IB 



HARD FERN. 



^pffnp^^, |ipws, ^t. 



Osmunda spicant, Linn. 82}- PI- 1523; Lightf. 

 Fl. Scot. 654 ; Huds. Fl. Ang. 450 ; Bolt. 

 Fil. Brit. 8, t. 6. 

 Osmunda spicanthus, With. Arr. 763. 

 Blechnum spicant, With. Arr. 765 ; Moore, 



185. 

 Lomaria spicant (Desv.) ; Smith, Journ. Bot. iv. 

 166 ; Newm. N. A. 9, F. 89, Phyt. App. iv. 

 Blechnum boreale (Swartz), Sm. E. F. iv. 316, 

 E.B. 1159; Mack. Fl. Hib. 343 ; Franc. 

 47 ; Hook, and Am. 575 ; Bab. 415. 

 The figures of this species are generally cha- 

 racteristic, but the nomenclature is very confused, 

 both as regards genus and species. In the first 

 place, the genus Osmunda, under which it was 

 placed by Linneus, is now, by universal consent, 

 confined to ferns of a very different group ; and, 

 in the second place, the specific name of spicant 

 is not in accordance with the general usage of 

 science, which requires such names to be Latin 

 (^ words, or words constructed in imitation of the 

 (v\ Latin language. The latter question may be 

 summarily dismissed. If we once admit the 

 principle of changing specific names, in accord- 

 ance with our own views on the subject, 

 we shall never have a settled nomencla- 

 ture ; and, therefore, our adherence to 

 the Lionean names of species cannot 

 be too rigid. The name of the genus 



tiite?te'?.n,^ 



V\A^^ 



r^'WC 



(". Fertile frond. 



k, l. Barren fronds. 



Pinnule of barren frond, showing the venation. 



