grows near the roots of a tree. The crested fern (Aspid- 

 ium cristatum) , is sometimes found, its narrow, blue 

 green fronds rendering it unmistakable. It has habits 

 much the same as those of A. spinulosum, and in the most 

 secluded spot one may come upon this beautiful fern. I 

 have often thought there might be some other object than 

 the securing of shade in this love of some ferns for the 

 base of the trunks. Many love to grow on the roots of 

 trees, and often in transplanting ferns one can scarcely 

 extricate the rootstock of the fern from the roots of 

 other plants. They probably obtain moisture and some 

 nourishment in this way. Aspidium spinulosum and A. 

 cristatum are often found growing on decayed wood, and 

 especially love an old stump ; it may be that their nature 

 is in part saprophytic, that the decaying vegetation satis- 

 fies some need that they have. Visiting the woods in the 

 latter part of November, I found both species retaining 

 their color perfectly and looking entirely fresh. The 

 stipes were bent, however, and the fronds, for the most 

 part, reclined on the ground. Even under the snow, as 

 late as Christmas, these evergreen ferns keep their color. 



In less wooded spots, the grape fern (Botrychium 

 obliquum), lifts its two branches from" one stalk, the one 

 frond leafy and sterile, the other fertile and terminating 

 in the grape-like fruit. Here also is found B. Virginia- 

 num, or the rattlesnake fern, looking very like B. obli- 

 quum, but always distinct in the fall, from its absence of 

 fruit, which appears in the spring. 



The small trailing bladder fern, fond of wet woods, is 

 occasionally found and one woodland is productive of the 

 broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonopteris) . This 

 last species bears transplanting well, though were it more 

 trouble, the beautiful triangular fronds with decurrent 

 lower pinnae, would be worth it all. Fourteen species 

 of ferns in all, though none of them rare, from a region 

 thought to be unproductive of any fern, amply reward a 

 patient search. Lakeside, III. 



