THE MUSEUM 



331 



Solarium perspectivum, stair case shell. Pinna muricata, Fan Shell. 

 Helix Zebuensis, Oregon Helix. Mytilis smaragdinus, Mussel Shell. 



Nassa bicolor. Bulla ampulla. 



Bulimus oblongus, So. America. 

 Trochus niloticus, Pearl Trochus. 

 Natural Color. 



South and gradually takes to the rocks 

 as one goes Northward. 



This is one of the most widely dis- 

 tributed of ferns, being found in our 

 own country from Greenland to Mex- 

 ico and the West Indies and also oc- 

 curs in Europe, Algiers, jNIaderia, the 

 Canary Islands, Japan, China and 

 Northern Asia. 



In winter the majority of ferns in 

 the Northern States die down to the 

 ground, but the polypody is an ever- 

 green — one of the few plants that 

 "keep the woods warm in winter" by 

 the semblance of summer. Climb the 

 nearest fern-clad height in any weather 

 and you are quite likely to meet with 

 this fern. The fronds do not rise in 

 circular tufts as do those of many 

 other species but the chaffy root-stock 

 twists about here and there sending up 

 fronds at random. These are joined 

 to the root-stock by a distinct articula- 

 tion. They are somewhat leathery in 

 texture and simply pinnate making a 

 most handsome form which is often 

 used in winter decorations. 



In July the fruit-dots appear on the 

 back of the fronds. They are round 

 and bright yellow in color at length 

 turning brown. Under the microscope 

 they appear like collections of tiny 

 globes, each attached to the frond by 

 a slender stalk. These globes contain 

 multitudes of minute bodies called 

 spores. When they -are ripe the 

 globes burst open and the spores drift 

 away on the wind to form new plants. 

 Unlike other orders of ferns the poly- 

 podies do not have the fruit-dots cov- 

 ered, when young by a special mem- 

 brane called the indusium. 



The name polypody is derived from 

 two Greek words meaning "many 

 feet" but whether in allusion to the 

 many divisions of the frond, the 

 branching root-stock or the numerous 

 roots is not quite clear. The ancients 

 attributed many and various medicinal 

 qualities to the plant. It was sup- 

 posed to be a specific for jaundice, 

 dropsey, tape-worm and coughs. The 

 polypody which grew on the oak was 

 famous for the cure of madness and 



