126 THE MARSH FERN TRIBE. 
pinnules, lanceolate pinnae and simple veins. In 7he- 
lypteris the veins normally fork once. 
Aspidium stmulatum is at present known to grow in 
most of the New England States, New York, Penn- 
sylvania and Maryland. Its partiality to spruce and 
tamarack swamps is most pronounced. In the two locali- 
ties known for the fern in New York State, it grows in 
dark cedar swamps in company with I} vodwardia angus- 
zzfolta and an occasional marsh fern, It isa singular fact 
that it thrives best in spots too shady for Thelypteris to 
be fruitful, and in moisture too great for Noweboracense to 
be common. It is the opinion of many botanists that 
this species is nearly as widely distributed as the ferns it 
mimics but is not reported because confused with the 
others. There is a tendency in some sections to call this 
the Massachusetts shield fern. But since the fern is not 
confined to that State, and is common in localities far re- 
moved from New England, such a name is both unfortu- 
nate and misleading. Many suppose that this species 
was named szmu/atuim because of its resemblance to 
Noveboracense and Thelypteris. While this thought may 
have occurred to its 
AP YEG, describer, he writes 
; LA IIWUO SS that it was so named 
because it simulates 
j a narrow woodland 
VENATION. form of the lady 
fern (Athyrium filix-famina). Even the young col- 
lector, however, ought to be able to distinguish it 
from the latter. Our illustrations are from specimens 
collected by the author near Babylon, Long Island, 
The generic name, spideum is from the Greek and 
