94 THE WOODSIAS. 



petitors, for it elects to dwell in places where most others 

 cannot exist. It delights in the very crests of exposed 

 precipices, often growing in full sun. In the region 

 about Little Falls, N. J., it is an abundant and character- 

 istic species, growing in dense tufts on the rugged trap- 

 rock hillocks. A climb up the loose and crumbling 

 ledges is not without its adventures, but one feels fully 

 repaid for the scramble by the first 

 sight of the woolly little plants at 

 the top. 



It is a decidedly social little species 

 and is usually found with rootstocks 

 and fronds so matted and inter- 

 twined that it is difficult to decide 

 how much belongs to any one plant. 

 The rootstocks nestle in the shallow 

 crevices and produce fronds all sum- 

 mer. The young crosiers are cov- 

 ered with a dense coat of silvery- 

 white, hairlike scales and present an 

 attractive picture when unfolding 

 amidst the browns and dark greens 

 of mature fronds. Doubtless this 

 hairy covering is of service in pre- 

 venting too great evaporation dur- 

 ing the heat of summer. On old 

 fronds the upper surface is usually 

 little if at all hairy, but underneath, 



RUSTY WOODSIA they are so wooll y that the f ruit-dots 



woodsia iivensis. are almost concealed. At maturity 



this wool turns to a rusty brown and gives occasion for 

 the common name. 



