198 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



At Brookland, D. C., a clump of young plants was found, all 

 apparently offsprings of a single plant, and in all probability of a 

 mature individual found in their midst. The mature plant was of 

 the finely dissected form, and of the young (about nine in number) 

 two were finely dissected and the remainder round-lobed. 



The low habit of this plant makes it rather inconspicuous dur- 

 ing the spring and summer. At this time it cannot compete with 

 the tall-growing ferns as an ornamental plant, and will never per- 

 haps grace gardens made to please the popular eye, which demands 

 flaming azaleas and gorgeous hollyhocks and dazzling Poinsettias. 

 It has a distinct place, however, in adding to the beauty of the 

 world. Like the blossom of the last witch-hazel in autumn, or the 

 hood of the first skunk cabbage in spring, or the red and gray of 

 the lichen and the green of the saturated moss, it makes a ramble 

 in the sere and barren woods pregnant with the possibility of a 

 discovery, and full of hope of the occurrence of a real event. 



The plant yields to culture very well, and one planted in a city 

 dooryard flourished year after year without any especial care. Here 

 it passed unnoticed during the heydey of summertime, but later in 

 autumn when flowers were frosted and leaves were fallen and 

 brown, it was especially attractive ; the bright green of its summer 

 coloration being tinged with the edge of rose that later spread over 

 the whole leaf. 



The clump of little plants spoken of above, showing variation 

 in foliage-form, has been potted. Though most of them appear to 

 be thriving they are as yet too small to tell how they will succeed as 

 potted in clumps. It appears doubtful, however, whether they will 

 have the same charm as they exhibit in their native woodlands. 



Sometime, perhaps, our larger cities will have winter-parks, 

 where bittersweet and waxwork and fever-bush, clematis fuzz and 

 wild yam pods, and Christmas fern, and a dozen other things every 

 botanist can think of will show their best during the most cheerless 

 season; and then, in some little nook, the ternate grape-fern will 

 come to its own. 



2. RATTLESNAKE-FERN; VIRGINIA GRAPE-FERN 



BOTRYCHIUM VIRGINIANUM (L.) Sw. 



This species is considerably more abundant than the preceding 

 and is found scattered in rich shady woods, such as Farrar's and 

 Walley's. In leaf-texture and habit this plant is in marked con- 

 trast with the other. It fruits quite abundantly, and the thin leaf, 

 which withers very quickly upon being plucked, dies down early 



