How to Know the Ferns
A GUIDE
TO THE NAMES, HAUNTS, AND HABITS OF
OUR COMMON FERNS
By
Frances Theodora Parsons
Author of "How to Know the Wild Flowers,"
"According to Season," etc.
Illustrated by
Marion Satterlee and Alice Josephine Smith
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1915
Copyright, 1899, by
Charles Scribner's Sons
TO
J. R. P.
"If it were required to know the position of thefruit-dots or the character of the indusium, nothing couldbe easier than to ascertain it; but if it is required thatyou be affected by ferns, that they amount to anything,signify anything to you, that they be another sacredscripture and revelation to you, helping to redeem yourlife, this end is not so easily accomplished."
PREFACE
Since the publication, six years ago, of "How to Know the WildFlowers," I have received such convincing testimony of the eagernessof nature-lovers of all ages and conditions to familiarize themselveswith the inhabitants of our woods and fields, and so many assurancesof the joy which such a familiarity affords, that I have prepared thiscompanion volume on "How to Know the Ferns." It has been my experiencethat the world of delight which opens before us when we are admittedinto some sort of intimacy with our companions other than human isenlarged with each new society into which we win our way.
It seems strange that the abundance of ferns everywhere has notaroused more curiosity as to their names, haunts, and habits. Add tothis abundance the incentive to their study afforded by the fact thatowing to the comparatively small number of species we can familiarizeourselves with a large[Pg vi] proportion of our native ferns during a singlesummer, and it is still more surprising that so few efforts have beenmade to bring them within easy reach of the public.
I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to the many books on our nativeferns which I have consulted, but more especially to Gray's "Manual,"to Eaton's "Ferns of North America," to the "Illustrated Flora" ofMessrs. Britton and Brown, to Mr. Underwood's "Our Native Ferns," toMr. Williamson's "Ferns of Kentucky," to Mr. Dodge's "Ferns and FernAllies of New England," and to that excellent little quarterly, whichI recommend heartily to all fern-lovers, the "Fern Bulletin," editedby Mr. Willard Clute, of Binghamton, N. Y.
To the State Botanist, Dr. Charles H. Peck, who has kindly read theproof-sheets of this book, I am indebted for many suggestions; also toMr. Arth