212 



1. B. ternatum. 

 Fertile division springing from the top of the petiole. 



2. B. virginianum. 



1. B. ternatum, Swartz ; stipites erect, 1-4 in. 1., leaf blade tefnate 

 in a small state, regularly pinnate in a large, subdeltoid, biquadripin- 

 natifid, 2-6 in. 1. nearly twice as broad, naked, firmly herbaceous ; pin- 

 nae and pinnulae petioled equal on both sides, the former shaped like 

 the whole leaf, ultimate segments 1^-5 li. b. rounded on the outer mar- 

 gin and finely toothed ; rachis, costae, &c., flat, membrane-margined in 

 the outer part ; veins forked, very oblique, pinnate spreading ; panicle 

 shaped and divided much like the leaf-blade 1-5 in. 1. and b., greatly- 

 overtopping the leaf, on a petiole 6-8 in. I. — PI. Fil. t. 159. Eat. Fer. 

 N. Am. pi. 20. 



Common on open moors and slopes, often, or perhaps chiefly, under 

 bracken {Pteris aquilina), at 5,000 to 6,000 ft. altitude, mature in De- 

 cember and January. Normally this is a much smaller species than 

 the next, but it is sometimes found with fronds (produced without the 

 fertile division) that are a span long and much more broad. They 

 completely contrast however in their features. The broadly rounded 

 segment of the leaf, and fertile division springing from the base of the 

 petiole, are suflB.cient characters to mention to distinguish this. 



2. B. virginianum^ Swartz — Stipe erect, J- 1 ft. 1.; leaf-blade mem- 

 branous, naked, subdeltoid, 5-9 in. 1. more broad, triquadripinnatifid, 

 the parts regularly pinnatiform, pinnae spreading or e recto-spreading, 

 lowest pair largest, petioled, acuminate ; pinnulae similar in shape, 

 more or less decurrent at the base, pinnatifid to the winged costulae ; 

 tertiary segments 3-5 li 1. I2-22 ^i- b., acute, lobed or toothed, largest 

 final segments a line or less w. and d. ; rachis winged in the upper part, 

 and costae nearly or quite to the base ; veins simple or forked, pinnate 

 in the more entire segments ; panicle similarly shaped and divided, 3-5 

 in. each way, on a petiole 4-6 in. 1., not much overtopping the leaf- 

 blade.— PI. Fil. t. 159. Hook. Gard. Ferns t. 29. Eat. Fer. N. Am. 

 pi. 33. 



Common in forests at 4,000-6,000 ft. altitude; mature in March and 

 April. The usually larger size, acuminate and more finely cut divi- 

 sions, and their texture, distinguish this at sight from the preceding. 

 There are two fronds to each plant, one without and the other with 

 the fertile division. As ternatum is confined to open situations, so 

 this is confined to deep forest shade. In both th e fronds perish after 

 fiuiting. 



