FERN FAMILY 87 



the fronds seem fresher and more delicate, and 

 the pinnae are more fully developed, scarcely 

 appearing like the same species. 



The fruit-dots are large, near the margin, and 

 mature in June, often becoming confluent. The 

 indusium is minute, and fastened underneath 

 the fruit-dot. Its margin is divided into hair- 

 like segments, which are inflexed over the fruit. 

 It is inconspicuous and withers early. 



SMOOTH -WOODSIA. 



Woodsia glabella. 



Frond from two to five inches high, pinnate, 

 the pinnae roundish-ovate, with few, slightly 

 toothed lobes, — often not more than three. 

 The stipe is jointed near the base. 



This is a very delicate, rare little fern grow- 

 ing in tufts on moist, mossy rocks in the moun- 

 tains of northern New England. It closely 

 resembles another one of the same genus, W. 

 liypcrborca. But in this, the stipe is dark only 

 at the extreme base, where it also may be 

 slightly chaffy ; the rachis is green, and the 

 frond is smooth and delicate in texture. 



The fruit-dots are large and few, near the 

 margin of the lobes ; they mature in July. The 

 indusium is minute and membranous, with seg- 

 ments inflexed over the fruit-dots. 



