FERN FAMILY 39 



The fern grows from one and one half to two 

 or more feet in height. It is somewhat leathery 

 in texture. 



It resembles the Spinulose Wood Fern, but is 

 darker, or blue-green in color, and the outline of 

 both fronds and pinnae is more pointed. 



The fruit-dots are near the margin, kidney- 

 shaped, and covered with leathery indusia. 



CHRISTMAS FERN. 



Aspidium acrostichoides {Polystichum acrostichoides). 



Frond pinnate, the pinnje somewhat scythe- 

 shaped, half-halberd-shaped at the base, serru- 

 late with appressed teeth. It is from six inches 

 to two feet high, thick, evergreen, and shining. 

 The stipes are chaffy. The mature fronds are 

 rather dark green in color and somewhat leathery 

 in texture, with pinnce from one to two inches 

 long, short-stalked, and usually alternate. 



This is a common fern, especially northward, 

 growing in woods, on hillsides, and in ravines. 

 It is much used for decorations at Christmas 

 time, whence its common name. 



The fertile fronds are taller than the sterile, 

 the fruiting pinnas, which are at the top and in- 

 clude about one third of the frond, being con- 

 tracted and smaller than the others. 



The fruit-dots are round, generally in two 

 rows near the midrib, and become confluent. 



