260 



COMMON CANADIAN WILD PLANTS. 



3. PTE'RIS, L. Brake. Bracken. 

 P. aquili'na, L. stipe stout and erect. Frond large and 

 divided into 3 large spreading divisions at the summit of the 

 stipe, the. branches twice-pinnate, the pinnules margined 

 all round with the indusium. — Common in thickets and on 

 dry hillsides. 



1. VELIJE' A, Link. Cliff-beake. 



1. P. gra'eilis, Hook. Fronds 3-6 inches high, slender, 

 of few pinnae, the lower ones once- or twice-pinnatifid into 

 3-5 divisions, those of the fertile fronds narrower than those 

 of the sterile ones. Stipe polished, brownish, darker at the 

 base. — Shady limestone rocks ; not common. 



2. P. atropUFpu'rea, Link. Larger than the last, 6-15 

 inches high, the stipe dark-purple and shining. Frond 

 pale, once- or (below) twice-pinnate, the divisions broadly 

 linear or oblong (or the sterile sometimes oval), stalked at 

 the base. Stipes clustered. — Dry rocks. 



5. ASPLE'NIIIM, L. Spleenwoet. 

 * Indusium straight, attached to the upper side of the vein, 



1. A. Triehom'anes, L. A very delicate little fern grow- 

 ing in tufts on shaded cliffs; Fronds 3-6 inches long, linear 

 in outline, pinnate, the little pinnae oval and unequal-sided, 

 about \ of an inch long. The stipes thread-like, purplish- 

 brown and shining. This species is evergreen. 



2. A. vir'ide, Hudson. Resembling A. Triohomanes, but 

 less rigid, and the stipe brownish at base, becoming green 

 upwards. Pinnae roundish-ovate or ovate-rhomboid, short- 

 stalked, crenately toothed. — Shaded cliffs, Atl. Prov. chiefly. 



8. A. ebe'neum, Ait. Evergreen. Fronds 9-18 inches 

 high, upright, linear, oblanceolate in outline, fertile ones 

 much the taller, simply pinnate. Pinnae mostly alternate, 

 sessile, finely serrate, the base auricled on the upper or both 

 sides. Stipe and rhachis blackish-purple and shining. — 

 Rocky open woods, Ontario. 



4. A. thelypteroi'des, Michx. Not evergreen. Fronds 

 2-3 feet high, pinnate, the pinnae linear-lanceolate in outline. 



