THE ROYAL, or FLOWERING FERN 
(OSMUNDA кесил). 
OSMUNDA 
Linnaus. 
Clusters of Spore-oases naked, densely clustered on contracted rachiform portions of 
the frond, forming (in the British species) terminal panicles of nodulose spikelets, 
Spore-caser large, stalked, reticulated, subglobose, two-valved, opening verti 
cally, the transverse ring rudimentary, Veins forked; venules disunited at 
their extremities 
0. взоаца: fronds bipinnate; pinnules oblong, nearly entire, dilated, and more ог 
less aurieled at the baso, (rarely tripinnate) 
branched panicles at the apex of the fronds. 
spore-cases clustered in twice 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 
Caudez stout, firm, growing in tufts, dark-c 
often 
aining an elevation of two feet or more. Fibras m 
‘Stipes nearly or quite as long as the leafy part of the frond; and as well as the rachis succu 
lent, tinged with red, and clothed with loose decidu 
ıs pale-brown cobwebby wool when young; firm, 
terete, somewha 
smooth, and pale green when mature ; tero 
fattened in front, the base dilated, with a 
membranaceous margin, Secondary rachis channelled and margined in fr 
Vernation eireinate 
Fronds mamerons, terminal and adherent to the caudex ; erect, or sometimes arching ; variable in 
height, two to four feet in more exposed and drier localities, six to eight or even occasionally ten to 
twelve feet in very damp sheltered spots ; membranaccous, sm 
oth, bright yellow-green, paler beneath 
