OSMUND A. 



37 



a natural state from Kamtscbatka to Java and Ceylon. The peculiar tronds, 

 which in general appearance greatly resemble those of a Lomaria, are lft. to 

 3ft. long, Sin. to 12in. broad, and simply pinnate (only once divided to the 

 midrib), being provided with leaflets distinctly barren or fertile. The barren 

 ones, of a leathery texture, dark green 

 colour, and glossy, are 4in. to Sin. long, 

 |in. to fin. broad, wedge-shaped at the 

 base, and often slightly stalked, their 



edge being either entire or sometimes 

 sharply toothed. The fertile leaflets, 

 which are usually disposed on each side 

 of the rachis (stalk), and in the centre of 

 the frond, are shorter, and made up of 

 numerous close but distinct, oblong, 

 sessile (stalkless) clusters. Fig. 12 is 

 reduced from Col. Beddome's " Ferns of 

 Southern India," by the kind permission 

 of the author. — Hooker, Icones Plan- 

 tar urn, t. 15. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 530. 



o. 



(lance-like), 



lancea — lan'-ce-a 



Thunherg. 

 This is a greenhouse species, of 

 small dimensions, native of Japan, and 

 with barren and fertile fronds totally 

 distinct. The barren ones, about lft. 

 long, are oblong in shape and acuminate 

 (ending in a long, tapering point). 

 Their leaflets, about 5in. long and of a 

 somewhat leathery texture, are oblong, 

 acuminate, and short- stalked, the lowest 

 being rather reduced ; they are again divided into narrowly spear-shaped 

 leafits, lfin. long, Jin. broad, narrowed at both ends, stalkless, and slightly 

 toothed upwards. The fertile fronds are ternato -decompound (divided into 



Fig. 12. Portion of Frond of Osmunda javanica 

 Q nat. size). 



