Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 201 



Among the plants that give grace to the woodland and charm 

 to the world, the Christmas Fern holds an eminent place. In many 

 places it is about the only plant that furnishes considerable masses 

 of green throughout the barren portions of the year, and the only 

 thing which furnishes both the greenness of summer and the grace 

 of fern. On account of its commonness, however, it is generally 

 much undervalued. 



In places where landscape gardening can be carried on on a 

 large scale, especially in the Zoological Park at Washington, D. C, 

 this plant is becoming much used in the planting of steep banks. 

 It is worthy of a place in city parks where there are either natural 

 or artificial terraces. It thrives very well in pot culture and is not 

 greatly inferior in appearance to the "Boston Fern." There also 

 frequently occur forms with cut-lobed pinnae, or even bi-pinnatifid 

 forms which yield considerable variety. 



9. NEW YORK FERN 



DRYOPTERIS NOVEBORACENSIS (L.) A. Gray 



One of the most abundant ferns of the region, growing plenti- 

 fully among grasses and sedges of the flat meadows and lake plains. 

 The fronds stand rigidly upright, the fertile appearing considerably 

 contracted after fruiting, due to the fact that the edges of the frond 

 roll up. Observed coming up finely in marshes May 11, 1901. The 

 spores ripen in August. It is the abundance of this fern upon the 

 peaty prairies that gives a pleasant fragrance to the wild prairie 

 hay. It was common on the flat west of Long Point. 



10. MARSH SHIELD-FERN 



DRYOPTERIS THELYPTERIS (L.) A. Gray 



Not so common as the preceding. Found growing in similar 

 situations and considerably resembling it in general appearance, 

 but distinguished by the fact that the lower-most pinnae are nearly 

 as long as the middle one. 



11. CRESTED SHIELD-FERN 



DRYOPTERIS CRISTATA (L.) A. Gray 



The Crested Shield-fern is not very common about Lake Max- 

 inkuckee, nor indeed, is it generally abundant in the state. It is 

 usually found about the edges of woodland ponds, in most cases 

 growing in the moss that skirts the roots of old trees or stumps, 

 or covers half sunken logs. It generally prefers deep woodlands, 

 but is quite persistent where once established, continuing to thrive 



