I 
A MANUAL OF THE FERNS AND “FERN-ALLIES” OF 
GRINNELL AND VICINITY. 
HENRY S. CONARD 
The writer believes that for every floristic district of the State 
there should be a simple and convenient manual of the local flora. 
As a first attempt to meet this need, the following manual is pre- 
sented. The other vascular plants should be similarly covered. 
Each species herein is briefly described by means of its most 
obvious recognition characters. There follows in some cases a 
more technical description. We then give the habitat, the name of 
some locality in or near Grinnell, the distribution, and the month 
in which spores may be found. The notes inserted in various 
places are intended to offer interesting bits of information. The 
keys and descriptions are avowedly artificial and are intended for 
the use of beginners. They are especially adapted for use in the 
region designated, but they will be found applicable to most of 
the State. 
The names (excepting Pteridium) are as given in Gray’s Man- 
ual. Authorities for the names are therefore omitted. The lar- 
ger and more technical manuals should be consulted after the 
species have been identified by the aid of this little guide. Ac- 
knowledgment is made to the labors of many collectors whose 
records have made this compilation possible, and to several students 
who have tried out the keys and text. 
TRACHEATA Vascular Plants 
Plants with root, stem and leaf, containing tracheary tissue, 
that is, definite thick- walled water-conducting cells. The spore- 
producing stage is large and plainly seen, the gamete-producing 
stage being small or microscopic. Trees, shrubs and herbs. Fern 
plants and Seed plants. 
Series 1. Lycopsida: Herbs with small lvs., crowded in spiral 
order or whorled. No flowers or seeds. Spores borne in small 
cases one in the axil of a leaf, or few on the inner side of an. um- 
brella-shaped body, usually in crowded, conelike groups. 
Order 1 . Lycopodiaess 
Lvs. crowded in spiral order, sometimes appearing 4-ranked, 
