I 



ASPIDIUM. 415 



A. (Polystichum) acrostichoides — Pol-ys'-tich-um ; ac-roa'-tich-o-i'-des 

 ( Acrostichura-like) , Swartz. 

 This hardy, exotic Fern, very dissimilar from all other known species, 

 is a native of North America, where it is found on the hillsides, most 

 generally in rocky places, from New Brunswick and Canada westward to 

 Wisconsin, and southward to Arkansas and Central Alabama. According 

 to Eaton, this handsome species has not been found wild anywhere except 

 in North America, where it is one of the most abundant Ferns known. The 

 popular name of "Christmas Fern," under which it is known all through 

 the United States, originates from the extensive use of its fine, glossy fronds 

 for the decoration of houses and churches at Christmas -time. From the end 



Fig. 57. Frond of Asp id 7 urn acrostichoides 

 (\ nat. size). 



of the rootstock or rhizome, which creeps just beneath the surface of the 

 soil for a distance of several inches, the fronds, which usually make their 

 appearance in early spring and remain fresh and green until the new growth 

 appears the next season, rise in a graceful crown. They are borne on 

 stipes (stalks) Gin. to Sin. long and nearly terete (cylindrical), being 

 slightly flattened on the anterior or upper side, of a bright green colour 

 on their upper part, becoming brownish towards the base ; these stalks are 

 also densely covered with large and small intermixed scales, of an equally 

 light brown colour. The leafy portion of the fronds, when fully developed, 

 is lft. to 2ft. long, and rarely as much as 5in. broad ; they are furnished 



