FERNS AND FERN-AEEIES 
321 
Order 1. Ophiogeossai.es 
Sporangia 1mm. across, in groups on a contracted segment of 
the leaf which appears on a naked stalk above the green leaf. 
Stem erect, with very slow cambial growth, producing one leaf 
per year. A single plant may live for 30 years or more. 
Family 1. OphioglossaceaE Adder’s tongue family 
Characters of the Order 
Botrychium Moon wort 
(Botrys, a bunch of grapes, from the groups of sporangia) 
Characters of the Order 
1. B. virginianum Virginia B. Rattlesnake fern 
Lvs. 3-pinnately divided, broadly triangular in outline, 15-25 
cm. across, 2-4dm. tall to top of spore bearing segment; green 
leaf attached about half way up stalk. Veins forking from a 
midvein, not netted. 
Rich woods, rather rare. 
County line near west track; Eldora. 
All round n. temp. zone. 
June. 
Order 3. Osm undales 
Sporangia 0.5-0. 7 mm. across, on much contracted lflts. of an 
ordinary or specialized leaf. Lvs. in a circle from the tip of a 
stout rhizome, which is matted with hard wiry black roots. Veins 
forked, not netted, running to margin of If It. Spores green. 
Family 4. OsmundaCEAE Flowering fern family 
Characters of the Order 
Osmunda Flowering fern 
(Osmunder, the Saxon name for Thor) 
Characters of the Order 
1. Entire If. brown and spore-bearing, preceding green lvs. 
j. O. cinnamomea 
I. O. regalis 
2 . 0. Claytoniana 
1. Lflts. at tip of If. spore-bearing 
1. Lflts. near middle of If. spore-bearing 
1. O. regalis Royal O. Flowering fern 
Lvs. 4-12dm. tall, twice pinnate, smooth; lflts. veiny, stiff. 
Spore bearing lflts. 8-12, pale brown, at tip of every If. 
Swamps or wet woods, very rare here. 
Eldora 0 fide C. B. Frazier). 
Native all round the n. temp. zone. 
June- July. 
