12 FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES 



The favorite habitat of several species of this 

 genus is woods. A number of the species are 

 evergreen and inchide some of our most beauti- 

 ful ferns. 



MARSH FERN. 



Aspidiimi Thclyptei'is (JDryoptcris Thclypteris). 



Frond pinnate, the pinnce horizontal or at 

 right angles to the rachis, and deeply cut into 

 segments which are oblong, obtuse, and entire, 

 or occasionally coarsely toothed, with the veins 

 mostly forked. 



This is a fern of delicate texture, found abun- 

 dantly in moist, open places, often growing two 

 feet or more high. It is sometimes called the 

 Meadow Fern. 



It bears some resemblance to both the 

 New York and Dodge's Ferns, — see the de- 

 scription of these ferns for the distinguishing 

 points of difference. Two features we will 

 mention here which may aid in its identifica- 

 tion. The stipe is smooth and iiuusually long, 

 and the pinna; are broadest next to the racltis. 



The young fronds are often sweet-scented, 

 — sometimes when fresh and under a hot 

 sun, but more often while drying after being 

 picked. 



The fertile fronds are sometimes paler when 

 young than the sterile, but grow darker with 

 age, and when fruited the pinnae recurve or 



