THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
OSMODIUM. A synonym of Onosmodium (which 
Š see). if * 
 OSMUNDA (from Osmunder, another name of th 
=. $eandinavian god Thor). Orp. Filices. A small genus 
(about half-a-dozen species) of handsome, greenhouse or 
hardy ferns, hardly at all tropical. Sori quite distinct 
from the leafy part of the frond, forming a panicle made 
up of copious, thyrsoid clusters. The species in culti- 
vation are generally known as Flowering Ferns, and, 
with the exception of O. javanica, are particularly suitable 
= for the hardy fernery. They thrive best in a compost 
ol turfy loam and peat, to which some river sand may be 
added. See also Ferns. _ 
O. cinnamomea (einnamon).“ sti. densely tufted, the barren and 
fertile ones distinct. barren fronds simply pinnate, 2ft. to 3ft. 
. to 8in, broad, having stipes from lft. to 1)ft. long; 
nnæ close, ligulate-lanceolate, Sin. to ain. long, jin. to lin. 
, cut down nearly to the rachis. fertile fronds much 
smaller ; lanceolate. Canada to “Topon Mountains, Japan, 
K., 1 Youn 8 densely clothed with ferruginous 
tomen 1 (page 
tum. See 529). Of this handsome species, 
there is a variety, known as 
a ata, which is smaller in all 
and darker fronds, than the type. 
i (Clayton’s).* sti. tufted, 1ft. or more long, 
i when young. fronds lft. to 2ft. long, 8in. to 12in. 
broad, the 2 central, or lower pinne fertile; barren pinnæ 
lanceolate, 4in. to 6in. long, lin. or more broad, cut down nearly 
to the rachis; fertile pinn similar, but shorter; 1 dense, 
cylindrical. North America and Himalayas, 1772. A very 
beautiful species. SYN. O. interrupta, See Fig. 782. 
O. interrupta (interrupted). A synonym of O. Claytoniana. 
O. javanica (Java).“ sti. tufted, 6in. to 12in, long, firm, erect, 
naked. fronds lft. to 3ft. long, 8in, to 12in, broad, simply 
innate, the lower or central pinnæ fertile; barren pinnæ ĝin. to 
in. long, din. to jin. broad, cuneate at the base, and often 
slightly stalked, the edge entire or sharply toothed; fertile 
pinne shorter, made up of numerous close, but distinct, oblong, 
sessile clusters. Kamschatka to Java and Ceylon. Greenhouse, 
Syns. O. Presliana and O. Fachellii. 
Fic. 782. OSMUNDA CLAYTONIANA. 
O. lancea (lance-like). fronds, barren and fertile ones disti 
» A s dist 
jors former about lft. long, oblong, shortly Seth cfg .— 
mee acuminate, about Sin. long, stalked, the lowest rather 
narrowed at both ends, sessile. dicine. niooo pm Droad, 
„ xN 
wards. fertile fronds terna — ead E 
te-decompound. 
O. Presliana (Presl's). A synonym of 0. javanica. 
Osmunda— continued. 
— Hy 
4 2 . 
Ji 
la 
li 
—— 
Fic. 783. PORTION OF FERTILE FROND OF OSMUNDA 
EGALIS. ` 
O. regalis (royal).* Royal Fern. sti. tufted, 12in. to 18in. long, 
firm, erect, naked. fronds 2ft. to 6ft. long, lft. or more b 
bipinnate, the apex fertile; barren pinnæ bin. to 12in. long, 2in. 
to Ain. broad; pinnules sessile or slightly stalked, lin. to 2in. 
long, zin. to zin. broad, oblong, blunt, often unequal at the base, 
the edge finely serrulate; fertile pinnules Eupan, forming a 
copious panicle. Britain. This really noble fern is too well 
known to require any eulogy. See Fig. 783. The form called 
cristata is very desirable, and differs from the type in having the 
ends of the fronds and all the pinnæ finely crested. Another, 
corymbifera (see Fig. 784), has, also, curiously forked and 
fronds. 0, palustris is a slender, small-growing form, in which 
the young fronds are reddish in colour. 
O. Vachellii (Vachell’s). A synonym of O. javanica. 
OSSÆA (named after Don Antonio de la Ossa, once 
Director of the Botanic Garden at Havannah, Cuba). 
Syn. Sagrea. Orp. Melastomacee. A rather large 
genus (about forty species) of stove shrubs or sub- 
shrubs, confined to tropical America. Flowers usually 
small, oymose or paniculate; petals four, rarely five. 
Leaves petiolate, opposite, and ternately whorled, rarely 
large, entire or slightly toothed. The undermentioned 
species—probably the only one in cultivation—requires 
treatment similar to Melastoma (which see). - 
O. fascicularis (fascicled). fl. i - 
fascicles ; petals 1 NN aie ine oan 
apona at the 3 eminently triplinerved, tated ced 
a es 
roughi on both with scattered, minute hairs. A. 6ft. to 
10ft. Jamaica. 
