The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-20

aromatic odor resembling that of straw
berries, hence its name. The fronds are
even more fragrant when they are soaked
in water. The stalks are very short and
greenish, fronds erect, about ten inches
long and two wide. the rootstock very
chaffy. The fern grows in the crevices OF
rocks near water. According to Macoun
and Burgess, few economic properties are
attributed to it, being used in Mongolia as
an antiscorbutic and as substitute for
tea.
The holly fern (Aspidium Ionchifis) grows
in the Cascade mountains and vicinity,
usually in tufts in shaded, rocky places.
1t is handsome evergreen species, with
dark-green. leathery fronds from five
inches to two feet long and two and one
half inches wide The plant itself is of the
same length as the fronds. The rootstock
and stalks are chaffy.
The Chamisso's shield.fern (Aspidium
muaifum) is especially a Washingtonian
fern, and in Canada is confined only to
British Columbia. 1t is a magnificent
plant. often five feet high, and evergreen;
rootstock is stout, stalks are also stout,
chaffy with brown scales, fronds very large,
sometimes almost as long as the plant it
self. They are of beautiful green and
stand in crown. The yound fronds are
cooked and eaten by the Indians of WASH
ington. 1t is especially abundant in damp
thickets south of the Canadian boundary
line
The prickly shield-fern (Aspidi,m dcuie-
asum, var. Byuunii) is also handsome
evergreen fern, usually two feet high. 1t
has prickly aspect and grows in rocky
woods.
Another genus which is largely repre-
sented in Washington, is Woodsid. The
Oregon woodsia Woodsia Oregana) is very
delicate plant, only about ten inches in
height. 1t usually likes the places
which are exposed to the sun; it
is therefore in that respect different
from other ferns. 1t is not ever
green and its fronds are about five inches
long by eight to twelve inches wide and are
very smooth; the rootstock is short and
creeping, the stalks slender and greenish.
1t is found everywhere in the state.
A very abundant fern is the Rocky
mountain Woodsia Woodsia scopulina),
about as high as the previous one and
growing in dense masses in sheltered
places. The obtuse-leaved Woodsia Wood
STA obtusa) is said to be found in the Oily M
plan mountains, though it is doubtful. In
British Columbia specimen of this fern
was collected only near Port Simpson by
Mr.. j. r. Anderson, of Victoria.
The woolly fern, or the so-called Rustr
Woodsia. WooGsia Hvensi), occurs only in
the extreme northeastern part OF the state.
1t is a small, coarse-looking fern, and is
not evergreen. 1t can stand great deal
of frost.
The smooth Woodsia, Woodsia glabello) is
found together with the previous one, and
is even smaller than the woolly fern. 1t is,
however. very delicate, and its fronds are
of a very bright-green color. The stalks
are slender, not quite an inch in height
and the rootstocks short.
OF the genus Cystopteris, or bladder fern we
find two species in Washington. The first
is the brittle fern (Cystopteyis yagilas), slen-
der fern growing In moist crevIces. Its
height varies very much from few inches
to two feet. 1t is not evergreen and its
fronds are thin and somewhat triangular.
This fern is very sensitive to frost. The
second species (Cystopteris montdna) is as the
name indicates, mountain fern about ff-
teen inches high, with long. creeping root
stocks and long stalks. The fronds are
usually five inches broad and five inches
long. This delicate fern is also very seilsi-
tive to frost and grows in well sheltered
woody places.
This last-named species ends the list of
ferns growing in Washington go far as it
was possible to ascertain and as tits known
now. Of course, many parts of this state
being almost unknown, and especially in
regard of botany, the probability exists
that there are many other specimens of
which we do not know anything. If any
of the readers of the Posr-INTELLIGENcER
would come across species not mentioned
in this article, be would oblige the writer
very much in communicating the fact.
The author does not claim perfection for
this article, for like in anything else, SO
also here, E,rdrc hunaaum est 1t is also
hoped that the beauty and magnifcence of
the ferns of Washington will tempt many
lovers of nature in this state to study these
interesting plants.
NJ. LoPATEcKI, Phi. D.