THE MARSH FERN TRIBE. 123 



easy to confuse it 

 with its ally. In 

 fact, the single char- 

 acteristic of the re- 

 duced basal pinnae VENATION. 

 serves to distinguish 



this species from all the other members of its genus in 

 eastern America. 



The New York fern is found from Newfoundland 

 to North Carolina, Arkansas and Minnesota. It seldom 

 reaches a greater height than two feet and is one of our 

 most delicate woodland species. In the vicinity of New 

 York City it is very abundant and it grows luxuri- 

 antly on the wooded crests of the Palisades in New 

 Jersey. It is reported to occur also in the mountains of 

 Southern Asia. In California there is a species (Aspi- 

 dium Nevadense) which very closely resembles the New 

 York fern, even to the reduced pinnules at the base of 

 the frond. It has, however, a stout rootstock and the 

 fronds are produced in circular crowns. Our species is 

 easily cultivated. In some books it is called bear's-paw, 

 a name without apparent meaning. 



Aspidium Simulatum. 



Counting from the time of christening, Aspidium simu- 

 latum is our youngest fern. It has been known to science 

 for barely half a dozen years. When its discovery was 

 announced and the features in which it differs from other 

 ferns pointed out, those who had trampled it under 

 foot for years, supposing it to be merely a form of 

 Noveboracense or Thelypteris, were quite astonished, and 

 the wonder grew when it was subsequently found to be 



