BLECHNUM. 163 



often used in this country. The specific name Spicant 

 has, indeed, been used to distinguish this plant by nearly 

 all the older botanists, though they may have held con- 

 flicting views as to its genus, referring it, for example, 

 among others, to Osmimda, to Onoclea, to Acrostickum, 

 and to Asplenium. 



Blechnum Spicant, Both. 



The Common Hard Fern. (Plate XVI. fig. 2.) 



The common name of this species is very appropriate, 

 from the rigid harshness of its texture. It is one of the few 

 native kinds which produce two distinct-looking kinds 

 of frond — fertile and barren. The fertile ones have their 

 pinnae much narrowed, or contracted, as it is called, while 

 the fronds themselves are considerably taller than the 

 barren ones. These fronds grow in large tufts, and being 

 very gracefully disposed, the plant becomes one of the most 

 ornamental of our wild species during the summer season, 

 when its fronds are in a fresh state. Both kinds of fronds 

 are of a narrow lanceolate form ; the barren ones being only 

 deeply pinnatifid, while the fertile ones are pinnate ; but the 

 segments in both are long and narrow, like the teeth of a 

 comb. The barren fronds, which are from one-half to two- 



M 2 



