Edward Newman 
iv 
cosmopolitan : in this conclusion, however, I am hardly prepared to 
agree. 
Family. — Blechneje. 
The ultimate divisions of the frond sessile, having a dis- 
tinct mid-vein, the lateral veins anastomose in a linear 
series on each side of the mid-vein : capsules seated in a 
continuous line on that side of these anastomosing veins 
which is nearest the mid-vein, covered by a continuous li- 
near lateral involucre, which opens towards the mid-vein. 
Genus. — Lomaria, Willdenow. 
Mid-vein distinct, lateral veins anastomosing in a linear 
series on each side, parallel to the mid-vein, and emitting 
free branches to the margin : involucre linear, opening to- 
wards the mid-vein ; capsules in a linear series on the in- 
ner side of each anastomosing vein. 
Lomaria spicant. 
Osmunda spicant, Linn. Sp. PI. 1522 ; Light/. FI. Scot. 
G54 ; Huds. FI. Ang. 450 ; Bolt. Fil. Brit. 8, t. G. 
Osmunda spicanthus, With. Arr. 763. 
Blechnum spicant, With. Arr. 7G5. 
Lomaria spicant ( Desv .), Newm. N. A. 9, F. 89. 
Blechnum boreale [Swartz), Sm. E. F. iv. 316, E.B. 1159; 
Mack. FI. Hib. 343 ; Hook, and Am. 575; Bab. 415. 
Fronds of two kinds : fertile fronds erect, linear, pin- 
nate ; pinnae distant, reflexed, narrow, linear ; the lower 
portion of the stipes naked : barren fronds prostrate, lan- 
ceolate, pinnatifid ; pinnae close, flat, broad, blunt. 
Common on damp soils. 
Family. — Aspleniee. 
A large and varied group, approaching very nearly to the 
last, but constantly differing : the capsules are seated in 
linear clusters on one side of lateral veins, whose direction 
is always at an angle with the median line of the pinnule, 
so that in no instance can two or more of these lines of 
