CHAPTER IV. 



THE WOODSIAS. 



I. THE OBLONG WOODSIA. 



Woodsia ilvensis. 



T~) ARE as beautiful, and beautiful as rare, are 

 **^" the Woodsias. Tiny plants are they, seldom 

 reaching a greater length, from crown of root to 

 tip of frond, than four or five inches. A tufted 

 caudex, or root-stock, from which grow up in thick 

 clusters the delicate fronds. These have short, 

 scaly stems, are narrowly oblong, and somewhat 

 blunt-pointed, widest at the base, and gradually 

 tapering. On each side of the rachis is a row of 

 leaflets, somewhat egg-shaped, attached to the 

 rachis without the intervention of a stem ; at first 

 in opposite pairs, but ultimately, toward the point 

 of the frond, in alternation. These leaflets are 



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