WOODSIA OBTUSA. COMMON WOODSIA. 



51 



Adiantum, Asploiiiuji and Polypodnuu. Our plant seems to 

 have been known to Sprengel, a voluminous author of the first 

 quarter of our century, who probably received his specimen 

 from his Pennsylvania correspondent, Muhlenberg, and it is 

 referred to by other writers about that period as Polypodiinn 

 obtusuni. Swartz, a well-known botanical authority, especially 

 on ferns, is usually quoted by moderns for the name, but 

 we refer to Sprengel in connection with it as the proper 

 authority. As ferns became better understood it was conceded 

 not to be a Polypodiuni, and it was placed as an Aspidhun, a 

 genus established by Swartz, under which name it is recorded by 

 Muhlenberg in his catalogue issued in 1813. The genus Wood- 

 sia had been established by R. Brown before this, and Polypo- 

 dimn Uvensis and others placed therein ; and it was not until its 

 true relations were established by Dr. Torrey, that the name it 

 is now known by — Woodsia obhisa — came into general use. 



The name ]Voodsia is due to Robert Brown, who by it com- 

 memorated his friend Joseph Wood, an English botanist who in 

 the earher part of the present century attained considerable 

 celebrity by a monograph of Roses, and who continued to be a 

 valuable contributor to botanical science up to the time of his 

 death in 1864. The name obtiisuni is obvious, but why given to 

 our species is not so clear. Many of the species with which it 

 was then associated in its early history had pinnules which ter- 

 minated sharply, and some one of this character nearly allied to 

 it might have suggested a comparison with this species which 

 had them moie obtuse. At any rate the comparison which we 

 have now to make with its present family relations, is unfavora- 

 ble to its name, as some of its sister species have blunter leaves. 

 However it might have passed as an " obtuse-leaved Polypo- 

 diuvi" it is misleading to call it " obtuse-leaved Woodsia,'' as is 

 often the case in botanical works. It is an illustration ot the 

 trouble that arises from the use of specific names which mean 

 something, and is a good point for those who regard personal 

 names as much more satisfactory. Its old name of " Rock Pol) - 



