278 Proceedings of the Ohio State Academy of Science. 



ovate or oblong. Sporangiophore long-stalked, much branched. 

 Low woods and open places: Root contraction ver}^ prominent. 

 General in Ohio. 



6. B otrychiuin . dissectiim Spreng. Cutleaf Grape-fern. 



Plant rather robust with a much dissected leaf blade on a 

 long stalk from near the base of the common petiole, the sporan- 

 giophore also long-stalked and much branched. Ultimate seg- 

 ments laciniate. Roots with prominent contraction. In various 

 habitats, meadows and open woods. General in the state. 



7. Botrychinin- virginidnnni (L.) Sw. Virginia Grape-fern. 



A plant from 1-2 feet high with a large, ternate, mem- 

 branous leaf, sessile on the common petiole ; sporangiophore long- 

 stalked, 2-3-pinnate. In rich woods and moist rocky ravines. 

 General and common in the state. 



Subclass, Leptosporangiatae. 



Sporangia arising from the epidermal cells commonly 

 stalked. 



Order, Filicales. 



Osniundaccac. Royal Fern Family. 



Large ferns with 1-2-pinnate leaves with free veins. Spor- 

 angia large, globose, without a ring. 



3. Osmunda L. 



Tall ferns, growing in moist places, swamps or bogs, in large 

 rosettes or crowns. Sporangia opening by a longitudinal cleft 

 into two halves. 



1 . Leaves truly bipinnate fertile at the apex ; veins in the pinnules once 

 and twice dichotomous O. regalis. 



1. Sterile leaves bipinnatifid. 2. 



2. Leaves with fertile pinnae in the middle, sterile pinnae without a 



tuft of tomentum at the base O. claytoniana. 



