202 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



after the removal of timber has greatly changed original condi- 

 tions. A few plants grew at the edge of Zechiel's pond, and it was 

 fairly common about a pond on the east side of the lake, back of 

 Van Schoiack's and about a pond northeast of the lake. 



In sheltered locations this fern remains green all winter. It is 

 so uncommon that stumbling upon a clump in the winter is always 

 a pleasant surprise and in many parts of the country, it is, during 

 the winter, the daintiest thing out doors. The stem is very limber 

 and drooping so that it is not very good as a cut plant. It is doubt- 

 ful whether it would be satisfactory in parks or landscape gardens. 

 It harmonizes best with wild landscapes in great tracts. 



12. SPINULOSE SHIELD-FERN 



DRYOPTERIS SPINULOSA (Muell.) Kuntze 



A finely-cut, shy fern usually found in deep rich woodlands. A 

 few examples were found scattered through Farrar's woods. 



13. BROAD BEECH-FERN 



DRYOPTERIS HEXAGONOPTERA (Michx.) C. Chr. 



A rather common fern throughout the state in dry woods, under 

 trees and in leaf -mold. Not abundant at the lake; most of the 

 plants seen were on the east side. It was most common along 

 gulleys northeast of the lake. It does not grow in clumps but 

 usually is somewhat scattered, only a few fronds in a place. It is 

 one of our earliest plants to die down in autumn. At the end of the 

 growing season the leaves slowly fade to a creamy white before 

 losing their form. They are particularly attractive at this time, 

 and during all the summer have a faint pleasant fragrance. 



14. VIRGINIA CHAIN-FERN 



ANCHISTEA VIRGINICA (L.) Presl. 



This tall handsome fern is very abundant in Hawk's marsh, 

 where it grows in pure peat moss and forms a characteristic zone 

 outside of the sedge zone, overtopping the low heaths. It grew 

 also pretty abundantly along the east side of Lost Lake outlet in 

 Walley's woods, and bordered the islands and banks of the outlet 

 plain far down toward the Tippecanoe River. The fruit makes 

 interesting and attractive patterns on the back of the leaf. The 

 long stout rootstock with the bases of old fronds attached, often 

 persists along the surface of the ground after the ferns have disap- 

 peared, and much resembles the trunk of a tree-fern. 



