32 FERNS OF THE LAKE COUNTBY 



fare the fertile venule stops about midway across the 

 pinnule and the sorus is generally placed at or almost 

 close to the apex. The basal pinnules and the portion 

 rather below the middle of the frond should be taken 

 for examination. The upper parts of the fronds alone, 

 in these Polystichums, are useless for the purpose of 

 identification. 



COMMON AND PRICKLY SHIELD FERNS. 



The Soft Prickly Shield Fern is one of our most 

 graceful ferns, strong-growing and tufted-stemmed 

 sometimes forming great masses, the fronds lanceolate 

 and rising to the height of from two to five feet, lasting 

 through ordinary winters and in sheltered places re- 

 taining their verdure until the new fronds are produced, 

 the old fronds only gradually dying off as the new 

 ones become developed, in or about May. The stipes, 

 varying from a third to a fourth of the length of the 



