Polypodiinn Californicum yet remains to be noticed, a fern of 

 greater altitudinal range than any other of our region, extending 

 from sea level to at least 8,000 feet above it. A range so great 

 implies exactly reversed seasonal conditions at the upper and 

 lower extremes. Accordingly at the lower altitudes it vegetates 

 in Winter, starting up as soon as the soil is moistened by the first 

 rains, and as it has a good supply of nutriment stored up in its 

 thickened rhizomes, its growth is rapid and luxuriant. At its 

 upper limit, where it is a rare and diminutive plant, its growth is 

 made in Summer and its rest taken in Winter. 



San Bernardino, Cala. 



NOTES ON AMERICAN FERNS: L* 



By William R. Maxon, 



,OLYSTICHUM SCOPULINUM (D. C. Eaton.) {Aspidium 



aculeatum, var. scopulinum D. C. Eaton. Fern N. Am., 2: 



125, PI. LXII, fig. 8. 1880.) Rhizome stout, ascending, 

 roots cord-like; fronds variable in length, from 9 to 17 inches; 

 stipe 2 to 5 inches, densely chaffy at the base with both broad 

 and narrow bright-brown scales; lamina from 6 to 12 inches long, 

 decidedly narrow lanceolate or even linear, 1% to 2^ inches 

 broad, sub-coriaceous, the chaff largely deciduous from the 

 rachis; 'pinnae numerous, 7 to 15 lines long, 4 to 8 lines broad 

 at base, ovate, obtuse, the basal portion pinnately lobed, the 

 apical half serrate with pointed or aculeate teeth; pinnse usually 

 much reduced below; sori near the midvein; indusium peltate, 

 large, somewhat lobed and glabrous. * 



Although the proper disposition of the large number of forms 

 now included under Polystichwn aculeatum is indeed a perplexing 

 question, it appears to me that the so-called variety scopulintim, 

 described and figured by Professor Eaton, is clearly entitled to 

 specific rank. Its author considered it to be hardly nearer 

 aculeatum than 1o our North American form of P. mohrioides,\ 

 and in the light of the material accumulated since, it now appears 

 to stand about midway. Three specimens of this species are 

 contained in the Eaton Herbarium. Upon these, which, through 

 the courtesy of Professor A. W. Evans I have examined, and 

 upon the specimens in the Columbia and National Herbaria the 



* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Inst'n. 

 1-Eaton, Ferns N. Am., 2: 254. 1880. 



