The Holly Fern 



mountain we examine carefully every cleft on its rocky 

 side in expectation of finding the Holly Fern. It is 

 one of the Shield Ferns, which are all included in the 

 genus Aspidium. The leathery and rigid fronds of this 

 fern, which are seldom more than i foot in height, spring 

 from a very thickly-tufted rootstock. They are simply 

 or once pinnate, and attached to very short leafstalks 

 covered with rust-coloured scales. The pinnae, which 

 are ovate in shape, have an ear-shaped lobe at their base 

 on the side nearest the tip of the frond. The bright, 

 glossy-green colour of the fronds and the spiny teeth 

 set all round the margins should be carefully noted, as 

 the fern may be readily identified by these features 

 alone. The only respect in which the fern can be said 

 to resemble holly, even remotely, is in the possession 

 of the spinous teeth just mentioned. 



Botanists refer to this fern as Aspidium Lonchitis. 

 Lonchitis is derived from a Greek word, lonche, a 

 "spear- " or "javelin-head," and the allusion is either 

 to the spines or to the general outline of the frond. 



Near the Holly Fern, on a shaded ledge of rock, we 

 note the Alpine Polypody. This fern bears a remark- 

 able likeness to some forms of the Lady Fern, for 

 which it may readily be mistaken, but the naked 

 circular sori have caused it to be included among the 

 Polypodies. The rootstock is thick, tufted, and scaly. 

 The leafstalks, which are about J foot long, are covered 

 with scales, especially towards the base. The fronds, 

 varying from I to 2 feet according to the altitude at 

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