FiLiCEs. (ferns.) 683 



to the miMrih, confluent when ri])e and covering the nnder surface of the now 

 fully opened sc<^nients ; sterile fronds on nuich shorter stipes, with ovate or 

 ohovatc decurrent and crenately toothed or incised segments. (Allosorus 

 acrostichoides, Sprengel.) — On rocks, from L. Superior westward and north- 

 ward. — Very near C. crispa of Eu. 



8. WOODWARDIA, Smith. Ciiain-Fern. (PI. 17.) 

 Fruit-dots oblong or linear, arranged in one or more chain-like rows on trans- 

 verse anastomosing veinlets parallel and near to the midrib. Indusium fixed 

 by its outer margin to the fruitful veinlet, free and opening on the side ne.xt 

 the midrib. Veins more or less reticulated, free toward the margin of the 

 frond. — Large ferns, witli pinnatifid or pinnate fronds. (Named for J'/tomns 

 J. Woodward, an English botanist.) 



§ 1. ANCHfSTEA. Sterile and fertile fronds alike; veins forming onli/ one 

 row of meshes [areoles). 



1. W. Virginica, Smith. (PI. 17, fig. 4, 5.) Fronds (2-3° high) pin- 

 nate, with numerous lanceolate pinnatifid pinnai; segments oblong; veins 

 fornn'ng a row of narrow areoles along the midrib both of the pinna and of 

 tlie lobes, the outer veinlets free ; fruit-dots oblong, one to each areole, con- 

 fluent when ripe. — Wet swamps, Maine to Ark., and southward. Kootstocks 

 creeping, often 6-8*^ long ! July. 



§ 2. LORINSilRIA. Sterile and fertile fronds unlike ; veins of the sterile 

 fronds forming many rows of meshes. 



2. W. angUStifolia, Smith. (PI. 17, fig. 1-3.) Fronds pinnatifid; 

 sterile ones (12-18' high) with lanceolate serrulate divisions united by a broad 

 wing; fertile fronds taller, with narrowly linear almost disconnected division.'*, 

 the areoles and fruit-dots (4-5" long) in a single row each side of the second- 

 ary midribs ; rootstocks creeping. — Wet woods, New Eng., near the coast, to 

 Ark., and southward ; rare. Aug., Sept. 



9. ASPLENIUM, L. Spleexavort. (PI. 18.) 

 Fruit-dots oblong or linear, oblique, separate ; the straight, or rarely curved, 

 indusium fixed lengthwise by one edge to the upper (inner) side of the fertile 

 vein ; — in .some species a part of the fruit-<lots are double, the fertile vein bear- 

 ing two indusia placed back to back. Veins free in all our species. (Name 

 from o- privative and a-n\-i]v, the spleen, for supposed remedial properties.) 

 § 1. ASPLENIUM proper. Indusium straight or slighfli/ ctin'ed, attached to 

 the upper side of the vein, rareli/ double. 

 * Small evergreen ferns ; frauds pinnatifid, or pinnate nnlg near the base. 

 1. A. pinnatifidum, Nutt. Fronds (3 - C long) lanceolate, /)/nna/(/?</, 

 or pinnate below, tapering above into a slender prolongation, " the apex sometimes 

 rooting"; lobes roundish-ovate, obtuse, or the lowest pair long-acuminate ; fruit- 

 dots irregular, those next the midrib often double, even the slender prolonga- 

 tion fertile. — On cliiTs and rocks, Penn. to Mo., and southward; very rare. 

 July. — Kesembles the Walking-Leaf ((^amptosorus), but the veins arc free. 

 Stipes brownish, becoming green above, and so jnisstng into the broad pale green 

 midrib. 



