DTIA. _Dicksonia_
Fruit-dots small, globular, marginal, each on the apex of a vein or fork.
Sporangia borne on an elevated, globular receptacle in a membranous,
cup-shaped indusium which is open at the top.
(Named in honor of August Wilhelm Dennstaed.)
HAYSCENTED FERN. BOULDER FERN
DENNSTAEDTIA PUNCTILOBULA[A]
_Dicksonia punctilobula. Dicksonia pilosiuscula_
[Footnote A: We again remind our readers that the Latin names in small
capitals represent the newer nomenclature.]
Fronds one to three feet high, minutely glandular and hairy,
ovate-lanceolate, pale green, very thin and mostly bipinnate. Primary
pinnae in outline like the frond; the secondary, pinnatifid into oblong and
obtuse, cut-toothed lobes. Fruit-dots minute, each on a recurved toothlet,
usually one at the upper margin of each lobe. Indusium fixed under the
sporangia, appearing like a tiny green cup filled with spore cases.
[Illustration: Hayscented Fern. _Dennstaedtia punctilobula_ (Sudbury, Mass.
G.E.D.)]
[Illustration: Forked Variety of Hayscented Fern]
[Illustration: Hayscented Fern. _Dennstaedtia punctilobula_]
While _Dennstaedtia_ is the approved scientific name of this species, the
name _Dicksonia_ has come to be used almost as commonly as hay scented fern
or boulder fern. It is one of our most graceful and delicate species, its
long-tapering outline suggesting the bulblet bladder fern. It delights to
cluster around rocks and boulders in upland fields and pastures and in the
margin of rocky woods. It is sweet-scented in drying. A fine species for
the fernery and one of the most decorative of the entire fern family.
The effect of the shimmering fronds, so delicately wrought, flanked by
evergreens, is highly artistic. Fine-haired mountain fern, pasture fern,
and hairy _Dicksonia_ are other names. Canada to Tennessee and westward.
Var. _cristata_ has the fronds more or less forked at the top.
[Illustration: Pinnule and Sori]
[Illustration: Mass of Sensitive Fern]
THE SENSITIVE AND OSTRICH FERNS
_Onoclea_. PTERETIS. _Matteuccia_. _Struthiopteris_
(Last three names applied to Ostrich Fern only.)
It is a question whether the sensitive and ostrich fern should be included
in the same genus. They are similar in many respects, but not in all. The
sensitive fern has a running rootstock, scattered fronds, and netted veins;
while the ostrich fern has an upright rootstock, fronds in crowns, and
free veins.
[Illustrati
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