22 T BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



the whole height being occupied by the stalk. The palmate frond is 

 attached to the stalk almost at a right-angle The upper surface is of 

 a bright light-green and the under surface is covered with a pulvera- 

 ceous substance, which gives it a very brigln, light yellow color, grow- 

 ing darker with age. When the fruit is fully mature it forms a mar- 

 gin of an intense black, which contrasts finely with the general sur- 

 face. 



It grows at the edges of rocks, in dense and rather large tufts, 

 and is the only one of my ferns which is handsomer than Pclhca flex- 

 uosa. It matures its spores quite early in October. Like Clicilanthcs 

 Lind/iciiiicri, it curls up and becomes unfit for pressing almost as soon 

 as it is removed from the soil. 



Notliohvna dealbata, Kunze, like Cheilanihes lanuginosa, grows in 

 tufts on the perpendicular sides of rocks, where there seems to be no 

 soil whatever, and in the deepest shade. It is seldom more than 

 eight inches in height, the fronds finely divided, and very bright c:olor- 

 ed, tile upper surface being green, while below it is of a j^ure white. 

 When the fruit appears it is of the deepest black, and disposed in ir- 

 regular, stellate, or radiating spots. Later tlie fruit becomes so abun- 

 dant as to almost completely cover the back of the frond. A tuft of 

 this fern, exiiibiting the fronds in various stages ^f maturity, the col- 

 ors varying from a ]Kire white to an almost regular black, is a very 

 pretty object. This is one of the earliest fruiting species. 



Woodsia Oregana, D. C. Eaton, resembles our own Woodsias in 

 its general appearance, but the stalks are more herbaceous and deli- 

 cate. It is rather common, but not abundant, growing singly under 

 the edges of overhanging rocks at the bottom of canons, in deep 

 shade, and always near the water-holes. My variety differs from tlie 

 type in having the stalks scaly, and in having narrow wings to the 

 midrib. The latter peculiarity is probably connected with a habitual 

 monstrosity which will be noticed in the conclusion. It is among the 

 very early fruiting species. 



The only remaining species is Gxninograiiime Iiispida, D. C. 

 Eaton. This is (piite common and abundant. It grows in very high 

 and dry situations, but in rich soil, and moderate shade. It seems to 

 grow more luxuriantly in the shade, but so late is it in maturing that 

 in such situations the chances are much in favor of its being destroyed 

 by cold and dry weather before it has fruited. 



It grows to the height of two to four inches, and, like NothoUvna 

 Hfloki'ri, the frond exhibits its face in a nearly, or f[uite, horizontal 

 position. The frond is pedate and densely his])id on both surfaces, 

 but most so below. The upper surface is of a rich, dark green, the 

 under surface of a grayish-green, and late in the season, both are 

 tinged with red. The articulation is slight, and it is difificult to avoid 

 separating the fronds from the rootstock in pressing. 



In conclusion, a few teratological notes are in order. Tiie tera- 

 tology of ferns has of late attracted considerable attention, and I 

 believe that Mr. Davenport is at present engaged in some special 

 studies in this direction. Attention has been principally attracted to 

 the bifurcation of the fronds, and in the recently established "Terato- 



