466 F1LICES. 



Low grounds. Can. to Flor. Aug. 11. Fern sometimes 45 feet high, 

 in large bundles or circles. Fertile fronds usually central, less numerous than 

 the sterile, with the pinnae much smaller and covered with dense clusters of 

 ferruginous or cinnamon-colored spore-cases. Var. frondosa has been found in 

 a few localities in the state of N. Y. I am doubtful whether it may not still 

 *urn out to be a distinct species. Woolly Flowering-fern. 



17. LYGODIUM. Swartz. Climbing Fern. 

 (From the Greek Auyjj, a twig ; in allusion to its twining habit.) 

 Spore-cases sessile, ovate, in 2-ranked little spikes, which 

 issue from the margin of the frond, radiate-striate, or wrinkled, 

 opening on the inner side from the base to the summit. Indu- 

 sium scale-like, covering each spore-case. 



L. palmatum Swartz : stem flexuous and climbing ; fronds conjugate, 

 cordate, palmate, 5 7-lobed, the lobes entire and obtuse ; terminal ones 

 contracted and fruit-bearing, forming a compound panicle. Hydroglossum 

 palmatum Willd. Cteisium paniculatum Mich. 



Low woods. Mass, and N. Y. ? to Car. ; rare. July. 7J-. Stem climbing, 

 3 4 feet long, smooth and slender. Petioles alternate, forked at a short dis- 

 tance from the stem, and supporting two leaves or fronds, which are deeply lobed, 

 light green above and paler beneath. Fertile fronds variously divided into 

 small linear segments with the son in two imbricated rows. Climbing-fern. 



18. SCHIZEA. Smith. One-sided Fern. 



(From the Greek o^i^w, to split ; in allusion to the cloven appearance of the 

 spikes.) 



Spikes unilateral, flabellate, aggregate. Spore-cases with 

 radiating furrows at the top, somewhat turbinate, bursting lat- 

 erally, sessile. Indusium continuous, formed of the inflexed 

 margin of the spikes. 



pusiUa Pursli : frond simple, linear-compressed, tortuous ; spikes few, 

 conglomerated at the summit of a long slender stipe. & tortuosa Muhl. 



Sandy moist grounds. Near the Academy in the town of Yates, Orleans 

 county, N. Y. T. E. Wetmore. Near Quakers' Bridge. N. J. Aug. Tj.. A 

 very small fern, with numerous cespitose/rowds, which are about 2 inches long. 

 Stipe 3 5 inches long, filiform, with a few brownish secund spikes. It has 

 been found in Newfoundland and in the Falkland Islands, but the only inter- 

 mediate localities known are those above noticed. One-sided Fern. 



III. OPHIOG LOSSES. Spore-cases roundish, l-cetted, adnate at the 

 base, coriaceous, opaque, destitute of a ring, sometimes connate, half 2- 

 vahed. Vernation straight. 



19. OPHIOGLOSSUM. Linn. Adder's Tongue. 



(From the Greek o<^j, a serpent, and yAwa-era, a tongue ; in allusion to the ap- 

 pearance of the spike.) 



Spore-cases roundish, smooth, 1-celled, 2-valved, opening 

 transversely, forming a compact 2-ranked linear spike. Indu- 

 sium none. 



20* 



