200 



THE FANTASIES OF FERNS 



again you may rely upon the leaf shape for iden- 

 tity rather than upon the tufted fruit -dots that 

 edge it. Mounted on a long, bare stem, the frond 

 begins abruptly at its full width, and then slopes 

 gradually to a top less slender than that of the New 

 York Fern. This Marsh Shield Fern is the com- 

 panion of Gentians, 1 Ladies' Tresses, and Turtle - 

 head, appearing to walk freely through places wher- 

 ever there is a hint of moisture, standing out boldly 

 on bog tussocks, climbing sturdily down the banks 

 of ditches, and persisting in growing cheerfully until 

 the season of hard frost, no matter how many 



1 See page 153. 



