ADDER'S-TONGUE FAMILY 123 



This fern grows in moist hollows in meadows 

 or woods, and sometimes in swamps. 



It is rare in northern New England and oc- 

 curs only occasionally in the southern part. 



The fertile portion is short-stalked, from two 

 to three pinnate, and matures in June or July. 



RATTLESNAKE PERN. 



Botrychhun Virginianum. 



This fern is the largest and most common one 

 of this genus. The -sterile portion is broadly 

 triangular and ternate, the three primary divi- 

 sions short-stalked, once or twice pinnate, then 

 pinnatifid ; the pinnules narrow, oblong and cut- 

 toothed toward the apex. 



It is pale green and thinly herbaceous, wilting 

 very quickly when picked. Another name for 

 it is Virginia Grape Fern. 



It grows in rich woods, preferring shade. The 

 stem or scape is from eight inches to one and 

 one half feet high, bearing the sessile, sterile 

 portion about half-way up, with the smaller com- 

 pound fruit-cluster at the summit. The fruit 

 matures rapidly, in June or July, more often in 

 June. It withers by midsummer. 



Forma gracilis is a reduced form of the Rat- 

 tlesnake Fern, considered by some to be an 

 immature state of that fern. 



