ASPIDIUM NEVADENSE. SIERRA NEVADA SHIELD-FERN. I3I 



Then the fronds are much narrower, being generally not more 

 than one-tenth of the length. In these and other respects 

 however it is probable the species will exhibit the variations so 

 often found in ferns. Our plant differs in some respects from 

 the one illustrated by Professor Eaton. Though his description 

 calls for "a few of the lower veins forked," the drawing has the 

 upper and lower ones in this condition. We find no tendency 

 to forking in the veins of our specimen. The venation or 

 arrangement of the veins is very pretty in this species. The 

 lower veinlets are nearly opposite and give a palmately branched 

 appearance. In most ferns the arrangement is usually alternate. 

 Like the " New York fern " this species appears to be decid- 

 uous. In the specimen illustrated the barren frond has already 

 faded, and the fertile one is preparing to follow. Our specimen 

 is undersized to accommodate our page, and hence only a few 

 of the upper pinnules are fruitful. 



A very interesting circumstance in connection with the life- 

 history of the species is given in Professor Eaton's work from a 

 letter of Mrs. Austen. She says that the divisions of the pinnae 

 of the fruiting frond are closed or folded together early in the 

 day. In the cool of the morning they were unfit for the botan- 

 ical press from this peculiarity. About two or three o'clock of 

 the same day she found them flat and in excellent condition for 

 the collector's purposes. Professor Eaton remarks that Mrs. 

 Austen had found on subsequent occasions the same phenom- 

 enon, but was unable to say whether it was brought about by 

 alternations of "light or darkness, dampness or dryness, or heat 

 or cold." 



With the rapid development of our railroad system, and the 

 increased facilities for travelling, it will not be long before many 

 of our readers will be able to make the acquaintance of this 

 pretty fern in its natural home as well as by the aid of Mr. Lun- 

 zer's admirable drawing. In the meantime they will be anxious 

 to cultivate it, and no doubt before long it will be offered for 

 sale in the catalogues of some of our enterprising fern-florists. 



