132 SCHIZ.-EA PUSILLA. NEW JERSEY SCHIZ/EA. 



among the scattered oaks and Cupi^essus thuyoidcs, which shaded 

 the whole spot. Close by was an impassable swamp. This was 

 in the end of July, and a good time to show the commencement 

 of maturity in the fructification, as in the enlarged drawing, 

 Fig. 2. 



The structure is interesting in many respects. In many ferns 

 the barren fronds are the largest, the fertile fronds rather con- 

 tracting at frucdfication. Here it is reversed, the twisted thread- 

 like lines at the base being the early barren fronds. Usually the 

 twisting is described wholly in connection with these barren 

 fronds, — but as we see by our plate, the fertile ones are disposed 

 this way also. 



The peculiar structure of the infertile fronds was made the 

 subject of a communication to the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia, by Dr. J. Gibbons Hunt, in the volume for 1874. 

 He says: "The barren frond is marked on its epiderm.al surface 

 with a double line of stomata, and these organs extend the en- 

 tire length of the frond. The cells which make up the interior 

 of this delicate fern are cylindrical and vary in size, but their dis- 

 tinctive characters lie in minute projections or outgrowths from 

 all sides of the cells, and these projections meet and are reticu- 

 lated with corresponding outgrowths from the adjoining cells, so 

 that the cells of Schizaea have, penetrating between them in 

 every direction, intercellular spaces and channels of remarkable 

 regularity and beauty'; and so characteristic is this plan of cell 

 union that the botanist need find no difficulty in identifying the 

 smallest fragment of the plant." 



The name Schizcua was suggested to Sir James E. Smith, who 

 established the genus, by the manner in which the fertile frond is 

 delicately cut and divided, from the Greek word schizo, t. cut. 



Explanations of the Plate. — i. A full-sized specimen, with barren thread-like twisted fronds 

 at the base, and fertile fronds of more or less' maturity at the top. 2. An enlarged lobe or 

 boat-like division of the fertile frond, wiih sporangia or capsules just opening. 3. Fertile 

 frond. 4. Leaves of Drosera filiformis. 5. Leaves of a Carex. 6. Small branch of a 

 cranberry. 7. F onds of a moss [Hypnum). 



