THE FERN BULLETIN 



VOL. XII. OCTOBER, 1904. No. 4 



THE FERN FLORA OF MONTANA. 



By T. J. FlTZPATRICK. 



The fern flora of Montana is not strikingly extensive and is 

 largely limited to the western half of the State, where the 

 forests and the mountains reach their maximum development. 

 The extensive plains of the eastern half of the State do not 

 present congenial habitats for ferns, which necessarily are absent 

 or nearly so. During the summer of 1902 the writer collected 

 at various stations in western Montana while a member of a 

 party of biologists from Chicago University. The results of 

 personal work, together with information derived from various 

 sources, make up the present paper, which is submitted for 

 the perusal of fern lovers. 



OPHIOGLOSSACEAE. 



Botrychium Virginianum Swartz. Rattlesnake Fern. This 

 eastern species was found to be frequent in rich woods in Flat- 

 head county during the months of July and August. The species 

 was also collected at Tiger Butte in 1886 by R. S. Williams. 



Botrychium lunaria L. Collected by R. S. Williams in the 

 vicinity of St. Mary's Lake. 



Botrychium Coulteri Underw. A plant apparently found only 

 in geyser basins. Collected in Gallatin county by Mrs. Peter 

 Koch. 



Botrychium occidental Underw. Collected by the writer 

 along Swan river by the road leading from Flathead Lake to 

 Swan Lake in Flathead county, Montana. Damp soil, woods, 

 growing with Gyrostachys stricta, the tubers of which were 

 found attached to the roots of this grapefern. In most of the 

 specimens collected two leaves were found ; the lower leaf aris- 

 ing immediately above the roots and sheathing the stem for a 

 distance of from two to four inches, the sheath discontinuing at 

 or near the surface of the ground. The upper leaf emanated 

 shortly below the middle of the plant. 



