FERA'S. 245 



pinnae, exclusive of the last few, which become confluent at the apex of 

 the frond. Though the stipe of this fern is very stout and upright, 

 it is easily broken and yields to the influence of weather, and later in 

 i"he season may be found bent and bruised, splitting into long strawy 

 threads. The stipe is of a pale colour, smooth and shining, not 

 channelled as in others of the tribe, where the strong nerves are more 

 apparent. 



This fern seems, like A. cristatuni, to grow most luxuriantly in 

 damp woods, Cedar swamps, and beside creeks in thickets. 



The young fronds of A. Goldianuiii are beautifully veined ; veins 

 and veinlets dark and finely waved. 



On the whole, though coarse, it is a grand and stately fern, 

 especially when the sori are perfectly ripe. It is a hardy species, but 

 the fronds wither down in the Autumn. 



Holly Fern. — Prickly Shield Fern. — Aspidiuin {Fo/ystic/iii>ii) 

 Lotichitis, (Swz. ) 



This is a somewhat coarse, robust fern of stiff upright figure, from 

 a densely, hard, chaffy root-stock. The young fronds lie closely rolled 

 up during the winter months, protected by the brown scaly covering, a 

 characteristic mark common to all -the hardy species of this order of 

 ferns — the Aspidres — many of which are of an evergreen habit, remaining 

 healthy and bright through the storms and snows of our Canadian 

 winters. The name Holly-Fern no doubt is derived from its dark green 

 colour and the rough spiny appearance of the fronds. The whole plant 

 is clothed from root to apex with pale, golden-brown pointed scales and 

 hairs, even the veins and mid-ribs are thus clothed in old strong-growing 

 plants. The stipe is short, thick, channelled, and clothed with coarse 

 broadly-ovate scales. The divisions of the pinn?e are auricled or lobed on 

 the upper side, somewhat hollowed or curved towards the centre, and 

 pointed at the apex of each one, sharply serrated and finely bristle-tipped ; 

 veins free, bearing the round, rather small fruit dots in a regular line, not 

 quite at the margin of the pinnule, and the fruit-bearing pinnse seem to be 

 confined to the upper portion of the frond. The pinna; on the lower 

 part of the frond diminish in size and extend nearly down to the root- 

 stock. Though not one of the most elegant of our native ferns, the 

 Holly-Fern is yet ornamental, from its fine dark-green colour, evergreen 

 habit and hardy nature, which makes it eligible for out-door culture in 

 artificial rock-work. The habitat of the Holly Fern is in the crevices of 

 rocks, and it is found abundantly at Owen Sound, in the same locality as 

 Scolopendmim vulgare. It is not so tall growing a plant as the 



