THE MARSH FERN TRIBE. 123 
casy to confuse it 
with its ally. In 
fact, the single char- 
acterisitic of the re- 
duced basal pinne 
serves to distinguish 
this species from all the other members of its genus in 
eastern America. 
The New York fern is found from Newfoundland 
to North Carolina, Arkansas and Minnesota. It seldom 
reaches a greater height than two feet and is one of our 
most delicate woodland species. In the vicinity of New 
York City it is very abundant and it grows luxuri- 
antly on the wooded crests of the Palisades in New 
Jersey. It is reported to occur also in the mountains of 
Southern Asia. In California there is a species (A spz- 
dium Nevadense) which very closely resembles the New 
York fern, even to the reduced pinnules at the base of 
the frond. It has, however, a stout rootstock and the 
fronds are produced in circular crowns. Our species is 
easily cultivated. In some books it is called bear’s-paw, 
aname without apparent meaning. 
VENATION. 
Aspidium Simulatum. 
Counting from the time of christening, Aspidiuim stmu- 
fatum is our youngest fern. It hasbeen known to science 
for barely half a dozen years. When its discovery was 
announced and the features in which it differs from other 
ferns pointed out, those who had trampled it under 
foot for years, supposing it to be merely a form of 
Noveboracense or Thelypteris, were quite astonished, and 
the wonder grew when it was subsequently found to be 
