

, s 



:M ' 



CLIMBING 1-I-RN FAMILY. j 



Family 4. SCHIZAEACEAE Re-ida-nl>. C<.nsp. 39. 1828. 

 Ferns of various habit, with simple- <.r pinnate- k-avcs. Sporanges borne 

 in spikes or panicles, ovoid, sessile, provided with an apk-al riiie oDcniiiL' vcrti- 



1111*. 1*1<*. o *** 



cally by a longitudinal slit. 



F il e Kenera and about 7.5 species, the following genera repreaentt.l in the north temperate 

 zone, the others tropical in distribution. 



Sporanges in close 2-ranked spikes ; leaves filiform. 

 Sporanges in ample panicles ; pinnules palmate. 



i. SCHIZAEA J. E. Smith, Mem. Acad. Tor. 5 : 4 i y . />/. ,<,. j. 9 . 



Small slender ferns with filiform or linear leaves, the fertile distinct from the t< 

 Sporanges sessile in close distichous spikes along the single vein of the narrow division* of 

 the fertile leaves, provided with a complete apical ring. [Greek, in allusion to the cleft 



leaves of some species.] 



A genus of 16 species, of wide geographic distribu- 

 tion, mostly in tropical regions. 



i. Schizaea pusilla Pursh. Curly-gni^. 

 (Fig. 12.) 



Sell izaea pusilla Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 657. 1814. 



Sterile leaves linear, very slender and tortuous. 

 Fertile leaves longer, 3'-5' high, the fertile por- 

 tion terminal, consisting of about 5 pairs of 

 crowded pinnae, forming a distichous spike ; 

 sporanges ovoid or pyriform, sessile in two rows 

 along the single vein of the narrow incurved linear 

 divisions of the fertile leaf, partially concealed by 

 its incurved margins which are hooded at the apex 

 and ciliate ; ring apical, the sporanges opening by 

 a vertical slit. 



In wet soil, pine barrens of New Jersey and in 

 Nova Scotia. Rare and local. Aug. -Sept. 



2. LYGODIUM Sw. Schrad. Jouni. Hot. 2: 106. 1800. 



Twining or climbing ferns, the lower divisions sterile, variously stalked and lobed. the 

 fertile terminal, panicled. Sporanges ovoid, solitary or two together in the axils of imbri- 

 cated scale-like indusia, provided with an apical ring, opening vertically. Indusia fixe-1 by 

 their broad bases to short oblique veinlets. [Greek, in allusion 10 the flexible stipes.] 



Sixteen species, mostly of tropical distribution. 



i. Lygodium palmatum i lk-rnh. Sw. 

 Climbing Fern. Hartford Kern. 

 fig 



Gisopteris pahnata Ik- rah E "^ 



1800. 

 Lygodium palnialum s 



Rootstock slender, creeping. Stipes slei 

 flexible and twining ; leaves i-j long, their short 

 alternate branches 2-forked, i bearing 



nearly orbicular 4-;-lobed pinnule which is more 

 or less cordate at the base with narrow sinus ; 

 surfaces naked ; fertile pinnules contracted, sev- 

 eral times forked, forming a terminal pa 

 sporauges solitary, l>ornc on the alternate vein* 

 which spring from the flexuous midvein of the 

 segments, each covered by a scale-like indnsium. 



In moist tlm-k.-t* ;uil 'jx-u m HXJS. , 



Peiinsylv.ini.i. -'>uth ti Florida and 1 



tvnd* to 2100 ft. iii ca>trni 1 





