CINNAMON FERN 



Osmunaa cinnamomea L. 



LARGE rerns, fertile and sterile rronds very unlike. 

 Sterile leaves tKree or more feet KigK, witK long stems, 

 broaaly lanceolate; stem ana blaae nearly smootn when ma- 

 ture, except for a small tuft of avooI at tKe base of eack pinna. 

 Pinnae very numerous, a few mcnes long, separated, nearly 

 opposite, linear-lanceolate, pointed; margins deeply cut into 

 numerous broad blunt segments; veins forked. Fertile fronds 

 fewer, shorter and linear, wooly, appearing in spring, green at 

 first and erect, soon turning cinnamon brown and withering; 

 blades twice divided, the divisions much contracted, bearing 

 the large globular naked sporangia which open by a longitudinal 

 slit. Spores green, shed early. Rootstock very large, shaggy, 

 creeping, producing tbe leaves in spring, the fertile ones first, 

 w^hich soon become surrounded by the circle of sterile ones. 

 The cinnamon fern is one of the largest species. It is 

 rather common, growing in wet shaded ground. 1 he sterile 

 leaves grow in graceful clusters, and in general outline resem- 

 ble those of the interrupted and the ostrich ferns. 



Huiiu Fifty-sever 



