266 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



northward. — Leaves in large dense tufts, bright green, the fertile ones 10 to 30 cm. high, 

 long-stalked, 3 or 4 times divided. 



Sometimes associated with C. stelleri on cliffs above timber line, but more common 

 on dry cliffs or on rocks slides at middle elevations. 



5. CHEILANTHES Swartz. 



Plants small; leaves 2 or 3 times divided, with small pinnules. 



Leaves glabrous, the fertile and sterile ones somewhat dissimilar , . . 1. C. siliquosa. 

 Leaves hairy and chaffy on the lower surface, the fertile and sterile ones alike. 



2. C. gracillima. 



1. Cheilanthes siliquosa Maxon. Pod fern. Rare; on dry open rocky slope near 

 Many Glacier Chalets; reported from the Lake McDonald region. B. C. to Calif., 

 Wyo., and Utah; also in Que. and Ont. {Pellaea densa Hook.) — Plants densely tufted, 

 with slender wiry leaf stalks; leaves 6 to 20 cm. long, ovate or oblong-triangular, 3 

 times pinnate, with very numerous pinnules; fertile pinnules linear, with reflexed 

 margins. 



The fertile pinnules resemble the pods of some plants of the mustard family. 



2. Cheilanthes gracillima D. C. Eaton. Lace pern. Frequent on dry cliffs at 

 middle altitudes, extending to timber line. B. C. to Mont., Nov., and Calif. — Leaves 

 forming large or small tufts, 5 to 20 cm. long, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, usually bi- 

 pinnate; pinnules covered beneath with branched scalelike hairs. 



Plentiful on cliffs just below Sperry Chalets and near Many Glacier Chalets, as well 

 as in various other localities. This fern has been reported from the park as C. feei 

 Moore, a species not known to occur in the region. 



6. ASPLENIUM L. 



1. Asplenium viride Huds. Green spleenwort. Scarce; on moist cliffs above 

 timber line. Alaska to Ore., Wyo., Vt., and Newf.— Leaves tufted, 4 to 15 cm. long, 

 bright green; pinnae 4 to 9 mm. long, rhombic, obtuse, with crenate margins. 



An inconspicuous fern, more plentiful at Cracker Lake than at any other place at 

 which it was observed by the writer. 



7, ATHYRITJM Roth. 



Plants large; leaves often densely tufted, 2 or 3 times pinnate. 



Indusium none; sori rounded; plants usually forming large and very dense clumps. 



1. A. americanum. 

 Indusium present and conspicuous; sori linear, curved; plants not in dense clumps. 



2. A. filix-foemina. 



1. Athyrium americanum (Butters) Maxon. Alpine lady fern. Abundant in 

 some localities above timber line; in moist meadows, along brooks, on rock slides, or 

 rarely in crevices of cliffs. Alaska to Calif., Colo., and Mont. ; also in Que. (A. alpestre 

 of American authors.) — Rootstocks short; leaves erect, 25 to 60 cm. high, pale yellowish 

 green, oblong-lanceolate, 2 or 3 times pinnate; pinnules lobed or cut, the lobes sharply 

 toothed. 



One of the most attractive of our ferns. The dense clumps are 30 to 100 cm. broad, and 

 the leaves are so crowded that there scarcely seems to be room for one more. The 

 clumps are usually isolated from other tall vegetation, and they always have a fresh 

 appearance. The leaves have a slight balsamic odor. The most abundant display of 

 this fern is on the slopes below Sperry Glacier, but it is plentiful near Grinnell Glacier 

 and above Lake Ellen Wilson . In the last locality there are many clumps on the slides 

 formed of bright red argillite rocks, and the combination of colore is very pleasing. 



2. Athyrium filix-foemina (L.) Roth. Lady fern. Abundant nearly everywhere 

 in wooded portions of the park; most plentiful in deep moist woods, but found also 

 in thickets or on open slopes, and frequently above timber line. Western N. Amer., 



