1 SHORT-LEAVED QUILLWORT (I. muricata Pur.) 
(=I_. echinospora = I_. braunii ) 
This and the next species are supposed to prefer 
acid waters. In our experience, I_. muricata tends to 
be paler green and have longer, straighter quills than 
the next species. This species is quite common through¬ 
out the Great Lakes area and supposedly shows a prefer¬ 
ence for ponds and lakes. 
It seems to be quite common in shallow shore- 
waters of Gatineau Park lakes (e.g. Lac Philippe, 
Harrington and Meach Lakes). 
2 RIVERBANK QUILLWORT (I. riparia Engelm.) 
See discussion of I_. muricata . This species 
apparently prefers sea, river, and stream shores, a 
trend somewhat born out by its distribution in the 
District. In our experience, it tends to be dark 
green, with short, strongly-curved quills. It is found 
across southern Ontario, east to the coast of the USA. 
It seems to be more common than I_. muricata in the 
District, and can be found in such places as Fitzroy 
Harbour, Constance Bay and Meach Lake. 
Literature Cited 
Brunton, D.F. 1972. More Slender Cliff-brake in the 
Ottawa-Hull District. Trail & Lands. 6:3 (92-93). 
Cobb, B. 1963. A Field Guide to the Ferns. Houghton- 
Mifflin Co., Boston. 
Porsild, A.E. 1941. A Relic Flora on Sand Dunes from the 
Champlain Sea in the Ottawa Valley. Can. Field-Nat. 
55 (1):66-72. 
Raymond, M. 1950. Esquisse Phytogeographique du Quebec. 
Mem. du Jardin Botan. de Montreal No. 5, Montreal. 
49 
