BOTRYCHIUM. 205 



are not rolled up spirally, unrolling as they expand, but in 

 the incipient state the parts are merely folded together 

 by a flat surface. Only one species of Botrychium is 

 indigenous. 



The name is derived from the Greek hotrys, signifying 

 a cluster. 



Botrychium Lunaria, Swartz. 



The Common Moomcort. (Plate XVIII. fig. 2.) 



This is a very peculiar plant, exceedingly interesting to 

 the student, from the differences of structure and develop- 

 ment it exhibits as compared with the majority of Ferns. 

 It is an almost stemless plant, furnished with a few coarse 

 brittle fibres, and a bud springing from the permanent point 

 which represents the stem. Within this bud, before the 

 season at which the fronds are developed, they may be 

 found in an embryo condition, perfectly formed, the two 

 branches of the frond placed face to face, the fertile being 

 clasped by the barren one. This new frond springs up 

 annually, and perishes before winter, and in the ma- 

 jority of cases is not very conspicuous. The size varies 

 from three to eight or ten inches in height, the lower half 

 consisting of a smooth, erect, cylindrical, hollow stipes, the 



