—79— 



from this down to those just peeping out of the ground. Well 

 formed pinnae were already present. The ravine where they 

 occur runs nearly north and south, and the ferns grow on both 

 sides on rocks with both east and west exposure. P. atropurpurea 

 grows on many ledges of the neighborhood. On these the 

 crosiers had just started, but so tiny as to be hidden in the 

 abundant tomenteum at the base of the tuft. They were yet 

 without color. Cystoptcris bulbifcra grows with the P. gracilis, 

 but there was no trace of green in it. The old steins hung limp 

 from the ledges. 

 Chicago. 



HELPS FOR THE BEGINNER. 



VII— The Wood Ferns. 



Not all the ferns that grow in woodlands are wood ferns 

 in the sense that the botanist uses the term. In his lexicon the 

 wood ferns are all members of one family which is dubbed Neph- 

 rodium, Dryoptcris, Aspidium or Lastrca according as the taste 

 of the individual varies. A great many Americans have been 

 brought up to call them Aspidiums, but now that it has been de- 

 cided that this term must go, Nephr odium vies with Dryoptcris 

 for the honor of representing this important family. Dryoptei is 

 undoubtedly has a clear title so far as priority is concerned, and 

 I might possibly use it if writing only for Americans ; but the 

 Fern Bulletin goes quite around the earth, and as custom has 

 made Nephr odium familiar in all parts of the globe, I think it 

 best to adopt the latter name. 



To find out whether your specimen is a wood fern or not, 

 look on the under side for the fruit dots. If these are roundish 

 and covered, when young, by a kidney-shaped or heart-shaped 

 indusium that is attached to the frond by the sinus, you may be 

 sure you have made no mistake. 



The nearest piece of woodland in eastern America will prob- 

 ably yield specimens of the marginal shield fern (N. marginale, 

 Fig. 2). It is easily known by the fact that it bears the large but- 

 ton-like fruit-dots close to the margin. In vigorous specimens 

 the pinnules are often lobed and when in fruit appear as in Fig. 



