THE CHRISTMAS AND HOLLY FERNS. 



The variety incisum is frequently 

 found with the typical plants. It is 

 distinguished by the deeply toothed 

 pinnules and by the way in which the 

 sori are borne. These are not confined 

 entirely to the narrowed upper part of 

 the frond, but continue downward on 

 the tips of the other pinnae, growing 

 fewer in number toward the base. In 

 rich shady woods/one sometimes comes 

 upon another form which is here named 

 variety crispum. In this 

 there seems to be a super- 

 abundance of tissue in the 

 fronds and the pinnules are 

 beautifully crisped and ruf- 

 fled. It is by far the hand- 

 somest of the common forms 

 and does not lose its peculiar 

 characteristics under culti- 

 vation. Fronds are oc- 

 casionally found with 

 the pinnules again pin- 

 nate. 



Owing to the endur- 

 ing nature of the fronds, 

 they have been exten- 

 sively used in floral dec- 

 orations in recent years. Millions 

 of them are now used annually 

 in all our large cities. It is doubtless 

 from this use of its fronds during 

 the winter holidays that the plant 

 derives its name of Christmas fern. 



Polystichum acrostichoides incisum. 



