64 Palmer — Ferns of the Dismal Swanky, Virginia. 



AVlieii little sunlight reaches these plants fruiting spikes ax"e rarely seen, 

 and usually but one on a plant. Alonj,^ the outlet canal, where the trees 

 have been thinned and drainage is complete, the dryer and more sunny 

 conditions have alfected the fruiting and many variations showing ]>ar- 

 tial fertility were collected. 



3. Stiuthopteiis cinnamomea (Linn.) Beriih. Cinnamon Fern. 



Osinnii(hi ciniiiiiiuinii'd Linn., Sp. PL, p. lOfili, Mo.]. 



Abundant, usually with the ])recedr!ig species, l)ut not so partial to the 

 cypress knees and the shadier situations. Both species, but more espe- 

 cially S. ciwiamomea, are evidently recent additions to the true swamp 

 flora; faraway from the ditches and bogie roads they are rarely seen. 

 This species is usually very tall and luxuriant, but does not fruit as ex- 

 tensively as in more open and higber places. On June 9. 1S9".>, I found 

 two plants near the head of Wasliington ditch xn an open place. They 

 had all the pinnules much reduced in size and many of the lower basal 

 ones were greatly elongated and often pinnatifid. The plants were ex- 

 posed to generous sunlight for pai't of the day, but owing to their situation 

 on a decaying log were necessarily limited in root moisture. 



4. Onoclea sensibilis Linn. Sensitive Fern. 



By no means common in thesandj' area but found maiidy in the streams 

 and ditches bordering the swamp. 



5. Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott. Christmas Fern. 



On .June 3, 1896, several luindred yards from the eastern end of Lake 

 Drummond, I found several dwarfed plants on a small well decayed log. 

 The largest frond, a fertile one, measured H^ inches (285 mm.*) and 1 j in. 

 (441 wide, with a stii)e 4J (124) long Tlie longest i)inna is -g (21.5) long 

 and i (5.5) wide. The largest sterile frond was shorter and barely wider. 

 The edges of the pinuje were regular but very finely spinulose. No others 

 were found, but the species is common in the ravines near Suffolk, al)Out 

 fourteen miles distant. 



6. Dryopteris noveboiacensis (Linn.) A. Gray. New York Fern. 



Where the sandy areas of the swamp blend with the true peaty swamp, 

 and especially in the old bogie roads in these dryer portions of the swamp, 

 this species is abundant. 



7. Dryopteris thelypteris (Linn.) A. Gray. Marsh Fern. 



Found at l^ut one place, above the head of Washington ditch. Its long 

 spindling fronds were growing in the bushes on the bank, but the normal 

 ])lant was not seen. 



*A11 measurements in parentheses are in millimeters. 



