Class XXIV. Order I. 387 



BOTRYCHIUM VIRGINICUM, IVilld. Rattlesnake Fern. 



Stipe bearing the frond in the middle ; frond three 

 parted-bipinnatifid, segments cuMoothed ; spikes bi- 

 pinnate. 



Many times larger than the foregoing. The frond, which is 

 given off about half way up the stem, is nearly sessile, divided 

 into three principal branches, which are twice pinnate, the di- 

 visions pinnatifid and the segments toothed. Capsules in a twice 

 pinnate, terminal panicle of little spikes. Woods, Chelsea 

 Beach island. 



444. LYG ODIUM. 



LYGODIUM PALMATUM. Sw. Climbing Lygodium. 



Stem flexuous, climbing ; fronds conjugate, cordate, 

 palmate with five lobes, lobes entire, obtuse ; spikelets 

 oblong-linear, in a compound terminal panicle. 



Syn. HTDROGLOSSUM PALMATUM. Pursh. 



CTEJSIUM PANICULATUM. MX. 



An exceedingly delicate plant and, I believe, the only climb- 

 ing fern found in our latitudes. Stem slender, smooth. Petioles 

 alternate, forked near the stem, supporting two leaves or fronds, 

 which are palmately divided into from h" ve to nine lanceolate or 

 oblong, obtuse segments, paler underneath. The fructification 

 is found on the upper fronds, which grow like the lower on forked 

 stalks, but are subdivided by alternate branches into a multitude 

 of small, oblong-linear segments, having the fruit in two imbri- 

 cated rows on the back. At the Botanic garden, Cambridge, 

 brought from Granby, Massachusetts. 



445. OSMUNDA. 



OSMUNDA CINNAMOMEA. L, Tall Osmuuda. 



Barren fronds pinnate ; divisions elongated, pinnati- 

 fid ; segments nearly oval and entire ; fertile fronds 

 with opposite racemes. Mich. 



This noble fern grows in large bunches in damp woods and 

 low grounds, sometimes attaining to the length of a man. The 

 greatest part of the plant is composed by the barren fronds, 



