No. 1.] GOODE — NOTES ON CANADtAN FERNS. 49 



NOTES ON CANADIAN FERNS. 



[Having particular reference to the discovery of Aspidiam 

 Lonchltis at Gaspe in 1875.] 



By Jno. B. Goode, Esq. 



{Read hefore the Natural History Society^ Mo?ttrea/j Jany. 27 t/i, 1879.) 



The mounted specimens which I have now the pleasure of 

 exhibiting to the members of this Society, represent thirty-five of 

 the species indigenous to the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New 

 Brunswick and Nova Scotia combined, leaving some eight to ten 

 species to complete the list of the Ferns of these Provinces. 



Many of the specimens now before you, were collected at 

 Gaspe last July, in the neighbourliood of Grande Greve, which 

 is rather rich in ferns, some of the rare species being there found 

 in abundance. 



Asplenium viride. This species was first discovered in Canada, 

 by the late John Bell, M. D. It was found in Gaspe in the 

 summer of 1863, since which I have found it in abundance at 

 Grande Greve, where it can be seen in perfection, growino- in the 

 seams of the limestone ridges, in shady, cool aspects. 



FtUcta gracilis is not rare there, and appears to thrive in the 

 immediate vicinity of the sea, similar in this respect to the 

 Asplenium marinum on the western coast of England ; it thrives 

 best in damp, rocky fissures, or caverns in the shore cliff's, so 

 close to the sea, that in rough weather it must receive a liberal 

 sprinkling of spray. This fern, I may mention, is one of the 

 most difficult to establish in cultivation, and, consequently, 

 although a very pretty one, is rarely or never seen in greenhouse 

 collections. 



Asjyleniuin marinum, to which reference has just been made, 

 has been reported on the coast of New Brunswick, on one 

 occasion. I may say that my diligent researches on the Gasp^ 

 coast were unsuccessful, and, I think, before accepting it as a 

 Canadian species, it should be found in other localities. 



Aspidium aculeatum, var. Braunii. A beautiful and rather 

 rare fern ; is common in certain localities at Gaspe, preferrin 

 cool, shady woods on eminences, or slopes. 



Vol. IX. D No. 1 



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