Ferns and Fern Allies 



The two kinds of leaves of this pale green alpine fern are 

 very distinct, the segments of the sterile ones being more 

 cut and much broader than those of the fertile ones, which 

 latter have almost straight margins that are rolled into the 

 centre when the plant is young, and flatten out as it matures, 

 exposing the light brown spore cases with which these fer- 

 tile leaves are covered. The Nootka Rock Brake was first 

 found by Dr. Archibald Menzies when he came to Van- 

 couver Island with Captain Vancouver in 1790. 



Cryptogramma Stelleri, or Slender Rock Brake, has a 

 thread-like creeping root, from which the scattered stems 

 grow up at close intervals. 



GREEN SPLEENWORT 



Asplenium viride. Fern Family 



Rootstock: stout, creeping, chaffy. Stems: numerous, densely tufted, 

 brownish below, greenish above. Leaves: linear-lanceolate, herbaceous; 

 pinnae ovate, deeply crenate, unequal sided. Sori: oblong, numerous. 



The ancient Greek name of this fern has reference to the 

 fact that it was supposed to be a remedy for certain diseases 

 of the spleen. The leaves are pale green and soft, the upper 

 edges of the pinnae narrowing suddenly at the base, the 

 lower ones being obliquely truncate, that is having the ap- 

 pearance of being cut off at the top. 



Asplenium cyclosorum, or Large Lady Fern, has much 

 bigger and more flaccid leaves than the Green Spleenwort. 

 It is frequently confused with Asplenium Filix-jccmina, 

 the true Lady Fern, from which, however, it is really quite 

 distinct, the covering of the fruit dots being differently 

 curved. Filix-fcemina does not occur in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. Of all the ferns which have inspired poets, probably 

 the Lady Fern takes first place, and though the following 



