34 TIE OSMUNDAS. 
alternate with those on the other. The pinne and pin- 
nules are set at some distance from each other giving 
the whole frond a light and graceful appearance. 
The flowering fern produces a single crop of fronds 
each season and: forms a clump that is more pyramidal 
than vase-like in shape. Apparently its lighter, looser 
foliage makes it unnecessary for its fronds to spread to 
catch the light. The rootstock often gives off short 
branches which form new crowns of fronds 
close tothe original one. Sterile and fer- 
tile fronds are alike, except that in the 
latter the several pairs of pinnz compos- 
ing the upper part of the frond are 
changed to spore-bearing organs after the 
manner of the interrupted fern, and like 
it, showing many curious gradations be- 
tween fertile and sterile pinnules. Forms 
have been reported with fertile pinnules 
SPORE-CASES. jin the middle of thefrond. The fruiting 
panicle is bright green untilthe sporesripen. It then be- 
comes rich brown in colour and bears no small re- 
semblance to a panicle of small flowers, whence the well 
known common name. The spores, as in the other 
Osmundas, are green. 
This species has probably received more common 
names than any other. Royal fern, regal fern, king fern, 
and royal Osmund have doubtless been prompted by 
the same feeling that led Linnzus to give it the name of 
regalts. Ditch fern is doubtless in allusion to its grow- 
ing near water, while buckthorn or buckhorn brake prob- 
ably has reference to the appearance of the crosiers. It 
has also been called French bracken, royal moonwort, 
and St. Christopher’s herb, the latter connecting it with 
the legend of St. Christopher. 
