BALL THE INDIGENOUS FERNS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 153 



Hab. Along main road from Margaret's Bay to Mahone Bay. 

 (Rev. E. H. Ball.) 



Var. recurvation. This variety is recognized by Moore, but 

 not named. It is very readily distinguished from the foremention- 

 ed varieties by the recurved, convex growth of the frond, the pinnae 

 and pinnules. 



Var. recurvation. It is frequently tinged with a brownish 

 colour, and is found in exposed places. Habs. — Woods of Mr. 

 Frank Marshall, Boylston, Guysboro County; road between Block- 

 house and Maitland, Lunenburg County ; the Parade, Mahone Bay, 

 Lunenburg County. (Rev. E.. H. Ball.) 



Var. dumetorum. This variety is chiefly characterized by its 

 dwarfish size. The fronds are less than 12 inches long, but abun- 

 dant in fruit, and when young glandulous all over from stripe to 

 apex, both on the upper and under surfaces. The indusium is 

 specially glandulous. The glands disappear from the face of the 

 frond first, remaining longest on the rachis and sub-rachis, the back 

 of the mid-veins and on the indusium. Habitat, near Bedford, 

 where it has been found by Peter Jack, Esq. These varieties are 

 all evergreen. 



Aspidium cristatum. (Swartz.) A common well known 

 swamp fern, though frequently found growing in much dryer spots. 



Aspidium filix-mas. (Swartz.) This fine fern so common in 

 Great Britain is but very rare in America. It has recently been 

 discovered by A. W. H, Lindsay, M. D., at Whycocomah, Cape 

 Breton. It is described in Gray's Manual. In Dr. Lawson's 

 Synopsis there is a double query put against its existence in 

 Canada, so that our neighbouring Island may be proud of having 

 this rare species of our Indigenous Ferns. 



Aspidium marginale. (Swartz.) This fern is very generally 

 distributed throughout the province, and is to be met with on most 

 rocky banks. It is specially abundant and of fine growth on 

 Pomquet Island, off Bayfield, Antigonishe County. As an indoor 

 winter evergreen it is much to be prized. 



Aspidium aero stichoides. (Swartz.) This fine evergreen fern is^ 

 to be found in all our forests of hardwood and elsewhere, being quite 



