150 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



FERNS OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY. 



By MINNIE REED, Argentine. 



During my three years in Wyandotte county I have made many botanical 

 excursions, and have always found some ferns. Indeed, ferns are very abun- 

 dant on the eastern boundary of Kansas, especially on the wooded hills and 

 bluffs near the Kansas and Missouri rivers. 



One can soon gather an armful of beautiful fronds of either the Cystop- 

 teris fragilis or Adiantum pedatum in their favorite haunts in this vicinity. 



The most common fern in Wyandotte county is Cystopteris fragilis, or 

 dainty fern, as it is commonly termed. It grows upon every hillside and in 

 every shaded ravine in the greatest luxuriance. I have often seen fronds of 

 this species from 12 to 18 inches high and in dense masses of considerable 

 area. It loves the wooded hillsides, especially the northern slopes, but it 

 is found on every hillside, even on the southern slopes, where the soil is 

 mellow and the leaf mold deep; yet it clings in the rocky crevices where 

 there is but little soil of any kind. 



This fern is well named Cystopteris fragilis, as it is very delicate in ap- 

 pearance, and for that reason is so much admired. Its dainty fronds furnish 

 just the right green for cut oflwers, and as it bears transplanting well it is 

 often cultivated in the garden. 



Cystopteris bulbifera is not so abundant; is, in fact, somewhat rare. I 

 have found but a few specimens that I was sure were this species. When the 

 bulblets are present on the fronds there can be no doubt, but in other ways 

 it resembles fragilis, and they are often found growing together; so for this 

 reason are occasionally confused. 



Adiantum pedatum, maidenhair fern, is perhaps next in abundance to 

 Cystopteris fragilis, though not nearly so common. However, one very fre- 

 quently finds a large mass of these graceful fronds. It is usually found in 

 very shady, damp places, as the rocky ledges of deep ravines, or the north 

 side of heavily wooded cliffs along a stream, and occasionally in an open 

 glade of the woods. This species often grows 12 or 18 inches high, with fine 

 large fronds spreading 12 to 15 inches. 



Pellaea atropurpurea, or leather fern, is found upon the bare limestone 

 or red boulders on eastern or northern bluffs or hillsides. It is usually shaded, 

 but sometimes entirely exposed. It grows close and flat upon the rocks 

 or in the crevices. The fronds are from three to eight inches long, but it is so 

 dry and dull looking that it is not very handsome in appearance, so is not 

 much sought after by amateurs, yet it is of course just as interesting to the 

 botanist. 



Camptosorus rhizophyllus, or walking fern, is less common than any of 

 those previously mentioned. I know of but two localities where this species 

 is found, and they are near Argentine. The specimens that I have in my 

 collection vary from two to four inches in height. This species also clings 

 to the rocky ledges of shady bluffs, usually on the east or north side. 



Onoclea sensibilis (oak leaf fern), is also somewhat rare in this region, 

 but I have been fortunate enough to find this beautiful fern in two localities, 

 where I collected fronds from 12 to 15 inches high. It loves deep shady 

 ravines, or heavy woods where the leaf mold is moist and deep. It is easily 



