MAIDENHAIR 



Aaiantum peaatum L. 



STEM dark ckestnut, polisKed, often a foot or more in 

 length, forking at tne summit, tne brancnes curving 

 around almost at right angles to tke direction of tke stem, 

 bearing on one side oolong compound pinnae wnich decreases 

 in lengtK from the center, the entire leaf being thus somewhat 

 orbicular, a foot or more across. Largest pinnae six to ten 

 inches long, of nearly uniform -width, bearing from forty to 

 fifty pinnules alternately on slender stems. Pinnules tri- 

 angular-oblong, the upper margin cut and scalloped, the edges 

 reflexed to form the indusia of the oblong or crescent-shaped 

 son. Blades smooth, deep green. Rootstock large, dark 

 chaffy, much branched. 



This 13, perhaps, our most beautiful fern, and the fern 

 heft known. Its haunts are the deep rich woods which slope 

 up from the moist ravines; here it is very common, growing 

 m graceful open clusters. 



Page Fif/evn 



