148 The Ferx Lover's Cojipaxiox 



(6) Spixi'lose Shield Fern 



Aspidium ■'ipimdosum. Thelypteris spinulosa 



Dryopieris .tpinidbsa. Xcphroditim spinulbsum 



Stipes with a few pale brown deciduous scales. Fronds 

 one to two and one-half feet long, o^-ate-lanceolate, twice 

 jjinnate. Pinna' oblicjue to tlie rachis, the lower ones 

 broadly triangular, the upper ones elongated. Pinnules 

 on the inferior side of the pinna' often elongated, especially 

 the lower pair, the ])innule nearest the rachis being usually 

 the longest, at least in the lowest ])inna^ Pinnules ^•a^i- 

 ously cut into siiinulose-toothed segments. Indusiuni 

 smooth, without marginal glands. 



The common Euroiiean ty])e, but in this country far 

 less connnon than its ^"arieties. They all prefer rich, 

 damp woods, and because of their graceful outline and 

 spiny-toothed lolies are ^-ery attracti\"e. They can lie 

 transplanted without great difficulty, and the fern garden 

 depends upon them for its most effecti\e lacework. 



Var. iiilcniicdijim lias the scales of tlie stipe brown with 

 darker center. Fronds o\'ate-oblong, often tri])innate. 

 Pinna spreading, oblong-lanceolate. Pinnules pinnately 

 cleft, the oblong lobes spinulose-toothed at the apex. 

 ^Margin of the indusium denticulate and beset with minute, 

 stalked glands. In woods nearly everywhere — our most 

 common form, ^lillions of fronds of this variety are 

 gathered in our northern woods, placed in cold storage 

 and sent to florists to l^e used in decorations.* As long as 

 the roots are not disturbed the cro]) is renewed from year 



* //ort?'e»//Hrc reports tliat twcnfy-ri^^lil million fern leaves liave 

 l)een shipped From Bennington, \t.. in a single season; and ttiat 

 nearly -$10(1, (JOO were paid ont in wa^es. 



