92 BEAUTIFUL FERNS. 
the involucre consists almost entirely of the recurved herba- 
ceous margin, the proper whitish and delicately membranous 
involucre being nearly suppressed. 
The spores are sub-globose, amber-colored, faintly trivit- 
tate, and have a finely pustulated or granular surface. 
In respect to the narrow herbaceous involucre this fern 
comes nearest to Cheilanthes lanuginosa, of Nuttall, figured 
in “Ferns of North America.” It has, however, much larger 
fronds; and the copious, though narrow scales of the stalk, 
as well as the scales of the rachises, will readily distinguish it. 
It is among the Ferns which have been cultivated by 
Hon. J. Warren Merrill, though I am not informed what are 
its special needs in the way of soil, moisture, etc. 
