on British Ferns. xxxi 



Pinnae secund, unilateral ; involucre pear-shaped, entire 

 at the top until mature, then dehiscent, the valves widely- 

 separating, otherwise as in H. Tunbridgense. 



A small moss-like plant. On rocks in mountain regions. 



Order. — OSMUND ACE^, R. Brotm. 



Plants composed of fibrous roots, solid simple rhizoma, and 

 flat leafy fronds which rise with a circinate vernation. Fructi- 

 fication upon a portion of the frond in which the veins alone 

 remain, the parenchyma being apparently represented by clus- 

 tered, globose, reticulated capsules, which are not provided with 

 an elastic ring : involucre none. 



Genus. — Osmunda, Linneus. 

 Characters those of the order. 



Osmunda regalis. 



Osmunda regalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1521 ; Light/. Fl. Scot. 



653 ; Huds. Fl. Aug. 449 ; Bolt. Fil. Brit. 6, t. 5 ; 



With. Arr. 763 ; Sm. E. F. iv. 327, E. B. 209 ; Mack. 



Fl. Hih. 345 ; Newm. N. A. 29, F. 331 ; Hook, and 



Am. 578; Bab. 417. 



Rhizoma very large, tufted ; stipes woody, as long as the 

 frond ; frond nearly erect, and, including the stipes, four to 

 ten feet high, pinnate ; pinnae opposite, spreading, pinnate ; 

 pinnules alternate, ovate, stalked, very entire ; terminal pa- 

 nicle of capsules golden coloured, large, very conspicuous. 



Wet places, very local. 



Order. — OPHIOGLOSSACEiE. 



Plants composed of succulent and comparatively stout roots, 

 some of which travel horizontally in the manner of stolons, 

 succulent stipes, and branched fronds with straight vernation. 

 Frond composed of two branches, the outer leafy, the inner, 

 which it seems to inclose at its base in the manner of a spathe, 

 entirely capsuliferous : capsules large, without reticulations, 

 ring, or involucre, opening by a transverse fissure. 



