CLXIV. FILICES, 627 
smali, ereeping, moss-like species, in wet, rocky shades, U.8., not common. 
Stem a ape long, filiform. “Leaves less than a line in length. Spikes 
deafy, searcely distinguishable from the branches. July, Aug. 
#** Spikes indistinguishable from the branches. 
12. L. tucipitum. Michx. Shining Club Moss. a . 
St. ascending, dichotomously divided ; ws. in 8 rows, linear-lanceolate; den- 
ticulate, shining, spreading, or a little reflexed; thece in the axils of leaves not 
changed ner crowded into a spike.—In wet woods, U.S.and Can. The foliage 
of this species is dark green and shining, more ample than is common to the 
genus. Stems 8—16’ long, nearly erect. Leaves 3—5’ long, distinctly 
‘serrate. Thece hemispherical or reniform,.in the axils of the leaves near the 
top of the stem. Jl. 
13. L. seLaco. (L. recurvum. Willd.) Fir Club Moss. ae 
St. erect, dichotomously and fastigiately branched ; vs. scattered, imbri- 
cate, lance-linear, entire, rigid and pungent, but awnless.—A smaller species 
than the last, found on the summits of the White Mts. Stems 4—8’ high, 
densely clothed with stiff, shining, spreading leaves arranged somewhat in 8 
rows and 2—3” in length. Thece axillary. Aug. 
ISOETES. 
Gr. i005, equal, eros, the year ; from its being evergreen. 
Thecze membranaceous, oblong, cordate, 1-celled, immersed in the 
dilated base of the frond; spores subglobose, slightly angular, 
attached to numerous filiform receptacles. 
I. nacustris? (I. riparia. Engelman.) Quail-wort. 
_ Leaves cespitose, subulate, semiterete, dilated and imbricated at base—A 
eurious aquatic, in water at or near the margin of ponds and rivers, N. Eng! 
and Mid. States, often wholly submersed! Leaves or fronds numerous, tufted and 
simple, 2—10’ long, somewhat spreading, containing numerous cells divided both 
by longitudinal and transverse partitions. 'Thecz whitish, imbedded in cor- 
responding cavities in the bases of the fronds, traversed within by many threads 
to which the numerous, small, white, granular spores are attached. Aug.—Our 
plant differs slightly from the European (with which I have compared it), but I 
think not specifically. 
Orver CLXIV. FILICES.—Ferns. 
Stem a perennial, creeping, horizontal rhizoma, or sometimes erect and arborescent. __. _, Ination. 
Fronds (fruit-bearing leaves) variously divided, rarely entire, with forked veins, mostly circinate in v 
Inflorescence occupying the back or margin of the fronds (leaves) arising from the veins. tay 
Thece@ or sporangia ofone kind only in the same plant, 1-celled, Geminnite irregularly. 
Sori, somewhat regular collections of thece ; or the thece are isolated and scattered. 
pices a scale cir each sorus ; or the sori are covered with the revolute margin of the frond, 
or they are naked. 
Genera 192, species 2040. _A large and interesting order of flowerless plants, distinguished for their ele- 
gant, plume-like foliaze. They are usually a few inches to a few feet high, but some of the tropical spe- 
cies, as the Cyathez of both Indies, are 15—25 feet high, vieing with the palms in size and beauty. 
Properties.—Generally mucilaginous and mildly astringent, hence considered pectoral. Aspidiumand 
Pteris are anthelmintic. Osmunda regalis has been successfully administered for the rickets. 
Observation.—The fructification of the ferns, with its various appendages, is teo minute to be well 
observed by the naked eye; but an examination of it with the aid ofa good lens, cannot fail to be inter- 
esting and satisfactory. In regard to the localities of the ferns, it should here be remarked, that the spe- 
cies respectively are more generally disseminated throughout the States represented by this flora, and 
also British America, than are the species of the Phenogamia. They are, however, far more common 
in the hard, mountainous or rocky soils of the East than in the fertile regions of the West. It seems, 
therefore, unnecessary to make particular mention of the geographical range of the more common species. 
Conspectus of the Genera. 
* Fertile leaflets or fronds contracted into the form of a panicle or spike. 
Stipes | angular. ME er 11 
the fert. fronds ) smoothish, ¢deeply grooved within. Struthiopteris. 12 
$3) distinct. Stipes clothed with reddish wool. Osmunda. 13 
Fronds ma- eae each one partly fertile. Era s* unda. 13 
ny, radical, entireandnarrowly linear, =. . 2. ww Cwti(tsti‘(<‘éS CRAG. 15 
Fern entire. Scapespicate. . . . .« . . Ophioglossum.16 
erect. 
. Frond solitary, ona scape, ? divided. Scape paniculate. . . . #«. # . Botrychiwm. 17 
parasite oeeigcectt wes er. . pes een = Pon oh OS: Lygediuin: 14 
