Osmunda.] 
FERNS. 
63 
other, their veins conspicuous, prominent, and beautifully branched. 
Receptacles pitcher-shaped, taking the place of lobes, but not con- 
fined to those nearest the main stem, as in the last genus. 
Hab. — Near Killaraey, in several situations, Mr. W. Wilson. Hermitage, 
in the county of Wicklow, Mr. Nuttall. Powerscourt Waterfall, Mr. Maclcay. 
Once found in Ballinhasy Glen, near Cork, by Mr. J. Drummond. Its situation 
at Turk Waterfall, Killaraey, is thus described by Mr. Newman : — “ I here found 
it to the left of the seat whence tourists take the first view of the fall. About 
15 yards higher up the stream, the rocky bank on the left projects into the river ; 
this projection is only to be approached by leaping from stone to stone, along the 
bed of the torrent, which in time of flood is rather an exciting and ticklish 
operation : you are so close to the fall as to be covered by the spray, and the roar 
is almost deafening. Having reached the projection, the botanist must ascend it 
by means of the roots and branches, a feat very readily performed ; and there is a 
little platform at the top, where he can stand very comfortably ; and while so 
standing, he will find the rocky bank just on a level with his eyes, completely 
covered with Trichomanes, the dark green fronds hanging heavily down, dripping 
with wet, and if the sun happen to shine, begemmed with sparkling drops.” 
Glendine, near Youghal, county of Cork, is another habitat for this plant, as 
discovered by Mr. Ball, of Dublin. It grows here in great luxuriance. 
Geo. — St. Domingo, Jamaica, the Caribees, Madeira, &c. 
OSMUNDA, Linn. ROYAL-FERN. 
{Osmund, Sax., strength ; this being the largest and strongest of our Ferns (?) 
A, portion of a frond of Osmunda regalis, natural size. B, mass of fruit 
magnified. C, theca separated. D, ditto splitting open. E, spores. F, trans- 
verse section of the stem. G, cuticle of a pinnule. FI, cuticle of the stem. 
In this genus the upper part of the leafy frond becomes changed into a com- 
pound spike of fructification, without any indusium, receptacle, or annulus. 
Osmunda is a small genus, the species of which very much resemble each other in 
size and character. They are natives of Europe and North America. 
OSMUNDA REGALIS. 
ROYAL-FERN. WATER-FERN. FLOWERING-FERN. 
(Plate 7, fig. 1 .) 
Cha. — F rond bipinnate. Pinnules oblong, nearly entire, slightly 
auricled. Sori terminal. 
Syn. — Osmunda regalis, Linn., Willd., Bolt., and all modern botanists. 
Fig. — E. B. 209. — Bolt. 5. — Flo. Dan. 217. — Flo. Lon. 150. — Ger. 1131. — 
Neum., page 97. 
