414 OSMUNDACEAE. 



prothallia (gametophyte). On these are borne the reproductive 

 organs, the female known as archegones, the male as antherids. 

 From the fertilization of the egg in the archegone by spermato- 

 zoids produced in the antherid, the asexual phase (sporophyte) of 

 the plant is developed; this phase is represented by an ordinary 

 fern, lycopod or horsetail. Comprising about 6000 living species, 

 of Avhich more than three fourths are confined to tropical regions. 

 The native species have all reached Bermuda by spores carried on 

 the wind. 



Spores produced in sporanges borne on the leaves, or panicled or in special con- 

 ceptacles. 



Spores all alike ; Bermuda species all terrestrial plants. Order 1. Filicales. 



Spores of two sizes : small floating plants. Order 2. Salviniales. 



Spores produced in sporanges borne in the axils of scale-like 



leaves. Order 3. Lycopodiales. 



Order 1. FILICALES. 



Spores, all of one kind and size, produced in sporanges, which are 

 borne usually in clusters (sori), on the back of a leaf, or on greatly modi- 

 fied pinnae. 



Sporanges opening vertically, panicled, with a rudimentary ring ; marsh ferns. 



Fam. 1. OSMUXDACEAE. 



Sporanges opening transversely, provided with a vertical 



ring, borne in sori on the back or margin of a leaf. Fam. 2. Polypodiaceae. 



Family 1. OSMUNDACEAE R. Br. 



Royal Fern Family. 



Large ferns with stout often erect rootstocks, 1-2 pinnate leaves which 

 are coiled in vernation, the veins free, mostly forked, running to the 

 margins of the pinnules or lobes. Sporanges large, globose, with mere 

 traces of an elastic ring of cells or none, borne on modified contracted 

 pinnae or in clusters (sori) on the lower surfaces of the pinnules. Three 

 genera; only one American. 



1. OSMUNDA [Tourn.] L. 



Tall marsh ferns, growing in large crowns, with the fertile (spore-bearing) 

 portions very much contracted, the short-pedicelled naked sporanges on the 

 margins of their rachis-like divisions, which are destitute of chlorophyll. Veins 

 forked, regular and prominent. Sporanges thin, reticulated, opening by a 

 longitudinal cleft into two halves, a few parallel thickened cells near the apex 

 representing the rudimentary transverse ring. Spores green. [From Osmunder, 

 a name for the god Thor.] Eight species, mostly of the north temperate zone. 

 Type species: Osmunda regalis L. 



Leaves biplnnate, fertile at the apex. 1. O. regalis. 



Sterile leaves once pinnate ; pinnae of sterile leaf with a tuft of 



tomentum at base : fertile leaf distinct from sterile. 2. O. cinnamomea. 



