iv Edward Newman 



cosmopolitan : in this conclusion, however, I am hai'dly prepared to 

 agree. 



Family. — Blechne^. 



The ultimate divisions of the frond sessile, having a dis- 

 tinct mid-vein, the lateral veins anastomose in a linear 

 series on each side of the mid-vein : capsules seated in a 

 continuous line on that side of these anastomosing veins 

 which is nearest the mid-vein, covered by a continuous li- 

 near lateral involucre, which opens towards the mid- vein. 



Genus. — Lomaria, Willdenow. 



Mid-vein distinct, lateral veins anastomosing in a linear 

 series on each side, parallel to the mid-vein, and emitting 

 free branches to the margin : involucre linear, opening to- 

 wards the mid-vein ; capsules in a linear series on the in- 

 ner side of each anastomosing vein. 



Lomaria spicant. 



Osmunda spicant, Linn. ^Sj). PI. 1523 ; Light/. Fl. Scot 



654 ; Htids. Fl. Atig. 450 ; Bolt. Fil. Brit. 8, t. 6. 

 Osmunda spicanthus, With. Arr. 763. 

 Blechnum spicant. With. Arr. 765. 

 Lomaria spicant (Desv.), Newm. N. A. 9, F. 89. 

 Blechnum boreale [Swartz), Sin. E. F.iv. 316, E.B. 1159; 



Mack. Fl. Hib. 343 ; Hook, and Am. 575 ; Bah. 415. 



Fronds of two kinds : fertile fronds erect, linear, pin- 

 nate ; pinnse distant, reflexed, narrow, linear ; the lower 

 portion of the stipes naked : barren fronds prostrate, lan- 

 ceolate, pinnatifid ; pinnse close, flat, broad, blunt. 



Common on damp soils. 



Family. — Asplenie;e. 



A large and varied group, approaching very nearly to the 

 last, but constantly differing : the capsules are seated in 

 linear clusters on one side of lateral veins, whose direction 

 is always at an angle with the median line of the pinnule, 

 so that in no instance can two or more of these lines of 



