6 



OSMUNDA CLAYTON IAN A 



making a handsome specimen under pot culture; requiring to 

 be grown in a shady damp situation. 



A deciduous hardy species. Native of North America. 



Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1772, 

 by Mr. Martin. 



The fronds, which are bipinnatifid, grow somewhat erect out 

 of an erect caudex, the middle portion of the frond being 

 contracted and fertile, having sterile pinnae above, and this 

 portion bending horizontally. 



The appropriateness of Michaux's name of interrupta cannot 

 be doubted, yet Linnaeus's name of 0. Claytoniana has priority 

 in its favour. 



In fronds thirty-two to thirty-three inches in length the 

 basal ten inches is naked, above which are three pairs of 

 pinna?, which are sub-opposite, three inches and a half in 

 length, distant, and occupying five inches above the stipes; 

 then come the fertile pinnae, about five pairs, occupying nine 

 more inches of the frond, above which there are sterile pinnae, 

 about eight or nine pairs, close together, touching each other, 

 and occupying the remaining nine inches of the frond, and 

 this upper portion being somewhat triangular in form. 



Stipes very hirsute, with long woolly pale red hairs. When 

 the frond is entirely sterile it is not erect, but inclined at an 

 angle of about 40°, bearing fifteen or sixteen pairs of pinnae. 

 Colour vivid green. Veins forked. 



The wood-cut illustration is from a photograph, and is intended 

 to show the habit of this exceedingly handsome Fern. 



For plants I am indebted to the late Mr. Large, of New 

 York, and to Mr. Sim, of Foot's Cray. 



It may be procured of any Nurseryman. 



The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. 



Portion of slenie Pinna. 



