178 MACOUN AND BUEG]<:SS OIÏ 



woods or saudy woodlands. Sterile segment usually loug petioled from near the base of 

 the plant, evergreen, triangular or pentagonal in outline, ternate with the primary divi- 

 sions stalked, as may also be the secondary or even the tertiary, and pinnately decom- 

 pound ; ultimate segments, varying from roiindish-roniform to obliquely or broadly ovate, 

 entire, crenulate, or toothed ; fertile segment long stalked, usually much taller than the 

 sterile, and bi-quadripinnate ; bud i)ilose, with the apex of both segments bent down, 

 with a slight curve inward. 



This description includes the following varieties of Eaton's "Ferns of North America," 

 viz., Var. lunarioides, which is small and has the barren segment two to four times ternate, 

 and the ultimate segments distinct and roundish-reuiform, (found only in Soiith Carolina 

 and the Grulf States) ; var. rutœfoUum small, with only the lowest segments distinct, and 

 these obliquel3''-ovate, (in America found onlj^ in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and the 

 neighboring region) ; var. australe, which is large and much decompound, with the ulti- 

 mate segments broadly ovate or roundish rhomboid, (found chielly along the Pacific coast) ; 

 and sub-var. intermedium, (B. lunarioides of Gray's Manual), similar but smaller and less de- 

 compound than australe (the common form through Canada, except in the extreme east and 

 west.) 



Var. obliquum, Milde, {B. obliquum, Muhl.), has the sterile segment, with ovate-lanceolate 

 or lanceolate pinnatifid secondary or tertiary divisions, the terminal lobes of which are 

 long pointed, but the lower ones roundish or obliquely ovate, the margins crenulate or 

 toothed. 



Var. dissedum, Milde, [B. disseclum, Muhl.), has the divisions of the sterile segment com- 

 poundly and laciniately cut into small, narrow lobes and teeth, but is otherwise as in 

 the last. 



In some specimens collected by Prof Macoun in dry, rich woods at Fort William, Lake 

 Superior, Out., and referable to the sub-var. intermedium, the sterile segment springs from 

 about the middle of the plant, and is barely overtopped by the fertile. 



In its Avarions forms this species has a very wide range, extending quite across our 

 territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific and far northward. The following are some of 

 the localities where it is recorded as found : Cape Porcupine ; Boylstou, G-uysborough Co.; 

 Eawdon, Hants Co. ; and other i)laces in Nova Scotia. — Rev. E. H. Ball. Bedford and 

 "Windsor, N. S.; Rapide de Femine, about six miles below Grand Falls, N. B., var. rutœfo- 

 Uum. — P. Jack. Rather common in New Brunswick. — Fowler. Quebec, Que. — Wm. Sheppard. 

 Three Rivers, Qiie.- — Madagan. St. Joachim, Que. — Provandier. Richmond and Drummond 

 Cos., Que. — /. A. Bothwell. Waste places near Prescott Junction, Oat. — B. Billings. Ham- 

 ilton, Out. — J. 31. Bialian. Leamington and Blenheim, Out — Burgess. Loudon, Out. — W. 

 Saunders. Ottawa, Out. ; New Westminster, B. C, both sub-var. inlermedium and var. 

 australe. — J. Fletdier. Along the north shore of Lake Superior, at Nipigon River, Red 

 Rock, Fort William, etc. ; freqiient on the western prairies, especially toward the Sas- 

 katchewan ; a limestone mountain in Peace River Pass, Rocky Mountains, Lat. 56". — Ma- 

 coun. Mouth of Rainy River, Lake of the Woods. — G. M. Daicson. Var. obliquum seems 

 to occur much less commonly than the type. New Germany and Oaklands Lake, Mahone 

 Bay, N. S. — Pœv. E. H. Ball. Dry, rich woods near Hopyard, Belleville and sandy soil. 

 Rice Lake Plains, Out. — Macoun. London, Ont. — W. Saunders. About Hudson Bay, 

 York Factory and on the " Height of Land," in the Rocky Mountains. — Drummond. Var. 



