62 Ferns in Franklin County, Maine 



is occasional in dry woods. B. obliquum Muhl. is very 

 abundant, and variety dissectum (Spreng.) Clute is 

 not difficult to find. J5. ternatum (Thunb.) Sw., var. 

 intermedium D. C. Eaton is also very common, but 

 var. riitaefolium (A. Br.) D. C. Eaton is rare, and rather 

 indefinite. These leathery fronds are almost evergreen, 

 and in late fall it is very interesting to walk across 

 pastures and old fields, looking for the numerous varia- 

 tions in size and outline of the sterile fronds. The 

 other species, B. virginianum (L.) Sw. is common in 

 rich deciduous woods. 



In Equisetum there is abundance of E. arvense L., 

 E. sylvaticum L. and E. fluviatile L. Along the wooded 

 terraces of the river there is a great deal of the scouring 

 rush, E. hyemale L., var. affine (Engelm.) A. A. Eaton, 

 much prized in the olden time under its vernacular 

 name. E. scirpoides .Michx. is occasional in cold ever- 

 green woods, often near brooks. Until the past year I 

 had not found E. Morale Kiihlewcin. Then I found it in 

 wet gravel along the Sandy River at New Sharon, with 

 no fruit. 



Franklin County seems to be a paradise for Lycopod- 

 ium. L. lucidulum Michx. flourishes in rich woods, 

 L. inundatum L. in clayey fields and meadows. L. 

 annotinum L. likes dry woods, and on the summits of 

 the higher mountains there are several stations for the 

 almost prickly var. pungens Desv. L. clavatum L. and 

 var. megastachyon Fernald & Bissell flourish in the 

 upland pastures. L. obscurum L. and var. dendroideum 



% _ 



(Michx.) D. C. Eaton are also frequent in woods, pas- 

 tures, and old fields. L. sab i naefol i 1 1 m Willd. I first 

 found at Ft, Kent, in Aroostook County. When I 

 returned to Farminston I had the agreeable surprise 

 of finding several stations there, one of them five minutes' 

 walk from home. Other collectors have doubtless had 

 similar experiences. L. complanatum L. I have not 



