OPHIOGLOSSACEM. 71 



long, the leaf sotnetimes reaching 6' each way ; lateral divisions 

 smaller than the terminal ; ultimate segments similar to the 

 type, but mostly shorter. Northern New York and New 

 England. The limits of this variety are not fully understood. 



II II II II Leaf -segments ovate or roundish ; plant large and stout. 

 (Western). 



A. Leaf -stalk short (i' or less) ; segments crowded. 



12. B. Coulter! Underw. A stout fleshy plant growing in 

 geyser formations. Roots numerous, fleshy, stout; stem very 

 short, i' or less long, very stout, 7" — 10'' in diameter, swollen 

 with the contained bud of the succeeding season, soon dividing 

 to form the sporophyll and leaf; petiole very short, i' or less 

 long, stout, sulcate in drying ; sterile lamina about 6' wide, the 

 central portion nearly 4' long, this and the lateral ones tripin- 

 nate, or quadripinnatifid ; segments obliquely ovate, 5" or more 

 long, 2" or more wide, thick, fleshy, th« margin entire or slightly 

 repand ; veins few, scarcely perceptible ; sporophyll about 7' 

 long ; panicle quadripinnate below, the pinnae crowded, gradu- 

 ally simpler above ; sporangia very numerous, bright yellow ; 

 spores copious, pale yellow. In geyser basins, Yellowstone 

 National Park ; Montana. 



B. Leaf -stalk longer (4' — 6') or more ; segments more scattered. 



13. B. occidentale Underw. Roots fibrous, fleshy; stem 

 shor?^ — 2' long, 2" or more in diameter; leaf-stalk 4' — 5' long, 

 rather slender ; leaf very large, 7' — 8' broad, 5' — 6' high, the 



. lateral divisions bipinnate with about five pairs of mostly oppo- 

 site pinnae ; terminal division tripinnatifid, gradually simpler 

 above ; ultimate segments nearly oval, mostly narrow (under 

 3'' wide), the margins finely and irregularly crenulate; texture 

 fleshy, the veins indistinct; sporophylls 16' long, including the 

 panicle, which ranges from 4' — 6', tripinnate almost throughout 

 its entire length ; bud densely covered with white silky hairs. 

 Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. 



14. B. silaifolium Presl. Plant robust, 15' — 2° high; com- 

 mon stem rather short, i' — 2' long ; leaf-stalk ; stout 3' — 6' long ; 

 leaf very large, 8' — 10' or more wide, 5' — 8' high; formed of a 

 larger central division and two lateral ones; divisions nearly 

 tripinnate ; ultimate segments ovate, the lowest outer series 



