FERNS AND FERN ALLIES. 
91 
withered there is still no difficulty in naming the royal fern, for 
the large compound leaves are characteristic. With Clayton’s 
and the cinnamon ferns the case is different. The sterile leaves 
do appear to the unpracticed eye very similar. Continued ob¬ 
servations will soon reveal subtle differences and it will bring 
positive pleasure to the patient observer when these little points 
so arrange themselves in his mind that he at last sees them 
clearly and wonders that he ever could have missed them. 
The leaves in both species rise in a circle from a massive 
rootstock. Those of the cinnamon fern are more apt to be 
erect and to have the pinnae of the two sides somewhat in¬ 
clined toward each other. In Clayton’s fern — with all due 
respect for the memory of Dr. John Clayton, I wish Michaux’s 
name, interrupted fern,” might have been retained 
— the sterile leaves are inclined to droop backward, 
sometimes almost to lie on the ground and the pin¬ 
nae usually spread out in the same plane on both 
sides of the rachis or continuation of the leaf stalk. 
fig. 2. A peculiarity of the fertile leaves in this species is 
that after the spore bearing pinnae have withered they straighten 
up so strenuously that they bend over backward as if overcome 
with pride by reason of the successful accomplishment of their 
reproductive function. 
There is also a difference in the color and texture of the leaves. 
Those of the cinnamon fern are mostly thicker 
and more coriaceous (leathery) than those 
of the other, and to offset this the leaves of 
Clayton’s fern are so flattened and broadened 
out that they present a greater amount of sur¬ 
face to the light and air. In regard to color 
the difference is more easily seen then de¬ 
scribed. I fancy that the green of Clayton’s 
fern is of a slightly bluish and that of the cinnamon fern of 
a yellowish cast. There is also a difference produced by the 
fact that the leaves of the latter are glossy while those of the 
former are without lustre. The color of the royal fern, by the 
way, is decidedly bluish, 
fig. 3. 
