DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIES 31 1 
oblong, sessile pinnae, one to one and a half inches long, half 
inch broad, obtuse at the apex, entire or minutely serrate 
at the edges, and rounded or somewhat lobed at the base. 
Fertile pinnae shorter, and altogether different, very various ; 
sometimes with entire, somewhat foliaceous pinnules two lines 
broad, and fertile only along the edges (fig. b) ; but more 
frequently the pinnules are entirely covered with capsules 
on the under surface, shortly stalked, and having several 
round or oblong lobes connected only by the mid-rib. The 
fertile part soon dies down, and the fronds mostly die down 
in winter. They are generally two-thirds barren, but some- 
times altogether barren, and occasionally two-thirds fertile ; 
while Baker mentions having received specimens from Natal, 
in which the lateral pinnae were fertile, while the terminal 
were barren. This is a freak only. 
Willdenow makes the South African plant a separate 
species ( O . spectabilis Willd.), differing from the European 
form in being more coriaceous, and having longer and fre- 
quently lobed pinnules. Pappe and Rawson give the two 
forms from South Africa, but I have seen only one form, and 
that not sufficiently distinct to be even a variety. 
Osmunda regalis Linn. Kunze, Linnaea , 10, 491 ; Pappe and Raw- 
son, 46; Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 427; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 173; Sim, 
Ferns of S. Afr ., 1st ed., 227; C. Chr. Ind . 475. 
O. spectabilis. Willd. Sp. Pl. 5, 98. 
O. regalis L., var. spectabilis Kze. Pappe and Rawson, 47. 
O. capensis. Presl (not O. capensis Linn., which is Blechnnm capense 
(Linn.) Schlecht.). 
Widely distributed in sub-tropical and temperate countries; 
growing in damp spots, usually in full sunshine. 
West. — Dutoitskloof (Drege); Hottentot’s Holland, Swellendam, Tul- 
bagh (E. and Z.); Table Mountain (now eradicated), French Hoek, 
Groot Drakenstein, George, Knysna (Lady Barkly); Ceres, 1908 
(Dr H. H. W. Pearson, 3517); Pools near Olifants River, Kra- 
douw Pass, 1910 (N. S. Pillans, 5327; 5293). 
East. — Zuurberg, Uitenhage (E. and Z.); Grahamstown (Holland); 
Brookhaagen’s and Howison’s Poorts (Dr Atherstone). 
Kaff. — Rare; Omsamcaba (Drege); N’cora Mountains, Cala (Mrs 
Young); Bazija (Rev. R. Baur); Engcoba (Flanagan, 2477). 
