44 FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES 



form a row of meshes along the midribs both of 

 the pinnse and segments, the outer ones being 

 free. 



This is a large, broad fern, from two to 

 three feet high, bearing some resemblance to 

 the Osmundas, especially to the Cinnamon 

 Fern. But in the Virginia Chain Fern the 

 fronds grow singly, — }iot in croivns, — from a 

 creeping root-stock six or eight feet in length. 

 The pinncE are also farther apart than in the 

 Osmundas, and narrowed a bit next to the 

 rachis. 



It is sometimes called the Bog Fern. Its 

 habitat is low places and swamps, often in 

 water, usually near the coast, but occasion- 

 ally it is found along the border of inland 

 ponds. 



The fertile and sterile fronds are very similar 

 in form and rather heavy in texture, pale green 

 and somewhat glossy, with smooth, long, dark 

 stipes. 



The fruit-dots are oblong, arranged in a 

 chain-like row along the midribs both of 

 the pinnas and lobes. They become confluent 

 and very heavy when mature in July and Au- 

 gust. 



The indusium is somewhat leathery, fixed by 

 its outer margin to a veinlet, and opening on 

 the side next to the midrib. 



