SUPPLEMENT. 



tures spores during the winter season. It belongs to a large family that 

 adapts itself to many climates and conditions. Kerner tells of poly- 

 pody leaves in a dark canon that grow five feet long. The golden- 

 back fern, Gynmnogramme tricing ularis, Kaulf., is widely distributed 

 in California, but the silver-back, which is merely the variety viscosa, 

 is limited to the, southern counties, being apparently better adapted to 

 dry habitats ; it is common on Catalina Island and in the mountains of 

 San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The most common maiden- 

 hair fern in the coast ranges is Adiantum emarginatum> Hook.; the 

 delicate Venus-hair, A. capillus-veneris, is found along waterfalls and 

 springy places in Southern California, and the fan-shaped frond of 

 A.pedatum is found occasionally in the south and rather commonly 

 farther north; the last species is common in our Eastern States, and in 

 cultivation here. The coffee fern, Pellcsa andromedcefolia, Fee. , and the 

 bird- foot fern, P. ornithopus. Hook., are widely distributed and hardy. 

 They often survive the summer without dying down, but their main 

 growth is during the winter season. The lace and woolly-back ferns, 

 various species of Cheilanthes and Notholcena, inhabit either dry 

 hillsides or high altitudes. The bracken, Pteris aquilina, Linn., is the 

 most widely distributed of all ferns ; it seems to be, even in our 

 climate, a summer rather than a winter plant ; so in Southern Cali- 

 fornia we find it in the canons, along streams, where it attains a con- 

 siderable height, or in pine woods in the mountains, where it is less 

 luxuriant. Woodwardia radicans, Smith., which is mirrored in the 

 pools of so many of our mountain streams, is a veritable tropical fern, 

 being also native to Peru, Abyssinia, India and Java. Every California 

 child should know this fern of ours, and in most localities it is probably 

 possible for the teacher to obtain cut leaves at least. This fern may 

 be successfully grown as a garden plant. One of the shield ferns, 

 Aspidium rigidum^ Swartz., or the variety argutum, Eaton, is com- 

 mon in well shaded places, and is sometimes so luxuriant that it is 

 mistaken for Woodwardia. Another shield fern, with simply pinnate 

 leaves, Aspidium munitum> Kaulf., No. 5, Fig. 28, is common in the 

 north and also in the higher altitudes in the south ; it is graceful and 

 very hardy, and is frequently seen in cultivation. The lady fern, 

 Asplenium felix-foemina, Bernh., is always a favorite ; it is not rare 

 in northern woods, but it is seldom found in Southern California. 



There are excellent reasons for encouraging children to become 

 acquainted with all available native ferns ; ferns are naturally attrac- 

 tive, and are very easily and satisfactorily preserved ; their habits are 

 marked and interesting, and their adaptations easily read. If the 

 order of the Reader has been followed, an. entire fern plant, such as 



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