THE FERN BULLETIN 



21 



about also by the necessity for economizing space 

 when several fronds grow in a tuft. 



Full grown specimens of this fern may reach a 

 height of three feet though the majority are somewhat 

 shorter. The number of ear-like pinnae varies, but 

 the ears are always more numerous than those pinnae 

 that are of the more conventional pattern. The whole 

 frond is rather stiff and leathery as are those of most 

 terrestrial species which grow in the dryish woodlands 

 in the tropics. The particular specimen from which 

 our illustration was made was collected by the writer at 

 Moore Town in the island of Jamaica where it was 

 fairly common in woods and thickets. 



THE OSMUNDAS 



BY ADELLA PRESCOTT. 



The Osmundas on account of their large size are 

 are among the most noticeable of our ferns. In their 

 native haunts they have a stateliness and grace that is 

 not exceeded by any of our other species, but those 

 who are tempted by these considerations to remove 

 them for the decoration of their house grounds are 

 likely to be sadly disappointed. While they will live in. 

 almost any location they thrive only where there is 

 an abundance of moisture and in the dry soil sur- 

 rounding most houses make but a dwarfed and 

 stunted growth. 



This is especially true of the cinnamon and royal 

 ferns which reach their greatest perfection in swamps 

 or beside sluggish streams ; the interrupted fern grows 

 on dryer soil and will develop very well where the 

 others make but a poor showing. 



The collector really deserves better success than he 

 is apt to get, for the digging of these deeply rooted 



