THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



43 



In separating these two species, as in separating other 

 ferns that are much ahke, one must of course rely on smaller 

 differences than are taken into consideration in separating one 

 genus from another. Among the characteristics that are of 

 value in the present instance is the shape of the frond. In the 

 broad beech fern, this, as the name indicates, is rather wider 

 than long; in the other species, it is just the reverse. The pin- 



The Broad Beech Fern inhab'ts dryish woods. 



nae also, are inclined to be broader in the plant of shady woods, 

 and they are likely to be more deeply lobed, especially the 

 lowest pair. Both species have glandular hairs on the blade 

 which give to each species a characteristic odor. A skilled 

 student can almost separate the twO' by his sense of smell, but 

 the novice will have to attend to all the peculiarities here given 

 and may then have to go to the books for the technical descrip- 

 tions if still undecided. 



