38 FERNS OF KENTUCKY. 
on which this fern is found is to the right on the low cliff 
fifty or sixty feet above and a hundred yards toward Green 
River. The rock is not in sight in the summer on account 
of the dense foliage. Another locality is about twenty miles 
to the west, on a branch of Nolin Creek, near the old Iron 
Furnace, where it covers a large rock. In this locality it 
has large fronds, and they are very full of fruit-dots.” 
A curious feature about this fern is its great tenacity to 
life, resembling, in this respect, the Se/agznella convoluta,.a 
plant allied to the lycopods. When dry the fronds are 
contracted and curled up, apparently utterly devoid of 
life; but the moment they are moistened they expand 
and become fresh and green again. Some specimens were 
sent to me from Perry County, Indiana, in February, which 
were all shriveled up and appeared to be dead. Upon 
moistening the moss about the roots the plants at once 
revived, and grew as luxuriantly as if upon their native 
trees. It has the same general appearance as the common 
Polypody, but is much smaller. The plant represented in 
the Plate is of natural size. 
On the stipe and back of the frond are situated a 
great number of scales, giving the plant a rusty appear- 
ance. The tissue of the scale has a loose, cellular struct- 
ure, resembling the indusium of some ferns. 
It is a well-marked species, and can be readily distin. 
guished. It is not easily cultivated in the Wardian case, 
but may be grown successfully with a little care. (Plate V., 
figure 2. Scale magnified.) 
