os 
628 CLXIV. FILICES. ASPIDIUM. 
* * Fronds sometimes contracted, but never paniculate or spicate. 
of 1 scale, opening outwardly. 
of 2scales,t of them marginal. . | 7 
superficial, ( of several scales, opening inwardly. ae 
-_ 
OQRWAINWHPDWOD 
Sori round phe ; beneath the sorus, fimbriate. 
orroundish.?@Indusium0. . . 
7 ¥ 5 ean on the veinlets. . . Fo Sy ccane 
Frond pin- ti §not marginal, ? parallel with the midvein. . . Woodwardia. 
nate, &c. \Sorilinear oroblong, ?closely marginal, continuous. . . . . . Peteris. 
: Pog long-acuminate, striking root in the ground. >  « «+  « Asplenium. 
Frond entire, ? apex acute, not rooting. Sori linear, scattered. . a Te - «+ Scolopendrium. 
Frond pedate, on a black, polished, bifurcate stipe. - 5 4 Pes Gees . Adin 
Trizel. POLYPODIACEZ.—Thece furnished with a vertical, jointed, 
elastic, and usually incomplete ring, and bursting transversely and irregu- 
larly. 
1POLYPODIUM. 
Gr. modvs, many, Tovs, foot; from the multitude of its roots. 
Sori roundish, scattered on various parts of the under surface of 
the frond ; indusium none. 
1. P. 1ncAnum. Pursh. (P. ceteraccinum. Mz. Acrostichum polypodoi- 
des. Linn.)—F'ronds deeply pinnatifid; segments alternate, linear, very 
entire, obtuse, scaly beneath, the upper ones gradually smaller; stipe scaly, 
bearing the fertile segments near the apex; sori solitary and distinct.—A para- 
sitic fern, 3—6/ high, growing on the inclined, moss-clad trunks of living trees, 
particularly of the huge sycamores, to the height of 10—20 feet. In the damp 
forests along rivers, Western States! and also Southern. — 
2. P. vuteare. (P. Virginianum. Willd.) Common Polypod. 
Frond deeply pinnatifid, smooth; segments linear-oblong, obtuse, crenu- 
late, the upper ones gradually smaller; sori large, distinct-—Rather common 
on shady rocks and in woods, forming tangled patches with their roots which 
are clothed with membranous scales. Fronds nearly a foot high, divided into 
alternate segments nearly to the midvein. Stipe naked and smooth. Segments 
parallel, a little curved, about 3’ wide. Fruit in Jarge, golden dots in a double 
row, at length brownish. July. 
3. P. Puecopreris. (P.connectile. Mz.) Triangular Polypod. 
Frond bipinnatifid, sightly pubescent and ciliate, of a triangular outline, 
the 2 lower leaflets or pinne deflexed; subdivisions lanceolate, obtuse, the 
upper ones entire, lower incisely crenate, lowest adnate-decurrent ; sovz minute, 
distinct, solitary —A fern in low woodlands, remarkable for the broad triangu- 
lar outline of its fronds. These are about a foot in height, and rendered a little 
hastate by the lower leaflets (which are broadest) being defiexed. Divisions 
acuminate, connected at base by the lowersegments. Stipessmooth. Aug. 
B. connectile. (P. connectile. Mz.) Somewhat rigid; segments of the lower 
‘divisions all subentire; veins nearly simple. | 
_y. hexagonopterum. (P. hexagonopterum. Mz.) ‘Texture more delicate ; 
segments of the lower divisions pinnatifid ; veins much forked. 
4. P. DryortTeris. Ternate Polypod. . 
Frond ternate, bipinnate ; branches of the frond spreading, deflexed, seg- 
ments obtuse, subcrenate; sovi marginal; root filiform, creeping.—This beauti- 
ful fern grows in shady places and mountainous woods. Rare. Root black 
and very slender. Stipe slender and delicate, smooth, nearly a foot high, divid- 
ing into 3 light green, drooping, compound leaflets of a very delicate texture. Jl. 
B. calcareum. (P.caleareum. Sm.) Branches of the frond erect, rather rigid. 
2, ASPIDIUM. Swartz. 
Gr. aomts, asmall shield; from the form and position of the indusia. 
Sori roundish or elliptical, scattered ; indusium orbicular and um- 
bilicate (fastened at the centre and opening all around), or reniform, 
fastened on one side and opening on the other. - 
