248 FE/?.VS. 



fronds, year after year. Where it grows in shady spots, by river and 

 lake shores, the growth is rank, the texture coarse, and the colour a very 

 dark sombre-green. The sterile fronds are sometimes very large, occa- 

 sionally attaining to the length of two, or even three feet ; the horizontal 

 root-stock extends a considerable distance ; this last may be said to have 

 been the cradle of the undeveloped fronds, for years past. By dissect- 

 ing the rhizome the embryonic green frond can plainly be seen. Not only 

 can the process of preparation for the coming year's growth be seen in 

 the ferns, but the same thing is observable in the leaf-buds of the 

 deciduous trees and shrubs, where, as soon as the leaf begins to decay, 

 a new one is forming, ready to burst forth from its winter casing in the 

 ensuing season. 



In the occasional form found growing in low ground, which is 

 called var. ohtusilobata, and which has the pinnules extended as in other 

 ferns, instead of being rolled up in the usual berry-like manner, and where 

 the sori are much less abundantly produced, it can be seen that each 

 sorus is protected by a very thin hood-like indusium fixed at its lower 

 side. 



This form occurs in large beds of the normal fern not unfrequently, 

 but appears to be accidental. It is prolidbly an imperfect state of 

 the fertile frond. Several very pretty specimens of another abnormal 

 state of Onoclca scnsibilis occurred on the shore of Rice Lake. These 

 fronds were of small size, not more than six to eight inches in height, 

 and were distinctly bi-pinnate ; the rounded, blunt pinnules were 

 crenate, and each pinnule petioled. The veins were straight and 

 then forked, and being of a deeper colour than the leaves, gave 

 a beautiful variegated look to the frond. This was an intermediate state 

 between the normal form and the so-called var. obtKsilobata. I have 

 since met with several specimens of similar appearance, and one or two 

 of these shewed a few truit dots on the margin of the upper divisions, 

 which has induced me to conclude that by some accidental cause 

 the perfect fruition of the frond had been prevented. 



It is very gratifying to an amateur Botanist to imagine that he or 

 she has found a new species, or even been the means of establishing 

 the identity of a doubtful one ; but it is more to the advantage of the 

 science of Botany that one truth should be established, than many new 

 species added to the list of those already known. I think that the variations 

 in the appearance of Onoclea sensibilis, arising from the increasing age 

 of the plant, have led some persons to conclude that there are two or 

 more varieties. It would be presumptuous in one, with such limited 

 knowledge as I jjossess, to assert that there were no other i)ermanent 

 forms of this fern than one common one, but I know that every year 



