THE CHRISTMAS AND HOLLY FERNS. 109 



Christmas fern. Half the appropriateness of the name 

 would be lost if the plant dropped its fronds at the 

 beginning of winter. Its name, however, was not given 

 because of its presence during the holiday season, but 

 because the pinnules are set with bristle-tipped teeth 

 which gives them a considerable resemblance to holly 

 leaves. That it loves the cold, is shown by its range 

 which extends over the northern parts of both Hemis- 

 pheres. In America, its southern limits are nearly 

 identical with the northern limits of the Christmas fern, 

 as if Nature had assured herself that there should be 

 nb rivalry, by keeping separate two species so nearly 

 alike. 



The holly fern is rather smaller than the Christmas 

 fern but in many ways suggests the relationship. Like it, 

 the fronds are narrow, lanceolate, once pinnate with 

 eared pinnules, and grow in circular clumps. They differ, 

 however, in the shorter, broader and scythe-shaped 

 pinnules, in the basal ones being reduced to small green 

 triangles and in producing sori on the backs of ordinary 

 fronds. The pinnules are often so closely set as to over- 

 lap and the margins are sharply toothed. The stipes 

 are also shorter. The sori are confined to the upper 

 part of the frond and are arranged on the pinnules in 

 two rows midway between the margin and the midrib, 

 and also on the eared bases. 



This species is found in most of British America, being 

 rarest in the Southeast. It does not occur in the Eastern 

 United States but is found sparingly in Wisconsin, and 

 in the West extends as far south as Utah and California. 

 It is a lover of the rocks, its favourite dwelling place 

 being the talus of broken stone at the base of shaded 

 cliffs. 



