HOLLY FERN. 6 1 



section Polystichum, and some authors, giving these sections 

 the value of generic distinction, have adopted the word Poly- 

 stichum in preference to Asp^d^^^m. One well-known living 

 author has gone so far as to use one name in the classification 

 tables of his " Introduction," and the other name in his descrip- 

 tive chapters ; yet he gives not a word of explanation that will 

 reconcile the discrepancy to his distracted readers, who may 

 imagine that he has omitted a genus from his classification and 

 another from his description. 



The name of the genus is founded on the Greek word aspis, 

 a shield, and has reference to the form of the indusium. 



Holly Fern (Aspidium lonehitis). 



Holly-fern is probably as good as any other name that could 

 be found for this species, but we dislike it because it is deceptive, 

 inasmuch that the resemblance to a holly-leaf suggested by it 

 does not exist. It is true that the teeth of the pinnae end in a 

 spiny point, which in a drawing may look hard and formidable, 

 but it is really soft. Barberry-fern would be a much more 

 happy name, except that Holly-fern is now a thoroughly well- 

 known title to thousands who have never seen the plant. And 

 so we let Holly-fern stand in this book for Aspidium lonchitis, 

 making this explanation solely that fern-hunters may not miss 

 the plant because they are looking for one whose fronds are like 

 a holly-branch. 



The Holly-fern is a rock-plant that does not appear to grow 

 naturally at a lower elevation than 1000 feet, and is usually 

 found between 2000 and 3000 feet. Its short, stout rootstock 

 is in a cleft of the rock, with long rootlets penetrating any cavity 

 or spreading over the moist surface. The simply pinnate 

 fronds often form a dense tuft, some quite erect, whilst others 

 are horizontal or drooping, as in our photograph of one of the 



