OF EDUCATION 77 



color, and both sides are polished. The rachis is 

 divided into two parts, each of which are again 

 divided into five parts, called the secondary rachises. 

 They are of a lighter color than the stipe, and are 

 grooved. There are eleven pinnae, the longest be- 

 ing about seven inches in length, and the shortest 

 only about an inch and a half in length. The frond 

 is about ten inches in breadth, and six in height. 

 The general shape is very much like a fan. The 

 pinnules average about one-third of an inch in 

 breadth, and one-half an inch in length. They are 

 of a pale green color, and the veinlets are forking. 

 The under side of the pinnules is not as smooth as 

 the upper. The lower margin is entire, but the up- 

 per margin is notched, and the edge of the pinnules 

 next the stipe is parallel to it. The stem is very 

 short and fine. There are about thirty pinnules on 

 the largest pinnae, and on the smaller ones about 

 fifteen. The sori grow in a very curious manner. 

 A small portion of the edge of the pinnule is turned 

 over, with the sori underneath. They are crescent 

 shaped, and are very small. It would take five hun- 

 dred of them placed side by side to reach one inch. 



" The Adiantum pedatum grows in all the States 

 east of the Mississippi River, except Florida, and in 

 Washington Territory, Oregon, California, and Utah 

 Territory. It also grows in British America as far 



