88 FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES 



NORTHERN 'WOODSIA. 



Woodsia Jiyperborca ( W. alpind). 



Frond from two to six inches high, pinnate ; 

 pinnae triangular-ovate, obtuse, the lower ones 

 deeply cut into few, broad, and nearly entire 

 lobes. In this, as in the preceding two species, 

 the stipe is jointed. 



This is another small and rare species of this 

 genus, growing in tufts on moist cliffs and rocks 

 in the mountains of Vermont and Maine. Other 

 names for it are Alpine Woodsia and Flower- 

 cup Fern. 



It bears such a striking resemblance to 

 Smooth Woodsia that it may be very diffi- 

 cult for the novice to distinguish between 

 them. 



In Northern Woodsia, perhaps the most no- 

 ticeable point of difference is the color of the 

 stipe and racliis, which commences with a rich, 

 dark brown at the base of the stipe, gradually 

 shading to a light color at the upper end of the 

 rachis. Both the stipe and rachis are slightly 

 chaffy-hairy. The under surface of the frond is 

 also slightly hairy. 



The fruit-dots are large and somewhat scat- 

 tered ; they mature in July. The indusium is 

 the same as in W. Ilvensis. 



