230 THE BOULDER FERN. 



Occasionally it is slightly 

 narrowed below. It is 

 twice pinnate, the primary 

 pinnae being oblong-lanceo- 

 late and the secondary oblong- 

 ovate, deeply lobed and the lobes 

 again toothed. The stipes are a 

 shining chestnut-brown and about 

 half the length of the fronds. 



There is not much difference in 

 the appearance of fertile and ster- 

 ile fronds ; indeed the sori are so 

 inconspicuous that one has to 

 look rather closely to see them 

 at all and a magnifier is required 

 to satisfactorily make out their 

 parts. They are mostly situated 

 on the outer margins of the pin, 

 nules at the base of the segments. 

 The indusium is fixed under the spor- 

 angia and is held by a reflexed tooth 

 of the segment. Under a lens it 

 looks like a tiny green cup filled with 

 round spore-cases. The fronds are 

 minutely glandular-hairy and when 

 bruised in the hand give off a strong, 

 sweetish fragrance. The odour is 

 very noticeable in the drying plants. 

 During the haying season, whole 

 BOULDER counties in eastern Pennsylvania are 

 thoroughly perfumed by the fronds 



pilosiuscula. .. .< < 



cut with the hay. 

 Among its common names are 



