GENERA AND SPECIES. 145 
PLATE LVIII. 
BOTRYCHIUM TERNATUM. Var. Dissectum. Milde. 
FINELY - DISSECTED MOONWORT. 
The general outline and appearance of this fern is simi- 
lar to the plant last described. The sterile frond is ternate, 
with lanceolate pinne; but instead of being crisp and wavy 
they are finely dissected, so as to form the most delicate 
lanceolate teeth. I have attempted to reproduce this dis- 
sected appearance of the frond in the etching, but the lines 
were so minute and delicate that the Plate conveys but an 
imperfect idea of its finely-cut foliage. 
As far as I have observed, this fern is rather rare in Ken- 
tucky. A beautiful specimen of this variety was sent to 
me by Mrs. J. F. Bullitt, who collected it on the banks of 
Beargrass Creek, about two miles from Louisville, where 
it was found with the Var. obliquum and the B. Virginia- 
num, both common in that locality. All the specimens 
of this variety which I have seen are strong-growing plants, 
with a well-developed fertile frond, bearing fruit in abun- 
dance. The stem is stout and fleshy. When it is care- 
fully dried and mounted it is a beautiful specimen for the 
herbarium, the finely-lacerated outline of the lobes showing 
to great advantage. 
The texture is not so coarse as in the Var. obliquum, 
being more membranaceous, but less thin and delicate than 
that of the Virginia Moonwort. The vernation in this 
variety 1s similar to that of the Var. obliquum. 
As in the previous Plate, the plant is represented natural 
size, with the fertile segment removed. 
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