Portion of Frond. 



LTGODIUM PALMATUM. 



SWARTZ. SCHKUHR. MOORE. J. SMITH. 



PLATE LXXIV. VOL. VIII. 



Hydroglossum palmatum, 



Willdenow. 



Lygodium — From lygodes — flexible, in allusion to the twining habit of the 

 plants. Palmatum — Hand-shaped. 



An interesting, very slender, climbing Fern. 



A greenhouse or half-hardy species. 



Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1845, by Dr. 

 A. Gray. 



Native of North America. 



Sterile fronds smooth, brilliant green, and conjugate; pinnae 

 palmate, four to six-lobed in the barren portion, that is, 

 the lower portion of the frond; the lobes oblong-obtuse and 

 somewhat crenulate. 



Fertile fronds contracted into small spikes; segments linear. 



The fronds, which are palmate, that is, divided into five 

 finger-like parts, are much more dwarf than in the majority 

 of this genus. 



Roots creeping every way in an intricate mass. 



Length of frond from twelve to thirty-four inches. 



