CLASS XXIV. ORDER I. 415 



Stems nearly erect, simple or dichotomous. Leaves in about 

 eight rows, longer than in any of the preceding species, linear- 

 lanceolate, somewhat reflexed, distinctly serrate, very acute, pol- 

 ished on both sides. Capsules axillary, semicircular. A small 

 stem bulb is sometimes found occupying the place of a leaf. — 

 Shady borders of ponds, &c. 



422. BOTRYCHIUM. 

 BoTRYCHitJM FUMARioiDES. JVUld. Small BotrycMum. 

 Stipe naked ; frond glabrous, radical, three parted- 

 bipinnate ; segments crenate ; spikes bipinnate. 



A rather small fern with a single frond given off from the 

 stipe near the root. This frond is petioled, more or less com- 

 pound according to the size of the plant, but commonly ternate, 

 the divisions pinnate and pinnatifid. Capsules globular, sessile, 

 in two rows on the branchlets of a bipinnate panicle. — Dry pas- 

 tures, Cambridge. 



BoTRYCHiuM ViRGiNicuM. WUld. Rattlesnake Fern. 



Stipe bearing the frond in the middle; frond three 

 parted-bipinnatifid, segments cut-toothed ; spikes bi- 

 pinnate. 



Many times larger than the foregoing. The frond, which is 

 given off about half way up the stem, is nearly sessile, divided 

 into three principal branches, which are twice pinnate, the divis- 

 ions pinnatifid and the segments toothed. Capsule in a twice 

 pinnate, terminal panicle of little spikes. — Woods, Chelsea beach 

 island. 



423. LYGODIUM. 

 Lygodium palmatum. Sw. Climbing Lygodium. 



Stem flexuoiis, climbing; fronds conjugate, cordate, 

 palmate with five lobes, lobes entire, obtuse : spike- 

 lets oblong-linear, in a compound terminal panicle. 



8]jn. Hydroglossum palmatum. Pursh. 

 Cteisium paniculatum. Mx. 

 An exceedingly delicate plant, and, I believe, the only climb- 

 ing fern in our latitudes. Stem slender, smooth. Petioles 



