FiLiCEs. (ferns.) 671 



natifid into broadly obloiij^ obtuse divisions ; fertile fronds separate, from the 

 same rootstoclv, contracted, twice pinnate, covered witli the cinnamon-colored 

 sporangia. — Var. fuondusa is a rare occasional state, in which some of the 

 fronds are sterile below and more sparsely fertile at their summit. (O. Clay- 

 toniana, Conrad, not of//.) — Rarely such fronds are fertile in the middle. — 

 Swamps and low copses, everywhere. May. — Growing in large bunches ; the 

 fertile fronds in the centre, perfecting fruit as they unfold, 1° -2° long, decay- 

 ing before the sterile fronds (at length 4° -5° high) get their growth. 



21. BOTRYCHIUM, Swartz. Moonwort. (PI. 19.) 

 Rootstock very short, erect, with clustered fleshy roots (which are full of 

 starch, in very minute, irregular granules!) ; the base of the naked stalk con- 

 taining the bud for the next year's frond : i'rond with an anterior fertile and 

 a posterior sterile segment; the foi-mer mostly 1 -3-pinnate, the contracted 

 divisions bearing a double row of sessile naked sporangia; these are distinct, 

 rather coriaceous, not reticulated, globular, without a ring, and open transverse- 

 ly into two valves. Sterile segment of the frond ternatel}' or pinnately divided 

 or compound; veins all free. Spores copious, sulphur-color. (Name a dimin- 

 utive of /Sorpus, a cluster ofrjrapes, from the appearance of the fructification.) 

 * Sterile portion of the frond sessile or nearly so on the upper part of the common stalk. 



1. B. Lun^ria, Swartz. Sterile segment nearly sessile, borne near the mid- 

 dle of the common stalk, oblong, simpli/ pinnate with 5-15 lunate or fun-shaped 

 very obtuse crenate, incised or nearly entire, _^esAy divisions, more or less excised 

 at the base on the lower or on both sides, the veins radiating from the base and 

 repeatedly forking; fertile segment panicled, 2 -3-pinnate. — Lake Superior 

 (Lesquereux) , and sparingly northward. — Plant 4' -10' high, very fleshy 

 throughout. (Eu.) 



2. B. simplex, Hitchcock. Fronds small (2' -4', rarely 5' -6' high), the 

 sterile segment short-petioled from the middle or upper part of the common stalk, thick- 

 ish and fleshy, simple and roundish, or pinnately 3-7-lobed; the lobes roundish- 

 obovate, nearly entire, decurrent on the broad and flat indeterminate vhachis ; 

 the veins all forking from the base ; fertile segment simjile or 1 - 2-pinnatb. — Maine 

 to New York, and northward : rare. (Eu.) 



3. B. lanceolatum, Angstrrem. Fronds small (3' -8' high); the sterile 

 segment closi'ly sessile near the top of the long and slender common stalk, somewhat 

 fleshy, in the smallest ones 3-loI)C(l, in larger ones broadly triangular, tcriiatily 

 twice pinnatifjd ; the divisions lanceolate, incised or toothed ; veins forking from a 

 midcein; fertile part 2 -3-pinnate. (B. simplex of former cd.) — New England 

 and New Jersey (C. F.Austin) to Ohio and Lake Superior (//. (Jdlman). Julv. 

 (Eu.) 



4. B. Virginicum, Swartz. Fronds tidl and ample; sterile segment sessile 

 above the midlife cf the nmmon stalk, broadly triangular, thin and membranaceous, 

 tt male ; the sliort-stalked primary dieisions onre or tnn're pinnate, and then once or 

 twice jiinnatifid ; the oblong lobes cut-toothed towards the apex ; reins forking 

 from a niidrehi; fertile part 2 - 3-pinnate. — Plant l°-2° high, or often reduced 

 to a few inches, when it is B. gracile, f'ursh. — Rich woods : common. June, 

 July. (Eu.) 



