FERN FAMILY 23 



H. A. Purdie, and described Ijy G. E. Daven- 

 port in "Rhodora," February, 1904. 



It is much more finely divided than var. inter- 

 medimn, with the general outline of var. dila- 

 tatiini. The fronds are tripinnate throughout, 

 the pinnas somewhat triangular, with long, 

 tapering tips. 



The frond gradually narrows to a point from 

 below the middle. The pinnules on the lower 

 side of the basal pinna: are longer than those on 

 the upper, being sometimes two inches in length. 



The ultimate segments are narrow, often 

 stalked, and deeply cut into oblique divisions. 

 The stipe is channeled in front and is very 

 scaly, especially at the base. The main rachis 

 and also the secondary rachides or midribs of 

 the pinnas are chaffy and scaly throughout. 



The fern grows to the height of nearly three 

 feet. The fruit-dots do not appear on the apex 

 of the frond. 



The indusia are minutely glandular. 



BOOTT'S SHIELD FERN. 



AspidiiDii Boottii (Dryopteris Boottii'). 



Frond nearly twice pinnate, the lowest pin- 

 nae triangular-ovate, the upper, longer and nar- 

 rower ; pinnules broadly-oblong, obtuse, the 

 lower pinnatifid, the upper spiny-toothed. The 

 stipe is chaffy, especially at the base. 



