CROUP VI FE R T I LE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE 

 AND USUALLY SIMILAR ; FRUIT-DOTS ROUND 



lowest pair of pinnae, these being conspicuously 

 deflexed and turned forward. This peculiarity 

 gives it a decided individuality and renders it easy 

 of identification. 



The Long Beech Fern I have found growing 



a Portion of pinna 



alternately in company with the Oak Fern and the 

 Broad Beech Fern. It loves the damp woods, 

 clambering over the roots of trees or carpeting 

 thickly the hollows that lie between. 



50. BROAD BEECH FERN. HEXAGON BEECH FERN 



Phegopteris hexagonoptera 



Quebec to Florida, in dry woods and on hill-sides, with stalks 

 eight to eighteen inches long. 



Fronds. Triangular, as broad or broader than long, seven to 

 twelve inches broad, thin, slightly hairy, often finely glandular be- 

 neath, fragrant, once-pinnate ; pinna, the large, lowest ones broad- 

 est near the middle and cut nearly to the midrib into linear- 

 oblong, obtuse segments, the middle ones lance-shaped, tapering, 

 the upper ones oblong, obtuse, toothed or entire ; basal segments 

 of the pinnae forming a continuous, many-angled wing along the 

 main rachis ; fruit-dots round, small, near the margin ; mdusium, 

 none. 



In many ways this plant resembles its sister, the 



Beech Fern, but usually it is a larger plant, 

 1*8 



