Lastrea Filix-Mas, Moore. 
Dryopteris Filix-Mas, Newman. 
MALE FERN. 
Root — Radicles strong and wiry, of a dark brown color; 
caudex stout and tufted. 
Frond — Oblong, lanceolate, pinnate ; tbe pinnae gradually 
narrowing from the fourth or fifth pair,. as they near the 
base; length from one to four feet. 
Stipes — Short, and more or less thickly covered with 
brown or auburn scales, which are continued the whole 
length of the rachis. 
o 
Pinnae — Numerous, alternate, nearly linear, pinnate, acute, 
at the apex. 
Pinnules — Pinnules somewhat obtuse, dentate at the 
extremities, mostly serrate at the margin. 
Venation — Lateral veins forked half-way between the 
midvein and the margin, to which they do not quite extend. 
Fructification — Clusters of capsules in pairs near the 
base of the pinnules, more thickly set on the middle and 
upper portions of the frond, so much so sometimes as to 
cause the upper pinnae to assume the appearance of a 
terminal spike of fruit: the six or seven lowermost pinnae 
often being barren. Involucre roundish kidney-shaped. 
Habitat — Common in dry shady or open places. 
