CLASS XXIV. ORDER I. 423 



About a foot high with broad, entire leafets, with the fructifi- 

 cation diverging like veins from the midrib. — Swamps and low 

 woods. 



431. PTERIS. 

 Pteris aquilina. L. Common Brake. 



Frond more than decompound ; divisions pinnate; 

 segments oblong-lanceolate, the lower ones pinnatifid, 

 upper ones entire and smaller. 



Very-common in woods, and about the borders of fields and 

 pastures. Stipe erect, smooth, dividing by large, opposite 

 branches, which are again subdivided. Segments or leafets ses- 

 sile, oblong, tapering to an obtuse point, the lower ones largest, 

 their edge divided into large, obtuse teeth, by a sort of serpen- 

 tine line ; upper ones entire, obtuse. The fructification grows 

 in a continued, narrow line at the edges of the frond, and is cov- 

 ered by its reflexed margin. — Perennial. 



432. WOODWARDIA. 



WooDWARDiA oNOCLEoiDES. WUld. Simple Woodwardia. 



Barren fronds pinnatifid, the segments lanceolate, 

 repand, slightly serrulate; fertile fronds pinnate; 

 segments linear, entire, acute. 

 Syn. Onoclea nodulosa. Mr. 



About a foot high. Stipe smooth or slightly paleaceous. Bar- 

 ren frond composed of oblong-lanceolate segments connected at 

 base, the lower ones often distinct, the edges minutely but sharp- 

 ly serrulate. Barren fronds about the same length with linear 

 divisions, revolute at the edge, bearing the fruit in oblong masses 

 on the back, parallel to the middle rib. — Wet swamps. — Pe- 

 rennial. 



Woodwardia Virginica. Willd. Virginian Woodwardia. 

 Frond pinnate; the divisions pinnatifid; fructifica- 

 tion in interrupted lines near the midrib of the divis- 

 ions and segments. Mx: sub. syn. 



