64. ‘AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL 
Rootstock erect or ascending, the young growth surrounded by 
the bases of the old fronds; stipes usually 14 to 14 as long as the 
frond, rather densely scaly near the base, the scales usually pale 
brown, their cells readily visible under a handlens, about 6 times 
as long as broad; frond widest in the middle, tapering about equally 
both ways; well-developed indusia usually less than 1 mm. long 
and proportionally broad, ciliate with long, multicellula reilia; 
spores yellowish and sparsely papillate. Alaska to New Mexico 
and California. Two varieties. 
Athyrium Filix-femina (L.) Roth. 
Rootstock horizontal or somewhat oblique, the young growth 
at the end, in advance of the bases of the old fronds ; stipes pro- 
portionally longer; well-developed indusia usually 1 mm. or more 
in length, proportionally narrower. 
Rootstock oblique, densely covered with the bases of the 
old fronds, stipes up to 14 as long as the fronds, their scales 
usually dark brown, with cells 15 times as long as broad, not 
visible under a hand-lens; indusia (averaging 1.10.5 mm. 
toothed on the margin or with a few short, one-celled or rarely 
multicellular cilia; spores yellowish, smooth or sparsely papil- 
late.—Labrador to Manitoba, southward to southern New 
England, Pennsylvania, northern Missouri and the Black 
Hills. Probably also in eastern Asia. Six varieties and 
forms. 
Athyrium angustum (Willd.) Presl. 
Rootstock creeping, not densely covered with the bases 
of the old fronds; stipes about as long as the fronds, ree 
scales similar to those of A. Filix-femina, but usually few; 
frond widest near the base; indusia (averaging 1.30.45 mm.) 
glandular-ciliate; spores blackish, reticulate or wrinkled.— 
Florida to Texas, north to Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and along 
the Atlantic coast to eastern Massachusetts. One variety: 
Athyrium asplenioides (Michx.) Desv- 
Professor Butters’s treatment of this complicated 
group seems to the present reviewer altogether W ork- 
manlike and convincing, the more so beeause the ranges 
of his three species fall into agreement with what are 
coming to be recognized as laws of plant distribution. 
The plant of Europe, skipping eastern North Americ# 
and re-appearing in the Northwest; the plant of north- 
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