134 THE WOOD FERNS. 
The Marginal Shield Fern, 
In rocky wood- 
lands, especially in 
hilly country, the 
marginal shield fern 
(al spidium marginale) 
isa commonand well- 
known species. It de- 
lights to nestle 
among the buttressed 
roots of large trees or 
in crevices between 
the rocks where a 
light soil has accum- 
ulated, putting up 
EE ERLE ype? its graceful circles of 
CP ois ex fronds wherever it 
can obtain a_ foot- 
MARGINAL SHIELD FERN. Aspidium marginale. old 
nold. 
This species has the heaviest rootstock of any of the 
wood ferns. It is rather short, although occasionally ris- 
ing a few inches above the earth and is densely clothed 
at the crown with long chaffy brown scales. The half 
dozen or more fronds are produced early in spring. They 
are thick, almost leathery in texture and of a peculiar 
dark, blue-green colour, lighter beneath. They are two 
or three feet long with lanceolate twice pinnate blades, 
at least below. The pinne are lanceolate, broadest at 
base, with numerous narrow, slightly falcate pinnules 
which, especially in the lower part of large fronds, may 
be again lobed or pinnatifid. The stipes are rather short 
and denscly chaffy. 
