398 ACROGENOUS PLANTS 



pinnules (which are contracted to the mere rachis), thin and reticu- 

 lated, not striate-rayed at summit, opening by a slit across the top 

 into 2 valves. Spores green. Fronds tall and upright, bipinnate, or 

 simply pinnate ; veins forking and free. 



f Fronds bipinnate, the pinnules substipitate, serrulate. 



1. O. Specttifoilis, Willd. Smooth; sterile pinnules lance- 

 oblong, oblique but not auricled at base ; fertile pinnules forming 

 a terminal racemose panicle. 



SHOWY OSMUNDA. Flowering Fern. 



Fronds 3 to 4 feet high, branching, pale greyish green; sterile pinnules 1 to 2 

 inches long, the veins a little prominent; fertilt pinnules contracted, covered with 

 clusters of small capsules, which are. at first, pale greenish-tawny, finally ferrugi- 

 nous ; panicle oblong, 4 to 8 inches in length. 

 Hob. Moist meadows, and thickets : frequent. Fr. July, 

 f f Fronds pinnate, the fertile portion bipinnate; sterile pinnae merely pinnatijuf. 



2. O, Claytoiliaiia, L. Loosely woolly when young, soon 

 smooth ; pinnae oblong-lanceolate, some of the middle ones fertile ; 

 sporanges brownish. 



0. interrupta. MX. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 5&5. 

 CLAYTON'S OSMUNDA. 



Fronds! to near 2 feet long, and 3 to 6 inches wide, lance-oblong in their out- 

 line; pinnae 2 to 4 inches long. Fertile pinnae in 2 to 4 pairs, near the middle of 

 the frond ; common radds channelled above ; stipe 6 to 9 inches long, channelled, 

 smoothish, chaffy-tomentose at base. 

 Hob. Moist low grounds, and thickets : frequent. Fr. June, July. 



3. O. cinnamoiiiea, L. Clothed with tusset wool when 

 young, the sterile fronds finally snlooth ; fertile fronds separate, 

 contracted, racemose, covered with clfinamon-cotared sporanges. 

 CINNAMON-COLORED OSMUNDA. 



Sterile and fertile fronds growing together in bunches, "but distinct, the sterile 

 ones most numerous, 1 to 2 feet in length, and 5 to 10 inches wide, lance-oblong in 

 their outline ; pinnae 3 to 6 inches long ; stipe 9 to 18 inches long. Fertile fronds 

 9 to 18 inches long, and about an inch wide ; pinnae all fertile 1 to 1% inches 

 long, erect, lanuginous; pinnules crowded, covered with clusters of minute cap- 

 pules; stipe 1 to 2 feet long, rather stout, and, with the rachis, clothed with a 

 long loose membranaceous reddish tomentum. 

 Hah. Moist low grounds : frequent. Fr. July, Aug. 



SUBORDER III. OPHIOGLOSS'EAE. 



Kporanges spiked, in double rows, naked, coriaceous and bpaque, not reticulated, 

 destitute of a ring, opening by a transverse slit into 2 valves, discharging the 

 copious dust-like sulphur-colored spores. Fronds straight, never circinate in the 

 bud. 



523. BOTRYCO'IITM, Swartz. 



[Gr. Botrys, a cluster of grapes ; in allusion to the fructification.] 

 Frond rising straight from the clustered roots, with the sterile and 

 fertile portions distinct, the lateral portion sterile, spreading, 

 ternately divided, with forking free veins, the terminal portion 

 wholly fertile, erect, contracted into pinnately panicled spikes. 

 Sporanges. clustered, but distinct. 



