234 



fEKA'S. 



procumbent or appressed to the rocks on which the plant grows. The 

 fructification consists of oblong or linear sori, irregularly scattered on 

 either side of the netted veins of the fronds, those nearest to the mid rib 

 single, the outer ones generally in pairs, which run together at their ends 

 and form crooked lines. The classical name is derived from two Greek 

 words, which mean — curved — and — aheap, or fruit dot, in allusion to the 

 manner in which the exterior fruit dots run together. This fern, although 

 rare, is pretty generally distributed over Canada, and is not at all un- 

 common on the limestone about Ottawa, and at Owen Stjund. 



Beech Fern.. — Hairy Polypody. — Fhegopteris polypodioides^ (Fee.) 



The distinguishing characteristics of this fern are its triangular 

 outline, creeping root-stock, and brown, pointed, chaffy hairs, which may 

 be seen on the rachis and on the veins and veinlets at the back of the 

 frond. Sometimes the lower pairs of pinnae are much deflexed, but not 

 so decidedly so as in the next species, P. /lexagonoptera, which is less 

 chaffy or hairy on the rachis, and the two lower pinnre droop lower than 

 the upper ones. Sometimes, however, it bears them on the left side of 

 the rachis, upright or slantwise as if held up. In a large bed of these 

 triangular shaped ferns, this peculiar arrangement occurs in a remarkable 

 manner. It is only a frequent variation from the more usual form, as it 

 occurs indiscriminately on the same root-stock with fronds with the 

 deflexed pinnaj. The same variation is also, though more rarely, found 

 in the Beech Fern now under consideration. 



The pinnules oi P. polypodioides are lanceolate, blunter at the points, 

 bluntly toothed, confluent on the mid-rib ; pinnje not so long as in 

 P. hexagonoptero, but sharply pointed, colour of the frond a rather dull 

 green, somewhat downy on the surface. The sori small, abundant, but 

 not confluent ; pale brown, when mature, which is in July and August ; 

 situated at the base of the lobes of the pinnules, in lines of twos or threes. 



In large-sized fronds, which vary from a foot to eighteen inches in 

 height, the pinna; form about eighteen or twenty pairs ; the stipe, which 

 is slender and brittle, is nearly double the length of the frond. The root- 

 stock is rather slender, creeping, young fronds very white and downy 

 when they issue from the soil and unroll ; this takes place late in May 

 or early in June. The usual habitat is in rich black vegetable mould 

 in tracts of Maple and Beech woods. I have found this tern near 

 Lakcfield, in the Township of Smith, al)out a (juarter of a mile from the 

 river Otonabee, on some waste, half-cleared woodland. 



A few years ago this spot was run over by the fire, and only a few 

 starved scorched ] slants remained, but the following Summer they 

 appeared again in great numbers, but very few fertile fronds in the large 



