ASPIDIUM MUNITUM. CHAMISSO's SHIELD-FERN. 16'' 



of flowering plants and many other ferns, before enjoying a 

 study of its beautiful form, for like its Eastern relative it is ever- 

 green and furnishes material in excellent condition for examina- 

 tion all through the winter season, and while yet, as Lowell 

 would say, there are 



" Low stirrings in the leaves, before the wind 

 Wakes all the green strings of the forest lyre." 



In the correspondence of our botanical friends are many 

 references to this beautiful fern which will give a fair idea of 

 how it behaves when it is at home. In a letter from Dr. C. C. 

 Parry, of Davenport, Iowa, who collected in California, we find 

 '• In the shade of Pine woods grow robust clumps of Aspidumi 

 munitwn. In these situations it attains its greatest perfection. 

 It is much in habit like the Eastern A. acrostichoides, and like 

 that an evergreen when slighdy protected by snow. It is very 

 firm in its texture, and when, as they generally are, abundantly 

 invested with fruit dots, they have a particularly rich appearance." 



Dr. C. L. Andrews, of Santa Cruz, writes: "In moist, shady 

 places of our section of country, we find Aspidium munitum 

 usually in company with Aspidium argutum and Ptejds aquilcna. 

 Sometimes it will find itself where some litde stream trickles 

 down a gulch under the shade of the Red-wood {Sequoia sanpcr- 

 vircns), when it is of surpassing luxuriance, often three to four 

 feet high, almost rivalling the Woodwardia of our coast in size. 

 It will not live long after it finds itself in open spots, nor does it 

 choose level places unless well sheltered and moist. When the 

 atmospheric conditions suit, it is not pardcular about the soil, for 

 it is found clinging to rocks and thriving in poor gravelly places. 

 Moisture and a place to cling to it evidendy regards as es- 

 sentials." 



Again, Dr. W. A. T. Stratton, of Petaluma, on April 12th, 1879, 

 says : " Some of our ferns grow to a great size here. Some 

 years ago I came on a group of Aspidium munitum and Wood- 

 wardia radicans in a deep ravine in Morin county, beneath 



