416 CLASS XXIV. ORDER I. 



alternate, forked near the stem, supporting two leaves of fronds, 

 which are palniately divided into from five to nine lanceolate or 

 oblong, obtuse segments, paler underneath. The fructification 

 is found on the upper fronds, which grow like the lower on 

 forked stalks, but are subdivided by alternate branches into a mul- 

 titude of small, oblong-linear segments, having the fruit in two 

 imbricated rows on the back. — At the Botanic garden, Cam- 

 bridge, brought from Granby, Massachusetts. — On the Blackstone 

 canal. — Mr. Eddy. 



424. OSMUNDA. 

 OsMUNDA ciNNAMOMEA. jL. Tall OsMunda. 



Barren fronds pinnate; divisions elongated, pinna- 

 tifid ; segments nearly oval and entire; fertile fronds 

 with opposite racemes. Mich. 



This noble fern grows in large bunches in damp woods and 

 low grounds, sometimes attaining to the length of a man. The 

 greatest part of the plant is composed by the barren fronds, 

 which are pinnate, their divisions cut into oblong, tapering, 

 rounded, and somewhat acute segments. The fruit grows on a 

 small separate frond, resembling a cluster of minute, brownish 

 seeds. Its stipe is invested with loose, reddish Avood, its divis- 

 ions opposite, and completely covered with small, two valved, 

 globular capsules. — Perennial. 



OsMUNDA iNTERRUPTA. Mich. Iitterrtipied Fern. 



Fronds pinnate; divisions opposite, pinnatifid ; seg- 

 ments nearly oval and entire ; some of the intermedi- 

 ate divisions fruitful. Mich. abr. 



A pretty large, smooth fern, in habit resembling the last. 

 The divisions of ihe frond are principally opposite, or nearly so, 

 and subdivided into segments, much like the last species. Only 

 a few pairs of the divisions, occupying a central part of the 

 frond, become fruitful. These are much shorter than the rest; 

 when full grown, they resemble compound, pyramidal racemes, 

 and are covered on all sides with minute, brownish capsules. — 

 Low grounds. — Perennial. 



