The Fern Lover's Companion / A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada

by George Henry Tilton

[Illustration: Goldie's Shield Fern. Aspidium Goldianum (Vermont, 1874. C.G. Pringle) (Herbarium of G.E. Davenport)]

[Illustration: Goldie's Fern (From Woolson's "Ferns," Doubleday, Page & Co.)]

(4) THE CRESTED FERN

Aspidium cristàtum. THELÝPTERIS CRISTÀTA

Dryopteris cristàta. Nephrodium cristàtum

Fronds one to two feet long, linear-oblong or lanceolate, pinnate, acute. Pinnæ two to three inches long, broadest at the base, triangular-oblong, or the lowest triangular. Divisions oblong, obtuse, finely serrate or cut-toothed, those nearest the rachis sometimes separate. Fruit-dots large, round, half way between the midvein and the margin. Indusium smooth, naked, with a shallow sinus.

The short sterile fronds, though spreading out gracefully, are conspicuous only in winter; while the fertile fronds, tall, narrow and erect, are found only in summer.

It is one of our handsomest evergreen ferns and even the large sori, with their dark spore cases and white indusia, are very attractive. The fertile pinnæ have a way of turning their faces upward toward the apex of the frond for more light. In moist land, Canada to Kentucky.

Var. Clintoniànum. Clinton's Wood Fern. Resembles the type, but is in every way larger. Divisions eight to sixteen pairs. Fruit-dots near the midvein, the sides of the sinus often overlapping. South central Maine to New York and westward. "Rare in New England attaining its best development in western sections." (Dodge.) Mt. Toby, Mass., Hanover, N.H. July. Fine for cultivation.