3G8 FERN KAMILY. 



* Frond* tn-icf pinnatffid: the sessile pinnae mostly /orniinr/ nn irregular and 



many-angled //<</ ninmj tl ///</*. 



P. polypodioldeS, formerly POLYI-OPM M 1'iiEfJoi'TEKis. Common N. : 

 frond.- 4'-'.' long, longer than broad, triangular-ovate, slightly hairy beneath; 

 pinna- lanceolate, the lower pair turned obliquely forward-; secondary divisions 

 crowded, oblong, obtuse, emiiv; fruit-dots all near the margin. 



P. liexagonoptera. Common N. ,v S. : larger than the last, which it 

 much iv.-embles, but the frond is broader than long; lowest pinna- much the 

 largest and with elongated, and pinnatifid divisions ; Iruit-dots not exclusively 

 near the margin. 



* # Fronds with three primary divisions, which are stalked, rhachis wingless. 



P. Dryopteris. Common N. : fronds broadly triangular, 4' -6' wide, 

 mooth ; the three primary divisions triangular, once or twice pinnate with ob- 

 long- obtuse entire or toothed lobes ; fruit-dots near the margin. 



15. ASPIDIUM, SHIELD-FERN. (Greek for a little shield, referring to 

 the iiidusium.) A very large genus, inhabiting all parts of the wond. 



1. NEPHR6DIUM or DKYOPTERIS. Lidusium round-kidtiey-shaped or nearly 

 circular with a narrow clef i from the lower side almost to the centre. 



* Fronds tluclcish, simply pinnule, the few pinnce entire or nearly so. 



A. Sieb61dii. Cult, from Japan : fronds coriaceous, smooth, about 1 

 high, with 2-4 pairs of side pinna.', each 4'-G' long and nearly 1' wide, and a 

 terminal one rather larger than the others; veins with 4-6 free parallel branch- 

 es ; fruit-dots large, scattered in several rows. 



* * Fronds thin, decaying in early autumn (or tender hot-house plants), pinnate: 



simply pinnatifid with mostly entire obtuse lobes: indusium small. 



*- Rootstoclc creeping, slender, mar/// naked <in/l bearing scattered fronds : vii 

 free, simple or once forked : wild species, common in b<r/s and Ion: grounds. 



A. Thelypteris. Fronds lanceolate, 10' -18' long, on slender stalks, 

 nearly smooth; pinna', lanceolate, 2' -4' long, about . A' wide, spreading or 

 turned down, the lowest pair scarcely shorter; divisions oblong, fruiting ones 

 seeming acute from (be revolnte margins ; veins mostly forked ; fruit -dots con- 

 Hncnt when ripe ; indusium smooth. 



A. Noveboracense. Much like the last, but hairy beneath along the 

 rhachis and veins; fronds tapering both ways from the middle; lower pinna- 

 gradually .-mailer and distant ; lobes flat, the basal ones otten larger and incised; 

 veins rarely forked ; fruit-dots distinct ; indusium slightly glandular. 



- *- Rooistock oblique or erect, stouter , bearing the fronds in a crown: veins simple, 



Ji'i-e, or the lower ones of contiguous lobes united: indusium litiiry. 



A. patens. Low shady grounds, Florida and W. : fronds l-2 high, 

 sparsely pubescent, ovate-oblong ; pinnre 3'-G' long, ' wide, numerous, lance- 

 olate from a broad base, lowest pairs a little smaller; divisions oblong, slightly 

 falcate, obtuse or aeutish ; veins entirely free; indusium slightly hairy. 



A. molle. Cult, from tropical countries: very much like the last, but ev- 

 en where downy or solt hairy; pinna' less deeply lo'ied ; lobes obtuse; lower 

 venders (1 or 2 pairs) uniting with the corresponding ones of contiguous lobes 

 and sending out a ray-like veinlet to the sinus; indusium very hairy. 



* * # Frond* smooth, from once to thrice pinnate, qroiriny in a crown from a 

 Stout and chaffy rootstock, and ofl<n n mnininif </''"" through tin 1 winter: 

 veins 2 - ^-forked or branching. Wild species of the country. 



- Fronds imperfectly eren/rcen, once, pinnate with <ln'/>li/ pinnati/id pinna;, or 

 ntiirhj twice pinnule: /'mil-dots not close to the nianjin: indusium rather 

 l<irr/e,Jlat, smooth, /n rsistent. 



A. Goldianum. Kieh moist woods N. : fronds broadly ovate, 2 -4 high, 

 9' -12' wide; pinna? oblong-lanceolate, broadest about the middle, parted to the 



