15 
II. 
OSMUNDS. OSMUNDACE^. 
Ip we judge merely by the ordinary appearance of this Sub- 
order, we should feel satisfied, that all plants ranged under 
this head were true Eerns. The curled-in buds, the divided 
fronds, the rust-red summits of the branches seem to denote 
such to be the case. There is, however, one character yet 
wanting, and that is the elastic ring which encircles the 
bags of spores. When placed under a microscope, this can- 
not be seen, or if visible, it only resembles a little lid, and 
does not run round the middle of the bag. These are com- 
monly called Elowering Eerns, not because they have true 
flowers, but because their fructification is conspicuous from 
being placed on the branched extremities, and not on the 
back of the frond. This, as well as the preceding, is a very 
small Sub-order in every country, and we have only one 
genus, and one species of that genus. This is 1. Elowering 
Eerns. Osmimda. Eruit in clusters. No vestige of an 
elastic ring. 
“ Many such there are, 
Fair ferns and flowers, and chiefly that tall fern 
So stately, of the Queen Osmunda named. 
Plant lovelier in its own retired abode. 
On Grasmeres beach, than Naiad by the side, 
Of Grecian brook or Lady of the Mere, 
Sole sitting by the shores of old romance.” — Wordsworth. 
Plate II, fig. 2. 
Eoyal Elowering Eern. Osmunda Begalis, This gigantic 
Eern luxuriates in great profusion in Higher Beaver, and 
the Batches, in the parish of Axminster ; in the dells of the 
parish of Uplyme, especially on Hole Common ; and in a 
boggy wood close to Eidge, in the parish of Stockland. It 
is found raising its head to the height of seven or eight feet, 
and, with its splendid foliage, and its rusty-red spikes of fruit 
on the summit of its stalk, cannot fail to attract the admi- 
ration of every lover of nature. Osmund'*'* is derived from 
the Saxon word mund, signifying strength. The caudex or 
stump, when cut through, has a whitish centre or core, 
called by old Gerarde in his Herbal ” the heart of Osmund 
the waterman. One of the boatmen told Newman that 
