THE FANTASIES OF FERNS 1 93 



Cinnamon Fern carries its fertility wholly on 

 separate spikes, green and woolly at first, then 

 taking a cinnamon hue after the spores have been 

 shed. This tint both supplies the plant's name 

 and gives a warm color to the masses of coarse 

 green fronds that, springing in crowns from a vig- 

 orous, deep -set rootstock, often take possession of 

 entire swamp meadows in such numbers that they 

 are mown down in late August, together with the 

 coarse grass, for cattle bedding. 



Regalis, the Royal Fern, is more dainty and 

 clear-cut of leaf than the other two, and loves the 

 water. Here down upon the river edge it is now 

 growing in fresh luxuriance, the outer fronds dip- 

 ping in the stream that mirrors them. The fertile 

 leaflets are on the top of some of the much -di- 

 vided fronds. At first they are green; then, when 

 the spores are shed, they turn first snuff -colored, 

 then dark brown, and finally wither away, so that 

 its greenery of late Summer is due to the wholly 

 sterile fronds that are constantly replacing old or 

 shabby growths. 



Delicate as even the stoutest Ferns appear to 

 be, they have a wonderful persistency about them. 

 Lovers of shade and moisture, when once well 

 rooted, they will remain in a haunt after the shel- 



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