FERN FAMILY 79 



fern from three to six inches high, and is found 

 at its best on shaded, moist, calcareous rocks 

 and chffs. 



The fertile fronds are more plentiful than the 

 sterile ones, and much more slender. They are 

 twice pinnate, with narrow divisions. The fruit 

 is at first dot-like on the margin of the pinnules, 

 becoming confluent laterally, forming a margi- 

 nal line with the edge of the pinnules reflexed 

 to form an indusium. ft matures in July and 

 August. 



LYGODIUM. Climbing Pern. 



The name is from the Greek liigodcs, flexible, 

 referring to the climbing stems. 



CLIMBING FERN. 



Lygodhim palinatiim. 



This species is well named as the fronds are 

 slender and twining, from one to three feet long, 

 bearing petioled and round-heart-shaped, pal- 

 mately lobed pinnules in alternate pairs. The 

 stipe and rachis are slender, smooth, and wiry. 

 The texture is thinly herbaceous, and the fern 

 with its curious leaflets and twining nature 

 bears little resemblance to the family. It is 

 the only fern with climbing stem found in the 

 United States. 



