CRYPTOGAMIA FILICES 583 



expansion of the reflexed margins of the leaflets, when young often undulately 

 crenalc at the inner edge. 



Hub. Limestone banks ; Great Valley: rare. Fr. June— August. 



Obs. Collected by D. Townsend, Esq. near Gunkle's dam, and in the vicinity 

 «.f Brooke's Mill. 



2. P. AauiLixA, L. Frond 3-parted ; branches bipinnatc ; pinna 

 oblong-lanceolate, the lower ones pinnatifid, the upper ones entire ; 

 segments oblong, obtuse. Beck, Bot. p. 455. 



AauiLixE, or Eagle Pteris. Vulgd — Brake, or Bracken, 



Fronds very large (1 to 2 or 3 feet long), superdecompound, spreading, the 

 tranches bipinnatc, the divisions or pinnae oblong* lanceolate, subscssile, pubes- 

 cent, pale dingy green, the lower ones pinnatifid, the upper ones entire ; segments 

 half an inch to an inch and half long, and 2 to 4 or 5 lines wide, lance-oblong, 

 obtuse, entire, or somewhat repand, with the margin reflexed, confluent at base, or 

 sometimes the lower ones nearly distinct ; stipe 1 to 2 feet long, angular, smooth, 

 lawny, or brown. Sort linear and marginal, resembling a narrow russet border, 

 «»r hem t along the edge of the segments, on the under side. 



J fab. Moist woodlands; thickets, <Scc. frequent. Fr. July— August. 



Obs. This large fern sometimes forms a little thicket of itself,— and atTords a 

 good shelter for game, along the margins of our woodlands. Two other species 

 are enumerated in the U. States ;— of which I have collected P. caudata, at SufTulk, 

 Virginia,— but have not met with it in Pennsylvania. 



466. ADIANTUM. L. Mitt. Gen. 828. 

 [Greek, Miantos, dry; its surface repelling moisture.] 



Sori marginal, interrupted, oblong, or roundish. Indusia membrana- 

 ceous, arising from the reflexed margin of distinct segments of the frond, 

 opening along the lower or inner side. 



1. A. pedatum, L. Frond pedate ; divisions pinnate; leaflets dimi- 

 diate, triangular-oblong, or semi-rhomboid, obtuse, with the upper mar- 

 gin incisely lobed and serrate ; sori oblong, somewhat lunate. Beck, 

 Bot. fj. 455. 



Pedate Adiantum. Vulgo — Maiden's Hair. 



Fronds 6 to 9 inches long, and 9 to 12 inches wide, pedatcly branched, and 

 spreading, glabrous, ofa delicate texture, and pale bluish glaucous-green ; divisions 

 3 to 6 or 8 inches long, and an inch to an inch and half wide, linear-oblong in their 

 outline, obtuse, odd-pinnate; leaflets on very short slender petioles, alternate, I 

 third of an inch to an inch long, and one fourth to near half an inch wide, oblique- 

 ly triangular-oblong, or semi-rhomboid, entire on the lower margin, and as if 

 halved, or cut orT along the midrib (the terminal leaflet cuneate, and some of the 

 lower ones obliquely and broadly so), the upper margin (and summit of the cune- 

 ate leaflets) incisely lobed, the sterile lobes serrate ; stipe &io 12 or 13 inches long, 

 slender, compressed, chaffy at and near the root, forked at summit, the divisions 

 diverging and pedately branching, both stipe and branches very smooth, and shi- 

 ning, dark purple, or purplish-black, Sori oblong, or inversely lunate, marginal 

 on the segments of the leaflets,— the indusium a membranacceus expansion of the 

 reflexed margins of the segments. 



Hub. Rich, rocky woodlands: common. Fr. Ju ly— August. 



Obs. This delicate and beautiful fern is the only species of the genus known in 

 the U. States,— though there are a number in South America. 



