* FILICALES 



regions, while over one hundred species of ferns 

 have been found growing naturally in Florida. 



KEY TO THE ORDERS 



Leaves with broad or narrow, entire; toothed, or dissected 

 blades. Fern-like plants. Order 1. FILICALES. 



Leaves scale-like or subulate. 



Brush-like plants or rush- 

 like plants. Order 2. LYCOPODIALES. 



Order 1. FILICALES 



Terrestrial or epiphytic, or in one family aquatic, 

 plants, various in habit. Sporangia developed 

 normally from single epidermal cells, variously dis- 

 posed, mainly upon the under surface of the leaf, 

 commonly in clusters (sori) upon the veins, or with- 

 in special marginal indusia; or, less commonly, irregu- 

 larly or in rows upon slender more or less non- 

 foliose pinnae or segments, often opening along a 

 line of parallel, thickened cells, called the ring. 

 Spores of one sort. Indusia various in form, or 

 wanting. Prothallia flattish or filamentous, green, 

 terrestrial or epiphytic. Includes several families, 

 four of which occur in our range. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES 



Leaves with filmy translucent blades : sporangia sessile on a 

 filiform receptacle. Fam. 1. HYMENOPHYLLACEAE. 



Leaves with herbaceous or 

 leathery blades : sporan- 

 gia on normal or modified 

 leaf -blades. 



Sporangia in panicles or 

 spikes developed from 

 modified leaves or 

 parts of leaves. 

 Sporangia nearly globose, 

 with a rudimentary 

 ring. Fam. 2. OSMUNDACEAE. 



