52 The Fekx Lover's Companion 



2. ^Iaidenhair. Adioniiim 



Ferns with much di^'ide(l leaves and short, iiiarfi'inal 

 sori home at the ends of free-forking veins, on the under 

 side of tlie reflexed and altered portion of the jiinnules, 

 which serves as an indusiiini. Stipes and branches of the 

 lea\es ^'ery slender and ])()lished. 



(Greek, unwetted, liecause drops of water roll off 

 without wetting the leaves.) 



(1) Common Maidenhair. Adiantum pcdaium 



A graceful fern of sluuly glen and rocky woodland, nine 

 to eighteen inches high, the black, shining stalks forked at 

 the to]) into two ec|ual, recurved branches, the pinna' all 

 springing from the up])er side. Pinnules triangular- 

 oblong, bearing short sori on their inwardly reflexed 

 margins which form the indusiimi. 





A Spray of ilaideuhair 



