FERN FAMILY 47 



NET- VEINED CHAIN FERN. 



Woodwardia angustifolia ( W. areola fa). 



The sterile fronds of this fern, which are the 

 first to appear, are pinnatifid, with lanceolate 

 divisions united by a broad wing, which becomes 

 narrower at the base of the frond. The veining 

 is a beautiful system of net-work. 



It grows in tufts from a creeping rootstock, 

 and is found in swamps and wet woods usu- 

 ally near the coast. It is a rare fern north of 

 Massachusetts. 



The sterile fronds are one foot or more high, 

 and at first glance resemble the sterile fronds 

 of the Sensitive Fern. While both alike are 

 pinnatifid, the divisions in this are minutely 

 tootlicd, and it cannot be confused with the Sensi- 

 tive Fern if this difference is noted. Especially 

 will any doubt be dispelled when the fertile 

 fronds are seen. These appear in June, later 

 than the sterile fronds, and are quite unlike 

 them. They are several inches taller, with long, 

 heavy stipes, both the stipe and rachis black 

 and shining. The fronds are nearly pinnate, 

 with widely separate, narrowly linear divisions, 

 just wide enough to bear a single row of long, 

 chain-like fruit-dots each side of the secondary 

 midribs. These mature in August and Sep- 

 tember. 



