relationship that Dr. Wallich’s O. syeciosa bears to O. regals. 
But the O. speciosa having been since found with the upper 
portion of the sterile fronds fertile, it is now properly referred 
to O. regalis. Now, there is also another well-known North 
American Osmunda (though, as now ascertained, also by no 
means peculiar to North America), O. Claytoniana, L., which, 
as far as I can see, in no way differs from our O. cimnamomea, 
save that the middle pinne of the frond are fertile, those below 
and above sterile; and yet no one has intimated the probability 
of the two being varieties of each other. Mr. Conrad, /.c., gives 
a description and a figure of what he considers O. Claytoniana, 
which has the apex only fertile. To which of the two now men- 
tioned can this be referred? Certainly it approaches nearer to 
the O. cinnamomea than to the O. Claytonana, L. (O. inter- 
rupta, Mich.). It is referred by Dr. Asa Gray, I think properly, 
to it, as var. frondosa. But Dr. Gray goes on to say, “ rarely 
such fronds are found fertile in ¢he middle ; otherwise sterile.” 
How do such in any way differ from O. Claytoniana, L. (inter- 
rupta, Mich)? I do not offer a decisive opinion on the sub- 
ject until I shall have the opportunity of figuring and describing 
the O. Claytoniana. 
Piate 45. Portions of an entire plant, with sterile and fertile fronds, of an 
entire plant of Osmunda cinnamomea, Linn.,—natural size. Fig. 1. Lobe of a 
pinna, showing the venation. 2. A capsule. 3. Spores :—all more or less 
magnified. 
