BBG THE FERN FAMILY. 
Fronds tufted, of 2 sorts, the central ones every, lie hs 7 ones eR 
sf usually shorter, with broader lobes . : : ‘ ‘ 
Fruiting and barren fronds similar or nearly so . 8 
Fronds (stiff) simply pinnate, with entire lobes, the ‘fruiting linear, the barren 
of lanceolate . . 11. BLECHNUM. 
Fronds (delicate) much divided, with’ small, obovate or oblong, toothed lobes 7 
” { Sori forming a line close to the margin of the frond . é . 5, ALLOSORUS. 
Sori oblong, scattered on the surface of the frond . . 6. GRAMMITIS. 
Fructification concealed by, or intermixed with, chafiy scales or hairs . - 9 
Fructification in lines along the margin of the fronds, the indusium a membrane 
—8 attached to the margin j 2 
Fructification in circular, oblong, or linear sori, on the under surface, without 
chaffy scales 
Fronds deeply pinnatifid, with entire segments. Sori linear, concealed by the 
9 scales . . 10. CETERAOCH. 
Fronds twice pinnate, with small segments. Sori ‘circular, with chaffy hairs 
intermixed . ; 15. WOODSIA. 
Tall, erect, stiff fern, ternately ‘divided, ‘with pinnate branches and _ sessile 
10 lobes. . 12. PTERIS. 
Delicate fern, not a foot high, much divided, with broad, ‘wedge- shaped lobes on 
capillary stalks . . . 13. ADIANTUM. 
aoe or linear, covered (when young) with a membrane attached along the 
sl 12 
it Sori circular, either without any indusium, or covered (when young) with a 
membrane attached by the centre or by a lateral point . 13 
Frond entire. Indusium opening in a slit along the centre 9. " SCOLOPENDRIUM. 
12} Frond pinnate or much divided. Indusium opening along the inner side. 
8. ASPLENIUM. 
( Fronds simply pinnate, with entire or toothed segments or pinnas . : 14 
1s! Fronds pinnate, with pinnatifid primary divisions or pinnas, or twice or thrice 
pinnate * 
15 
Segments narrow lanceolate, rather thick, attached to ‘the ‘stalk by a broad 
base, and confluent. Sori golden yellow, without any indusium. 
4 (1). POLYPODIUM vulgare. 
Segments distinct or stalked, ovate-falcate, prickly-toothed, with a prominent 
angle or lobe at the base on the inner side. Sori er a small circular indu- 
sium 7 (1). ASPIDIUM Lonchitis. 
Segments small, obovate. Indusium attached laterally . 8. ASPLENIUM. 
Lower pair of pinnas much larger than the others, giving the frond a broadly 
triangular or rhomboidal form . 16 
Lowest pair, or several lower pairs of pinnas, decreasing i in size or not larger than 
the rest. Frond ovate or lanceolate in outline : At 
Fronds once;,pinnate, with pinnatifid segments 4 (2). POLYPODIUM Phegopteris. 
10} Fronds twice pinnate, the pinnas mostly opposite 4 (4). POoLYPODIUM Dryopteris. 
Fronds twice pinnate, the pinnas mostly alternate . ; . 14, CYSTOPTERIS. 
Fronds delicate, seldom a foot high, without any brown scarious scales (or very 
few at the base of the stalk), twice pinnate, with stalked pinnas ‘ 18 
Fronds stiff, 1 to 3 feet high or more (except in Polypodium Phegopteris). The 
stalk more or less shaggy below the ee part, with brown scarious scales | 
(except in Aspidium Thelypteris)  . : . 19 , 
Segments with fine pointed teeth . : _ 8 ASPLENIUM. : 
Segments oblong or lanceolate, nearly sessile, with obtuse teeth or lobes. | 
14. CYSTOPTERIS. 
Segments small, obovate, stalked, with obtuse teeth. Delicate annual. 
6. GRAMMITIS. 
Fronds pinnate, the pinnas deeply pinnatifid, the lobes entire or obtuse, ve 
19} slightly toothed . ; ‘ é 
Fronds twice pinnate, the segments sharply toothed or pinnatifid ‘ : F of 
Pinnas (all but the lowest pair) attached to the stalk by their broad base. 
20 4 @). POLYPODIUM Phere 
Pinnas attached by their midrib only ‘ . was 
91 { Lobes of the pinnas entire. Sori near their margins. ‘ . 22 
Lobes of the pinna slightly toothed. Sori near their base or centre ‘ . 23 
* In all twice or thrice pinnate leaves or fronds the primary divisions on each 
side of the main stalk are called pinnas, the ultimate divisions retaining the name. 
of segments. 
