THE LADY FERN AND ITS KIN. 



4 



iff 



N our latitudes the earth-lov- 

 ing spleenworts are all tall 

 and graceful plants with 

 very little in their bearing 

 to suggest a relationship 

 to the members of the 

 family that grow on rocks. 

 They are more like some 



of the wood ferns and no 



- 



doubt are frequently mis- 

 taken for them. A glance at the sori on mature fronds, 

 however, is quite sufficient to settle the question, since it 

 will show the Asplenioid character of the linear son. 

 These species have always been classed as Aspleniums in 

 America but owing to the fact that the indusia in some 

 are more or less curved on the side attached to the 

 frond and when young often appear to be nearly semi- 

 circular, it is now considered better to follow the British 

 practice and place them in the 



The Lady Fern. 



Our ideas as to which of the ferns is most abundant, 

 are likely to vary somewhat with the time of year and 

 the locality in which we may happen to be. In early 

 May, we are inclined to award the palm to the cinnamon 

 fern ; in July, to the bracken ; while a visit to some moist 



