150 BALL THE INDIGENOUS FERNS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



Asplenium trichomanes. (Lin.) This evergreen, rare, and 

 graceful little fern which retreats to sheltered nooks in the rocks, if 

 it be kept for pot culture is indeed a pet to be admired and cared 

 for, and well worthy of the special favour of an ornamental glass 

 shade, by which means alone can it be successfully coaxed to live 

 and grow away from its native birthplace. For a constantly moist 

 atmosphere is essential to its existence. 



Habs. — Hartley water-fall, Pirate harbour, Strait of Canso, 1869 ; 

 and rocks on banks of Gold River, near Chester, Lunenburg, 1875, 

 (last 2 Rev. E. H. Ball) ; near Three Mile House, Halifax, (John 

 Sommers, M. D.) 



Asplenium thelypteroides. (Michaux.) Rather rare, being 

 only scarce even where local, though widely distributed over the 

 province. Though not remarkable for elegance of growth, the 

 fronds have a rich dark green colour which is well preserved in an 

 herbarium. 



Habitats — Windsor, (Professor How, D.C.L.) Halifax (A. W. 

 D. Lindsay, M. D.,) (Professor Sommers, M. D.) ; Pt. Dalhousie 

 (Prof. McKay, B. A.,) ; Port* Mulgrave commons high up, and 

 by a brook-side, Strait of Canso ; Broad Cove fall, and Atwater's, 

 fall, Boylston, Guysboro County ; by a brook near the church, 

 Rawdon, Hants County; (last 4 habs. Rev. E. H. Ball.) 



Asplenium filix-fozmina. (Bernhardt) Quite common and 

 widely distributed 1 throughout the province. 



Tribe Y. Aspldieje. 



Phegopteris polypodioides. (FCe.) It is rather to be regretted 

 that Dr. Gray has not given this fern its more usual name, which 

 is Polypodium phegopteris, in agreement with Moore and Dr. Law- 

 son. This fern also is common and very generally distributed. 



Phegopteris dryopteris. (Fee.) This too is usually grouped 

 with the genus Polypodium. Not one of the commonest of our ferns 

 though very generally distributed and to be met with in most local- 

 ities. Being small it can best be found in the spring when its 

 delicate and bright green colour renders it conspicuous, before it has 

 become dull and hidden by ranker vegetation. 



