42 



The Fern Lover's Companion 



2. Tlie Royal Fern Family iO.smunda) has the spore 

 cases stalked with only a rudimentary ring on one side, 

 which opens longitudinally (Fig. 4). 



3. The Climbing Fern Family {Lj/godium, Schizwa) 

 has the spore cases sessile in rows; they are small, nut- 

 like bodies with the elastic ring around the upper portion 

 (Fig. .-)).* 



4. The Adder's Tongue Family (Ophiof/los.sum, Bntry'- 

 chiiim) has simple s])ore cases without a ring, and dis- 

 charges its spores through a transverse slil (Fig. 6). 



.5. The Filmy Fern Family ( Trichomaues) has the 

 spore cases along a l)ristle-like receptacle and surrounded 

 by an urn-shaped, slightly two-li])ped involucre; ring 

 trans^'crse and opening vertically (Fig. 7). 



Fig. 6 

 Tliese figures are enlarged. 



