4 FLORA. 



small, 3-6 mm. wide, rounded or somewhat obliquely ovate, the margins undulate 

 or crenate ; sporophylls rather long-stalked for the size of the plant, 2-3-pinnate 

 with large sporanges ; bud pilose. In old meadows, N. N. E. and N. Y. and 

 northward; also in Europe. 



9. Botrychium Virginianum (L.) Sw. (I. F. f. 7.) Plant 2-6 dm. high, the 

 stem slender but fleshy. Leaf nearly or quite sessile above the middle of the stem, 

 spreading, thin, ternate with the primary divisions pinnate to 2 -pinnate and the 

 segments i-2-pinnatifid ; ultimate segments oblong, more or less toothed near the 

 apex ; epidermal cells flexuous ; sporophyll long-stalked, 2-3-pinnate ; bud for 

 the following year pilose, enclosed in a glabrous cavity at one side of the lower 

 part of the stem ; sporophyll recurved its whole length, the leaf reclined upon it 

 in vernation. In rich woods, N. S. to Fla., west to Br. Col. and Ariz. Also in 

 Europe and Asia. June-July. 



Family 2. OSMUNDACEAE R. Br. 



Large ferns with stout often erect rootstocks, 1-2 pinnate leaves which 

 are coiled in vernation, the veins free, mostly forked, running to the 

 margins of the pinnules or lobes. Sporanges large, globose, with mere 

 traces of an elastic ring of cells or none, borne on modified contracted 

 pinnae or in clusters (sori) on the lower surfaces of the pinnules. Three 

 genera ; only one American. 



i. OSMUNDA L. 



Tall swamp ferns, growing in large crowns, with the fertile (spore -bearing) 

 portions very much contracted, the short-pedicelled naked sporanges on the mar- 

 gins of their rachis-like divisions, which are destitute of chlorophyll. Veins forked, 

 regular and prominent. Sporanges thin, reticulated, opening by a longitudinal 

 cleft into two halves, a few parallel thickened cells near the apex representing the 

 rudimentary transverse ring. Spores green. [From Osmunder, a name for the 

 god Thor.] Six species, mostly of the north temperate zone. 



Leaves bipinnate, fertile at the apex. i. O. regalts. 



Sterile leaves bipinnatifid. 



Pinnae of sterile leaf with a tuft of tomentum at base ; fertile leaf distinct from 



sterile. 2. O. cinnamomea. 



Pinnas of sterile leaf without a tuft of tomentum at base ;, leaves fertile in the 

 middle. 3. O. Claytoniana, 



1. Osmunda regalis L. ROYAL FERN. (L F. f. 8.) Rootstock stout, bearing 

 a cluster of several tall bipinnate leaves, 6 dm. -2 m. high, and 3 dm. or more 

 wide. Pinnae 1.5-3 dm. long, 5-10 cm. wide, the pinnules oblong-ovate or 

 lanceolate-oblong, sessile or slightly stalked, glabrous, finely serrulate, especially 

 ne.jr the apex and occasionally crenate towards the truncate, oblique or cordate 

 basle ; sporophylls linear-cylindric, panicled at the summit, withering and shriv- 

 elling with age, greenish before maturity, but becoming dark brown after the 

 spores have fallen. In swamps and marshes, N. B. to Fla., N. W. Terr., Neb. 

 and Miss. Also in Mexico, Europe and Asia. May-July. 



2. Osmunda cinnamomea L. CINNAMON FERN. (I. F. f. 9.) Rootstock 

 very large, widely creeping, bearing a circular cluster of sterile leaves with one or 

 more fertile ones within. Stipes 3 dm. or more long, clothed with ferruginous 

 tomentum when young, glabrous when old ; sterile leaves 3 dm.-i m. long, 

 glabrous when mature, except a small tuft of tomentum at the base of each pinna ; 

 pinnae linear-lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid into oblong obtuse segments ; sporophyll 

 contracted, bipinnate, soon withering ; sporanges cinnamon-colored after the 

 copious green spores have been discharged. In wet places, N. S. to Minn., to 

 Fla. and Mex. Forms occur with leaves variously intermediate between the fertile 

 and sterile ; some being sterile at the apex, others in the middle, others on one 

 side only. May-June. 



3. Osmunda Claytoniana L. CLAYTON'S FERN. (I. F. f. 10.) Rootstock 

 stout, bearing a circle of 2-pinnatifid leaves 6 dm. -2 m. high, 1.5-2.5 dm. wide ; 

 sterile pinnae without tufts of tomentum at the base, linear-lanceolate, deeply 



