The Fern Lover's Companion 147 



This fern lias heen tliought to be a hylirid between the 

 crested and spinulose ferns, ])ut is now regarded as distinct. 

 Like the crested fern its fertile fronds wither in autumn, 

 while its sterile blades remain green throughout the winter. 

 It differs from it, however, by being twice pinnate below, 

 and from the tyjMcal spinulose fern by its glandular indu- 

 sium; but from the intermediate variety it is more diffi- 

 cult to separate it, as that also has indusiate glands. The 

 collector needs to study authentic specimens and have in 

 mind the type, with its rather long, narrow blade as an 

 aid to the verbal description, and even then he will often 

 find it an interesting puzzle. Shaded swamps throughout 

 our area. 



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Aspidiuvi Boottii 



