72 



OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES 



stipe; the method of cutting of the frond and the character ot 

 its surface; the method of veining; the position of the fruit 

 clusters on the frond and veins, and the peculiar form of the 

 indusium, if present. The sporangia and spores are best 

 studied with a microscope, yet the shape of the sporangia and 

 the character of the ring can be determined with a strong lens. 

 15 1. Tlie characters of the Maidenhair can be summed up 

 as follows : 



1 52. We are now prepared to determine the specific name, 

 and for this purpose will turn to the "Artificial Synopsis of 

 Orders" (p. 75), where we read the statements under A, with 

 the first of which our plant agrees ; then to B as directed, where 

 we find it agrees with the third statement ; then to C, where we 

 determine the Order to which our plant belongs. After having 

 determined the plant to be a member of the order Filices, we 

 proceed to the "Artificial Synopsis of Genera" (p. 8o\ 

 Reading the two statements under A we find our plant agrees 

 with the first, bearing the sporangia at the margin of a leafy 

 frond, so we proceed to B as indicated at the right-hand mar- 



