58 The Fern Lover's Compaxiox 



rarely found as far north as Virginia, wliere it meets, but 

 scarcely overlaps its sister fern. The medicinal j^roperties 

 of Adiantum pedatiim were earlier ascribed to the more 

 southern species, which is common in Great Britain, but, 

 like many another old remedy, "the syruj) of capillaire" is 

 long since defunct. 



3. Cliff Brakes. Pellaea 



Si)orangia borne on the upper part of the free veins 

 inside the margins, in dot-like masses, but may run 

 together, as in the continuous fruiting line of the bracken. 

 Indusium formed of the reflexed margins of the fertile 

 segments which are more or less membranous. (Pella?a. 

 from the Greek pcllox, meaning dusky, in allusion to the 

 dark stipes.) 



(1) Purple Cliff Brake. Pellcra airopurpiirea 



Stipes dark ])urple or reddish-brown, polished and 

 decidedly hairy and harsh to the touch, at least on one 

 side. Fronds coriaceous, pale, simply pinnate, or hipinnate 

 below; the divisions broadly linear or oldong, or the sterile 

 sometimes oval, chiefly entire, somewhat heart-shaped, or 

 else truncate at the stalked base, ^'eins about twice 

 forked. Basal scales extending into long, slender tips, 

 colorless or yellow. 



Another name is "the winter brake," as its fronds 

 remain green throughout the winter, especially in its more 

 southern ranges. It grows on rocky ledges with a prefer- 

 ence for limestone, and often in full sun. In large and 

 mature fronds its pinn;e are apt to be extremely irregular. 



