134 



THE WOOD FERNS. 



"The Marginal Shield Fern. 



In rocky wood- 

 lands, especially in 

 hilly country, the 

 marginal shield fern 

 (Aspidium marginale) 

 is a common and well- 

 known species. It de- 

 lights to nestle 

 among the buttressed 

 roots of large trees or 

 in crevices between 

 the rocks where a 

 light soil has accum- 

 ulated, putting up 

 its graceful circles of 

 fronds wherever it 

 can obtain a foot- 

 hold. 



This species has the heaviest rootstock of any of the 

 wood ferns. It is rather short, although occasionally ris- 

 ing a few inches above the earth and is densely clothed 

 at the crown with long chaffy brown scales. The half 

 dozen or more fronds are produced early in spring. They 

 are thick, almost leathery in texture and of a peculiar 

 dark, blue-green colour, lighter beneath. They are two 

 or three feet long with lanceolate twice pinnate blades, 

 at least below. The pinnae are lanceolate, broadest at 

 base, with numerous narrow, slightly falcate pinnules 

 which, especially in the lower part of large fronds, may 

 be again lobed or pinnatifid. The stipes are rather short 

 and densely chaffy. 



MARGINAL SHIELD FERN. Aspidium marginale. 



