40 FERNS OF KENTUCKY. 
PLATE VI. 
~ ADIANTUM PEDATUM. Linnzus. 
MAIDEN-HAIR FERN. 
The Maiden-hair is one of the most common ferns 
in our Kentucky woods, and is most luxuriant in damp, 
secluded nooks, where the direct rays of the sun seldom 
penetrate. There is no danger that the enthusiastic fern- 
collector will ever be able to exhaust the supply of this 
lovely plant in our woods, since it is so plentiful every 
where. The only regret seems to arise from the impossi- 
bility of conveying home but a few of the many examples 
of this woodland fairy. 
It has a creeping root-stock, sending up early in June a 
veil-like frond of branching leaflets. The upper edge of 
the leaflet is notched wherever the margin turns over to 
inclose the spore-cases. The stem is black and shining, 
dividing towards the top into two main branches. These 
are again divided, forming, when fully developed, a pedate, 
or somewhat horse-shoe-like frond. ‘This fern is very suita- 
ble for general cultivation in the Wardian case, in green- 
houses, or in mounds in the open air, if well sheltered from 
the sun. The Plate, on account of its small size, gives but 
an imperfect idea of what may be regarded as the loveliest 
of all our American ferns. Figure 2 shows part of a pin- 
nule of natural size; figure 3, a lobe of the pinnz, magni- 
fied and laid open (after Hooker and Bauer). 
