494- fp:hn family. 



W. angustif61ia, Smith. Fronds (V-V2' I0112;, 4'-n' broad, pimiatifid 

 almost to tho \viiij;ed rliacliis into 17-27 lobes, which are broadly lanceo- 

 late with copiously reticulated veins in the sterile frond, but are nar- 

 rowly linear in the fertile, with a sinijle row of narrow meshes next 

 the midrib ; fruit dots linear, sausage-siiaped, one in each mesh. N. Eng., 

 S., near the coast ; also on L. Mich., Ark., etc. 



11. BLECHNTJM. (Old Greek name.) 



B. Brasiliense, Dosv. Trunk 2°-^° high, from the top of which arise 

 many long, obloug-lanceolatp, pinnatifid fronds, curving outwards 2°-3° ; 

 segments very numerous and leathery. Brazil and Peru. 



B. occidenia/e, Linn. Fronds arising from the surface of the ground, 

 9'-18' long, and half as broad, pinnate ; the pinii* (5-12 opposite pairs of 

 leathery texture and oblong and entire, with an auricled or hearl-shapod 

 base. W. Indies. 



12. ASPLENIUM, SPLEENWORT. (Greek: refers to supposed 

 action on the spleen.) A very large genus, the size of the species 

 ranging from quite small up to very large and even tree-like. 



§ 1. Fronds undivided, large and slioicy ; cult, from East Indies, etc. 



A. N)dus, Linn. Bird's-nest Fern. Fronds numerous, broadly lance- 

 olate, 2"-4° long, 4'-8' wide, entire, short-stalked, arranged in a crown 

 around the central upright rootstock ; fruit dots very narrow, elongated, 

 crowded, running from the stout midrib obliquely half way to the margin. 



§ 2. Fronds small, pinnatifid heJow, tapering into a long, entire point; 

 native. 



A. pinnatifidum, Nutt. Very rare, near Philadelphia, and sparingly 

 \V. and S., especially along the Alleghanies ; fronds 3'-6' long, ^"-1;' 

 wide at the base ; lobes roundish-ovate, mostly obtuse ; fruit dots small, 

 irregular. ^^ Fronds simphj pinnate. 



* Small ferns, 4'-lo' high. 



A. Trichdmanes, Linn. Common, forming dense tufts in crevices of 

 shady rocks ; fnmds linear, 4'-8' Imig, with black and shining stalk and 

 rhaciiis, and many roundish or oblong, slightly crenated or entire pinnie, 

 about \' long and about half as broad ; fruit dots few to each pinna. 



A. ebfeneum. Ait. Frequent in rocky woods ; fronds linear-lanceolate, 

 narrower at the base, 8'-15' long, l'-2' wide; stalk dark and polished; 

 pinn;e many, linear-oblong, often slightly curved, finely serrate, auricled 

 on one or biith sides at the base ; fruit dots numerous. 



A. flabeltifbiium, Cav. Cult, from Australia; lax, the rhachis often 

 prolonged and rooting at the very end ; fronds linear ; pinnae sharply 

 wedged-shaped at the base, the broad and rounded end crenated ; fruit 

 dots irregularly radiating from the base of the i^innie. 



* * Large ferns, l°-3° high. 



A. angustif61iuin, Michx. Rich woods, N., and S. mainly along the 

 mountains ; fronds thin, long-lanceolate ; pinn;^ many, 3'-4' long, linear- 

 lanceolate from a truncate or rounded base, acuminate, nearly entire ; 

 those of the fertile frond narrower; fruit dots slightly curved, very 

 numerous. ^, ^_ ^,.^,,^,/^. ^,^,,,.,, ,,^,,,^ ^^^^^.^. ^, .„„„^^ 



* Frnil dots more than one in each smallest division of the frond. 



A. Rtita-muraria, Linn. Wall Rue. On exposed cliffs of limestone, 

 from Vt., W. and 8. ; fronds small, l'-4' long, ovate, twice or thrice pin- 



