The Ferns of Washington 45 



1. Lomaria spicant (L.) Desv. (Plate 16, f. 5, 6, 7.) 



Deer- Fern. 



(Struthiopteris spicant Weiss; Blechnum spicant Sm.) 



Leaves tufted, of two kinds, fertile longer than sterile; 

 petiole of sterile leaf comparatively short; its blade 1- 

 pmnate or pinnately lobed, coriaceous, linear to lanceo- 

 late, 8-24 inches long; leaflets oblique to mid-vein. 

 Petiole of fertile leaves long; leaflets of fertile leaves 

 narrower than sterile ones. Sori in a continuous band 

 next to mid-vein of fertile leaflet, covered until mature 

 by thin membranous indusium. — Alaska to California; 

 Europe; Asia. — Often grown in houses for decorative 

 purposes, because it withstands well the dry air and the 

 shade of such a habitat. Eaten by deer in the spring. 



9. WOODWARDIA. Chain Fern. 



Plants large. Sori oblong to linear, in a chain-like 

 row on each side of the mid-veins of the lobes of the 

 leaflets; indusium fastened by its outer margin, inner 

 side free and open. (Honor of T. J. Woodward, an 

 English botanist.) We have only the following species. 



1. Woodwardia spinulosa Mart. & Gal. (Plate 15, 

 f. 2. Plate 16, f. 3, 4.) 



Leaves 3-6 feet high; petiole long, stout; blade sub- 

 coriaeoous, oblong to ovate, 1 -pinnate; leaflets divided 

 nearly to mid-vein, acute; their lobes wavy at margin, 

 edged with fine spines; veins free from depressions to 

 margin. Sori placed in little depressions formed be- 

 tween and by the veins; indusium convex, — British 

 Columbia to California, Arizona and Mexico. 



10. CEROPTERIS. 



Leaves tufted. Sori along the veins, elongated; in- 

 dusium none. (Greek hem = wax, pie) is - fern; the back 



der.) We have only the following species. 



pow 



