ROYAL FERN FAMILY. 5 
1. OSMUNDA L. WPwelaoss sly 5e5" 
Tall swamp ferns, growing in large crowns, with the fertile (spore-bearing) portions 
very much contracted, the short-pedicelled naked sporanges on the margins of their rachis- 
like divisions, which are destitute of chlorophyll. Veins forked, very regular and prom- 
inent. Sporanges thin, reticulated, opening by a longitudinal cleft into two halves, a few 
parallel thickening cells near the apex representing the rudimentary transverse ring. Spores 
copious, green. [From Osmunder, a name for the god Thor. ] 
Six species, mostly of the north temperate zone. Only the following occur in North America. 
Leaves bipinnate, fertile at the apex. 1. O. regalis. 
Sterile leaves bipinnatifid. 
Pinnae of sterile leaf with a tuft of tomentum at base ; fertile leaf distinct from sterile. 
2. O. cinnamomea. 
Pinnae of sterile leaf without a tuft of tomentum at base ; leaves fertile in the middle. 
3. O. Clayloniana. 
1. Osmunda regalis IL. Royal Fern. 
(Fig. 8.) 
Osmunda regalis I. Sp. Pl. 1065. 1753- 
Rootstock stout, bearing a cluster of several 
tall bipinnate leaves, 2°-6° high, and 1° or more 
wide. Sterile pinnae 6/-12’ long, 2/-4’ wide, 
the pinnules oblong-ovate or lanceolate-oblong, 
sessile or slightly stalked, glabrous, finely ser- 
rulate, especially near the apex and occasionally 
erenate towards the base which is truncate, 
oblique or even cordate ; fertile pinnules linear- 
cylindric, panicled at the summit, withering 
and shrivelling with age, greenish before ma- 
turity, but becoming dark brown after the 
spores have fallen. 
In swamps and marshes, New Brunswick to 
Florida, west to the Northwest Territory and Mis- 
sissippi. Also in Mexico, Europe and Asia. As- 
cends to 3000 ft. in Virginia. May-July. 
2. Osmunda cinnamomea J,. Cinnamon Fern. (Fig. 9.) 
Osmunda cinnamomea I,. Sp. Pl. 1066. 1753. 
Rootstock very large, widely creeping, bear- 
ing a circular cluster of sterile leaves with one 
or more fertile ones within. Stipes 1° or more 
long, clothed with ferruginous tomentum when 
young, glabrous when old; sterile leaves 1°-5° 
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 ; fertile leaf contracted, bipin- 
nate, soon withering ; sporanges cinnamon-col- 
ored after the copious green spores have been 
discharged. 
In wet places, Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south 
to Florida and Mexico. Forms occur with leaves 
variously intermediate between the fertile and ster- 
ile; some being sterile at the apex, others in the 
middle, others on one side only. Ascends to 5600 ft. 
in Virginia. May-June. 
