FERNS OF THE WISSAHICKON 89 
and Andorra, and here, at Kieffer’s nursery, was born 
the celebrated Kieffer pear. Indeed, the whole region 
is so rich in botanical lore and treasure that it is difficult 
to pass its many charms. 
In the Wissahickon district, there are, so far as known 
to me, 38 varieties of ferns, which here, as elsewhere, 
frequent situations favorable to their growth, and are 
so generally distributed that one with confidence may 
go to a habitat and collect the fern he desires. In low 
grounds and along fences, Onoclea sensibilis is common, 
while the var. obtusilobata, its abnormal product, is 
infrequent, though not exceedingly rare. In damp 
places or in open woods appears Dicksonia pilosiuscula, 
and in deep, well drained mould Phegopteris hexagonop- 
tera is not uncommon. Common everywhere in_pro- 
tected dry places is Aspidium noveboracense and As- 
plenium ebeneum, while more rare is A. angustifoliwm. 
On ledges, on the under side of shelving rocks, and in 
caves, Asplenium Trichomanes is not uncommon. 
Along swampy rivulets is Aspidium Thelypteris and 
Athyrium thelypteroides. Nowhere in Maine did I see 
a more beautiful hill of Pteris aquilina than appears upon 
the east side of Creshiem Creek, near “‘Devil’s Pool.” 
Near the same place, also upon stone walls and upon 
rocks, appear Cystopteris fragilis, Woodsia obtusa—and, 
it is said, Woodsia ilvensis, although the latter I have not 
collected. Everywhere in Wissahickon woods upon 
micaceous rocks Polypodium vulgare is common, while 
upon steatitic rock in both upper and lower Wissahickon 
woods appears sparingly Camptosorus rhizophyllus. 
Also upon rocks, near Ridge Road, are, or were, Asplen- 
tum pinnatifidum, Pellaea atropurpurea, and Cheilanthes 
vestita. Here also has been collected Asplenium Ruta- 
muraria, but I have not been fortunate enough to collect 
it myself. A fern peculiar to the district grew near 
Allen’s Lane. This was Athyrium Filiz-femina. It 
