530 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



A synonym of Onosinodium (which 



OSMODIUM. 



see). 



OSMUNDA (from Osmunder. another name of the 

 Scandinavian god Thor). OED. Filices. A small genus 

 (about half-a-dozen species) of handsome, greenhouse or 

 hardy ferns, hardly at all tropical. Sori quite distinct 

 from the leafy part of the frond, forming a panicle made 

 up of copious, thyrsoid clusters. The species in culti- 

 vation are generally known as Flowering Ferns, and. 

 with the exception of 0. javanica, are particularly suitable 

 for the hardy fernery. They thrive best in a compost 

 of turfy loam and peat, to which some river sand may be 

 added. See also Ferns. 



O. clnnamomea (cinnamon).* sti. densely tinted, the barren and 

 fertile ones distinct, barren fronds simply pinnate, 2ft. to 3ft. 

 long, 6in. to Sin. broad, having stipes from 1ft. to IJft. long ; 

 pinnae close, ligulate-lanceolate, 3in. to 4in. long, jin. to lin. 

 broad, cut down nearly to the rachis. fertile fronds much 

 smaller ; pinnae lanceolate. Canada to Oregon Mountains, Japan, 

 &c., 1772. Young plants densely clothed with ferruginous 

 tomentum. See Fig. 781 (page 529). Of this handsome species, 

 there is a variety, known as anqustata, which is smaller in all 

 its parts, and with darker fronds, than the type. 



O. Claytoniana (Clayton's).* sti. tufted, 1ft. or more long, 

 tonientose when young, fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, Sin. to 12in. 

 broad, the upper, central, or lower pinnae fertile ; barren pinnae 

 lanceolate, 4m. to 6in. long, lin. or more broad, cut down nearly 

 to the rachis ; fertile pinnae similar, but shorter ; pinnules dense, 

 cylindrical. North America and Himalayas, 1772. A very 

 beautiful species. SYN. 0. interrupta. See Fig. 782. 



O. interrupta (interrupted). A synonym of 0. Claytoniana. 



O. javanica (Java).* sti. tufted, 6in. to 12in. long, firm, erect, 

 naked, fronds 1ft. to 3ft. long, Sin. to 12in. broad, simply 

 pinnate, the lower or central pinnae fertile.; barren pinnae 4in. to 

 8in. long, |in. to |in. broad, cuneate at the base, and often 

 slightly stalked, the edge entire or sharply toothed; fertile 

 pinnae shorter, made up of numerous close, but distinct, oblong, 

 sessile clusters. Kamschatka to Java and Ceylon. Greenhouse. 

 SYNS. 0. Presliana and O. Vachellii. 



Osmunda contin ued. 



FIG. 782. OSMUNDA CLAYTOMANA. 



O. lancea (lance-like), fronds, barren and fertile ones distinct 

 the former about 1ft. long, oblong, shortly acuminate ; pinnae 

 oblong, acuminate, about 5in. Ions, stalked, the lowest rather 

 reduced; pinnules narrow-lanceolate, Ijin. long, Jin. broad, 

 narrowed at both ends, sessile, distinct, slightly toothed up- 

 wards, fertile fronds ternate-decompound. Japan. 



O. Presliana (Presl's). A synonym of 0. javanica. 



FIG. 783 PORTION OF FERTILE FROND OK OSMUNDA 



REGALIS. 



Royal Fern. sti. tufted, 12in. to 18in. long, 



fronds 2ft. to 6ft. long, 1ft. or more broad, 

 6in. to 12in. long, 2in. 



O. regalis (royal).* 

 firm, erect, naked, 



bipinnate, the apex fertile ; barren pinnae 



to 4in. broad ; pinnules sessile or slightly stalked, lin. to 2in. 

 long, iin. to Jin. broad, oblong, blunt, often unequal at the base, 

 the edge finely serrulate ; fertile pinnules cylindrical, forming a 

 copious panicle. Britain. This really noble fern is too well 

 known to require any eulogy. See Fig. 783. The form called 

 cristata is very desirable, and differs from the type in having the 

 ends of the fronds and all the pinnae finely crested. Another, 

 corymbifera (see Fig. 784), has, also, curiously forked and crested 

 fronds. 0. palustris is a slender, small-growing form, in which 

 the young fronds are reddish in colour. 



O. Vachellii (Vac 



>f 0. javanica. 



OSSJEA (named after Don Antonio de la Oasa, once 

 Director of the Botanic Garden at Havannah, Cuba). 

 STN. Sagrcea. OBD. Melastomacece. A rather large 

 genus (about forty species) of stove shrubs or sub- 

 shrubs, confined to tropical America. Flowers usually 

 small, cymose or paniculate; petals four, rarely five. 

 Leaves petiolate. opposite, and ternately whorled, rarely 

 large, entire or slightly toothed. The undermentioned 

 species probably the only one in cultivation requires 

 treatment similar to Melastoma (which see). 



O. fascicularis (fascicled). iL white, disposed in many-flowered 

 fascicles; petals taper-pointed. I. 4in. to 6in. long, 'elliptical, 

 tapering at the base, pointed, eminently triplinerved, ciliated and 

 roughish on both sides with scattered, minute hairs. A. 6ft. to 

 10ft. Jamaica. 



