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1905] BRIEFER ARTICLES 457° 
discloses unique characters which alone mark them as a natural group 
entitled to generic rank.. Considering, in addition, the anomalous character 
of their embryos as illustrated by Botrychium obliquum, it appears at once 
desirable to segregate them as a distinct genus. 
The writer would therefore suggest the name Sceptridium (from oxjr- 
tpov), in allusion to the scepter-like sporangiophore. 
SCEPTRIDIUM, a new genus of Ophioglossaceae. 
Stem subterranean, short, erect, with many clustered roots. Sporophyll 
dividing near the stem into a long petioled sporangiophore and a shorter 
petioled sterile segment. Sporangiophore erect, bi-, tri-, or even quadri- : 
pinnate, bearing naked, spherical sporangia in two rows. Sterile segment 
inserted obliquely near or at the surface of the ground, ternately divided 
orcompound. Gametophyte tuberous, subterranean, saprophytic, monoe- 
cious. Embryo with a suspensor and without a pronounced lateral coty- 
ledon; its axis ctraight, the root emerging from the lower side of the 
game‘ ophyte. 
To this genus should be referred the following described but ill-defined 
species and varieties: 
Sceptridium australe (R. Br.).—Botrychium australe R. Br., Prodr. 
Fl. Nov. Holl. 164. 1810. 
Sceptridium biforme (Colenso)—Botrychium bijorme Colenso, Trans. 
New Zeal. Inst. 18:223. 1886. 
Sceptridium biternatum (Lam.)—Osmunda biternata Lam., Encyc. 
Meth. Bot. 4:650. 1797. Botrychium biternatum (Lam.) Underw., Bor. 
GazerTE 22:407. 1896. one 
; Sceptridium californicum (Underw.).— Botrychium californicum Un- 
erw., Torreya 5: 107. 1905. 
: en Poe oleh Botrychium Coulteri Underw., Bull. 
orr. Bot. Club 25:537. 1808. : ere 
2 Sceptridium a (Hook. & Grev.).—Botrychium daucijolium 
Ook. & Grev., Ic. Fil. 2: pl. 161. 1831. : 
ay ae (Mart. & Gal.).—Botrychium decompo- 
Silum Mart. & Gal., Mém. Acad. Sci. Bruxelles 15:—(15)- pl. 1. 1842. 
r Sceptridium dissectum (Spreng.)—Botrychium dissectum Spreng. 
nleit. 3:172. 1804. ae ee 
_ Sceptridium Pie (Prantl) —Botrychium ene ee ae 
‘cum Prantl, Jahrb. Bot. Gartens Berlin 3:349- 1834. vars 
Mponicum (Prantl) Underw., Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 2§:538: § - ae 
Ptridium Jenmani (Underw.).—Botrychium Neamt a nil 
Bull. 8:59. 1900. 
