406 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



Eaton further states that "in season, when the ponds are nearly dry, the 

 rootstock may be traced a long distance from the fronds " ; and jts illustrating 

 this remark he adds : " I have torn up a rootstock 10ft. long and over 6ft. 

 undecayed ; it is irregularly branched, soft and fleshy." The leaflets are 

 narrow-spear-shaped, 4in. to Gin. long, about lin. broad, and cut down nearly 



Fi^. 111. Pinna of Fertile Frond of Woodwardia virginica 

 (nat. size). 



to the rachis into broadly-oblong lobes of a pale green colour. The sori 

 (spore masses) are very conspicuous. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iii., p. 69. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 218. Eaton, Ferns of North America, 

 t. 52. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 45. 



