The oak fern (Phegopteris Dryopteris) is the greenest of all green 

 things in early spring 



■'^■^^^ 



Appears much later, when the fresh green of other ferns is passing 

 The broad beech fern {Phegopteris hexagonoptera) 



The long beech fern {P. polypodioides) is another late comer. 

 Note the downwari! direction cf the lower pinnae. 



Pl^tr XII.— the oak and THE BEECH FERNS 



