THE MARSH FERN TRIBE. 11g 
The first fronds are always sterile. They 
are thin, lanceolate, broad at base and 
once pinnate, with the pinne set at right 
angles to the rachis. The latter are ob- 
long-linear, pointed and cut nearly to the 
midrib into many close, short, rather SORL 
rounded lobes. Bipinnate fronds with toothed or pinnat- 
ifid pinnules also occur. : 
It isnot until about the middle of July or later that the 
fertile fronds are produced. They are like the sterile in 
form, except that the pinnules are somewhat narrower 
and appear as if pointed, owing to the margins being re- 
flexed over the fruit when it is young. The sori are 
borne in a double row on each pinnule and are well on 
the way toward maturity when the frond unfurls. The 
indusium is kidney-shaped and soon withers. The spor- 
angia then spread out and often completely cover the 
under surface of the pinnule. Fronds midway between 
fertile and sterile also occur. In these the pinnules are 
flat and the less abundant sori are confined to the upper 
part of the frond and the tips of the lower pinne. 
In deep shade, the marsh fern grows tall and slender 
but fruits sparingly; in sun, the fruit is abundant but the 
fronds lose much of their beauty, becoming thicker, yel- 
lowish and with pinne strangely contorted. Both sorts 
of fronds are borne on long stipes, in some cases twice 
as long as the blades. The plant is commonly not fra- 
grant, though specimens have been reported that emitted 
an agreeable odour when drying. After the first sharp 
frost the fronds in exposed places wither, but in sheltered 
situations they remain green for a month or more longer. 
This species is frequently known as the lady fern—in- 
deed, its specific name signifies as much—but the real lady 
