FERN FAMILY 75 



general to all of our larger species ; hence this 

 fern being large receives its true name, while 

 the others suffer. It is also sometimes known 

 as the Eagle Fern. 



The fronds grow singly from a creeping root- 

 stock which is often twenty feet or more in 

 length. They are leathery in texture, very dull 

 green and of coarse appearance when mature 

 and growing in exposed situations ; they would 

 scarcely be recognized as the same species, ex- 

 cepting by the form, when found in the shade, 

 where the color is fresh and the texture more 

 delicate. New fronds are produced all summer. 



The fruit is borne in a continuous line along 

 the margins of the pinnules which are reflexed 

 to form an indusium. It matures in August. 



PBLL^A. Cliff Brake. 



The name is from the Greek pellos, dusky, 

 referring to the stipe. This group was formerly 

 classed with the genus Pteris. 



PURPLE CLIFF BRAKE, 



PellLBa alropui-purca. 



The fronds are quite irregular in form, some- 

 times simply pinnate, or twice pinnate below, 

 the upper pinnae long, narrow, and entire, the 

 lower often consisting of from one to three 



