FRAGRANT SHIELD FERN 



As^iaium fragrance (L.) Sw. 



A bMALL plant witn narro^v lanceolate compound 

 -^ -*- leaves, glandular and aromatic, most of tKem fertile. 

 Pinnae numerous, oblong, divided almost to the midrit into 

 several broad obtuse divisions whicK are usually tootlied. 

 Don Tew but large, tbe conspicuous indusia orbicular and per- 

 sistent, sometimes covering most of the under side of tbe 

 pinnae. Stems covered more or less tbickly -witb brown 

 scales, from a stout, scaly, rootstock. Leaves a fev^^ incbes 

 long, arising in a crown, evergreen, firm of texture, tbe old 

 leaves brown and persistent. 



1 bis mucb sougbt-after fern, once famous in tbe Dells, 

 has been almost exterminated, in spite of its love for almost 

 inaccessible places. It grows in crevices of ratber dry sbaded 

 perpendicular cliffs. 



PitiH- Thirl y-thi 



