CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 359 



both the Old and New World, which, as in many other 

 instances, has led to their being' considered as distinct 

 s^iecies. 



211. — OsMUNDA, Linn. (1737). 



Vernation fasciculate, erect, acaulose, sub-arboroid, pro- 

 ducing- outgrowing aerial, mossy roots, forming a spongy 

 mass. Fronds pinnate or bi-pinnate, 3 to 10 feet hig-h, 

 pinnaj articulated with the rachis. J'elns forked ; venules 

 fi'ee. Fertile fronds wholly, or the upper or middle portion, 

 contracted, forming simple or compound sporangiferous 

 panicles. 



Type. Osfimnda regalis, Linn. 



lUuat. Hook, and Bauer Gen. Fil., t. 46 A. ; Moore Ind, 

 Fil,, p. 94 B. ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 148 ; 

 Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 8, fig. 62. 



* Fertile fronds wliolhj contracted (^Osmundastrum, Pr.). 

 Sp. 0. cinnamomea, Linn, (v v.) ; 0. lancea, Thiuih. 



** Lateral pinnce of fertile frond contracted {Plenasium, Pr.) 



0. Javanica, Blume. ; 0. Claytoniana, Linn, (v v.) ; 0. 

 bipinnata, Hook. Fil. Exot., t. 15. 



*** Terminal pinnCE of fertile frond., contracted (fEuosmunda). 



O. regalis, Linn, (v v.); 0. spectabilis, Willd. (v v.) ; 0. 

 gracilis, Link, (v v.). 



Obs. — 0. cinnamomea and 0. regcdis have a wide geo- 

 graphical range, the first being found throughout tropical 

 and temperate America, Eastern China, and Japan, the 

 second being found in most countries conducive to Fern 

 life. 



