- 7 8- 



The stems are clustered around the basal internodes of an 

 abortive stem, and are really transformed branches. The typical 

 plant appears to be about a foot long, very slender, with sparse 

 short branches from basal internodes, naked above. From this 

 the shoots maybe %' in diameter with dense verticils of long 

 branches from the base. Usually found in cultivated fields. 

 Type European, seen only from British Columbia (Hill). 



4. Breve Milde. Stems 6-12' long, erect, internodes short- 

 ened, with fastigiate spreading branches. A dwarf form in dry 

 soil. 



5. Serotinum A. Br, Ordinary sterile stems bearing spikes. 

 Of two forms analogous to E. arvense campestre. a. Macros- 

 tachya Milde. Spikes of the same size and appearance as on the 

 normal fertile stems. Only two American specimens seen, both 

 from British Columbia, b. Microstachya Milde. With compara- 

 tively small spikes; a transformed sterile stem. I have seen no 

 American specimens of this. Moore (Handb. Brit. Ferns) says 

 this is caused by drouth and is most common in August. 



Besides the foregoing, there are many other European varie- 

 ties, inolndmgfrondescens, analogous to E. arvense irrigitum % 

 and prolifera y small spikes ending in sterile branch, 



[Owing to lack of sufficient material, distribution cannot be 

 made at once. Material for other papers is ready and it is now 

 hoped to continue these papers uninterrupted until they are 

 finished.] 



HE list of ferns found near my home is not, perhaps, so ex- 



tensive as some of those already given in The Fern Bulle- 



tin, but the pleasure derived from "Dorset Ferns" and 

 M Ferns of Scolopendrium Lake" leads me to believe it may not 

 be without interest to fern-lovers. My favorite ride is along a 

 road that for some distance follows the windings of a creek, 

 passes through three stretches of woodland, ending at a veritable 

 brook, and, although my botanical excursions have extended in 

 other directions, I find nearly all of our common ferns along this 

 road. 



FERNS OF SOUTHEASTERN OHIO. 



By Mrs Joseph D. Taylor. 



