Lake MaxinMckee, Physical and Biological Survey 197 



The Ferns, Fern-Allies, and Seed-Bearing Plants 



In the systematic arrangement of the famiUes and species in 

 this annotated list of the Ferns, Fern-Allies, and Seed-bearing 

 Plants of the Lake Maxinkuckee region, we have followed the 

 second edition of Britton and Brown's "Illustrated Flora of the 

 Northern United States, Canada, and the British Possessions" 

 (New York, 1913). We have also endeavored to follow the same 

 work in the spelling, capitalization, and punctuation of the scien- 

 tific and vernacular names. This, however, has caused us much 

 embarrassment, as the "Illustrated Flora" is full of inconsistencies 

 and absurdities in all these matters. 



Although the aquatic species have been fully discussed in the 

 two preceding lists, it has been decided, for the sake of complete- 

 ness, to include them in the present chapter. 



Family 1. Ophioglossace^. Adder's-Tongue Family 

 1. ternate grape-fern 



BOTKYCHIUM OBLIQUUM Muhl. 



This fern is not common about Lake Maxinkuckee, and indeed, 

 does not appear to be particularly common anywhere within the 

 state. It is never found in patches, but usually occurs singly or 

 two or three individuals scattered here and there in' rather open 

 woods. Examples were found in moist woods near a small pond 

 on the east side some distance back from the lake. It was also 

 found growing in damp woods on the Zechiel farm south of the 

 lake. 



This fern is not often found in fruit in the vicinity of the lake. 

 It sends up from a short erect rootstock only one or two leaves, 

 which are thick and fleshy. The leaves do not die down in winter, 

 but take on a rich coppery-red or bronze tinge, a color assumed by 

 the great majority of our plants with thick persistent leaves (red 

 cedar, Lonicera, Galax, etc.) A microscopic section of the winter 

 leaf shows that the chloroplasts are the seat of the red color and 

 that the redness is probably due to the fact that the chlorophyl has 

 passed into a resting condition. 



All examples seen at the lake had entire rounded lobes and be- 

 long to the form known as B. obliquum. As found in some places 

 there is wide variation in the form of frond-segments, these in 

 some cases being cut up into finely dissected acute segments. Both 

 forms are found at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and both are common about 

 Washington, D. C. 



