GOLDIE'S SHIELD FERN 



By Adella Prescott. 



THE lirst sight I had of Goldie's shield fern ( Xcplirodiuui 

 Goldieajiui) fihed me with envy and despair — envy be- 

 cause it greAv by the house of a stranger and despair because it 

 was so beautiful that I thought it must be rare and rare things 

 do not often come my way. I watched it for Aveeks Avith long- 

 ing eyes but having the set of the little linger Avhich palmists 

 say indicates a lack of push. I got no nearer than the sidewalk 

 until the family Avent away for a vacation and closed the house. 

 Then I trespassed boldly, examined the fern often, and Avhen 

 the sori appeared it Avas easily identified. Later I found some 

 fine specimens groAving Avith their best-loved friend, the 

 narrOAv-leaA^ed spleemvort, in a near-by Avood. 



Of all cur native ferns. I think Goldie's is easily the most 

 beautiful if one excepts the royal fern and his other faA'orites I 

 It is large enough to be stately, but it is never coarse as our 

 other large ferns are likely to be. \Miether growing singly 

 or in clumps, it is always graceful, while its peculiar coloring 

 gives it an added charm. It is one of our tallest ferns, often 

 reaching three feet in height, Avhile an extra fine specimen may 

 add scA'eral inches more to its stature and the ovate fronds may 

 be ten or tAveh'e inches Avide. ThcA' are nearly twice pinnate 

 and the coloring is very noticeable, especially in the young 

 fronds, being a deep blue-green at the center shading lighter 

 at the edges and tips of the pinnules. 



The fern groAvs from a creeping rootstalk but the fronds 

 often are so close together as to suggest a crown. The fertile 



