 



WHILE gathering ferns one day in September, 1900, we strolled 

 from the cool shade and the gray twilight of the deeper woods 

 to the rocky eastern slope beyond, the hillside home of several 

 of our New England ferns. Nestled close to the limestone cliffs were 

 luxuriant growths of Aspleninm ebeneum and A. Tricliomanes in close 

 proximity to dense patches of Dicl'sonia and verdant knolls of maiden- 

 hair, while nearer still were the strong hardy fronds of Aspidium mar- 

 ginale clinging to the sides of rocks, or imbedded among them, and 

 some were even in the open fields. Being in search of Asplenium ebe- 

 neum and A. Trichomaiies for my fern garden and jars, my purpose was 

 soon satisfied, and very soon I found my small basket completely filled 

 with the desired plants, but just as I was about to leave the place, 

 another beautiful specimen of ebeneum invited me to take it home. I 

 stooped to dig up the plant, when my attention was attracted by a 

 dainty little stranger clothed with bright green fringe from head to 

 foot, and showing handsome erect fronds with shining dark rachises. 

 Looking about, I discovered several more plants. Their general ap- 

 pearance was much like that of ebeneum, except for the deeply incised 

 pinnae. The length of the longer fronds was from eight to ten inches, 

 and of the shorter ones from three to four inches. The taller fronds 



