104 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
the base of the ^reen triang-Ie. The rattlesnake fern fruits 
in c.-' ~ - ' ^- • • ^^<'r and Octol>er another Bo- 
tr -iiatHm) appears. Its time 
u: ;ii all others but its much 
s! -rures and open w(X>ds wiil 
hi ; iiat the species makers have 
o; !ey have described a large 
n importance. Still another 
'1 !"= rn ( Phcgcpteris Dry- 
I delights in deep 
iiv like three tiny 
11 linder-side of the 
. ..L- - ..;.e . : ■■. . ~. .■ : I L be mistaken for 
cmy uf the odiers. In dryish \v<x>ds is another member of 
this family called the broad l)eech fern (P. hcxagonoptera) 
and on wet rocks may l>e found still another, the common 
l>eech fern [F. polypodundcs) . These two latter are not 
easily confused with any of the others, but they resemble 
each otlier so niticii tliat one mu-^t resort to the books to make 
sure of his identilication. 
All these common species are deciduous except the 
grape fern which keeps its one fleshy leaf until time for a 
new one to start. W'e do not lack for evergreen species 
among conamon fenis. however. One that every rambler 
in RKky w(»ilands has seen is the Christmas fern (Palysti- 
chmn acr as fich aides). Its fronds are dark green and 
leathery and a f^x>t or more long. The leaflets are eared 
on the upper side at base, and when the fruiting fronds 
appear tiie)- bear the fruit on tlie upper half of the frond 
which is abruptly narrowed ff-r the puqxose. Xo other 
si^ecies has tiiis peculiarity. While in the rocky wcxxls look 
for the pf>lyp<Kly {Polypndiitm vulgare). It is nearly 
certain to i>e present. Ex?unine the tc>ps of shaded ledges, 
tlie crests of b>uulers and other dryish sterile places. The 
