THE SPXEENWORTS. 
THE LADY FERN. 
Athyrium Tilix-jamina *— Roth. 
The genus Athyrium holds a place between the 
Aspidice (or Shield Ferns) and the Asplenice (or 
Spleenworts). Its generally elongated sori mark it, 
however, as belonging rather to the latter group, 
though there is a sufficient approach to the roundish 
kidney shape of Lastrea to account for its having been 
also attributed to the former. It is, nevertheless, not 
so like to Lastrea as to be mistaken for it, and is dis¬ 
tinguishable also from the other Aspleniums by its 
annual fronds and its herbaceous texture. 
The Lady Fern, so called because of the peculiar 
delicacy of its fronds contrasted with the masculine 
robustness of the Male Fern, growsjike that in plume- 
circlets or coronals from the caudex, which in winter, 
whether close to the ground or a few inches above it, 
* Polypodium Filix-foeinina ( Linnceiis), Aspidinm Filix- 
foemina, A splenium Filix-fosmina, Cystopteris Fdix-fcBmi ia. 
