Our Native [ERNS Ano ‘THER ALLIES. UNDERWOOD. 01575153 0 —— —= O== ———— Om==_ ea ——— —— ww ——____ —_— —_—_— — ——— ———J — ——— ——_—_—_— —_—_— — ——_ 3 1761 LIBRARY ae AI, Li pasiohae Ree ee Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/5edournativefernOOundeuoft wigs Cah Use poke as reac (eueq 1993V)—VLAHdOdINALd SNOYAAINOAUVO AAT OUR heefiVE FERNS AND Pie ALLELES WITH Synoptical Descriptions of the American Pteridophyta North of Mexico BY LUCIEN MARCUS UNDERWOOD RPA EDEL TON, REV LS ED NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND: COMPANY 1896 QK Sa Se O52 /9 9G CopyRIGHT, 1888, BY HENRY HOLT & CO, LIBBARy o MAY 4 0 1877 < Mepsiry of wes DRUMMOND & NEU, Electrotypers, New York. PREFACE. THE first edition of this manual was published in 1881 and the second in 1882; the continued call for copies of the work is the only apology for a new edition. During the past six years the interest in ferns has largely increased, and has resulted not only in a wider and more thorough study of known forms, but in the less explored portion of our territory new species are con- tinually being brought to light. Of the true ferns (forming the order F7/zces) 140 species were described in the first edition and 145 in the second; in the present edition 156 species are re- corded, while three species recognized in former editions have been reduced to varieties. The Fern Allies are here augmented by the addition of a genus new to this country (Sa/vznza), and five species, two of which are here described for the first time; a reduction of three species has resulted from a more extended study of large suites of specimens, so that 68 species are here recorded. While the general plan as developed in the former editions has not been greatly modified, the details of the entire work have been thoroughly revised in order that it may be in harmony with the present aspect of structural and systematic study which every year is adding to the sum of our knowledge. The work is intended as an introduction to the study of ferns and a manual for the easy determination of our species ; as such it has aimed to be suggestive in methods of study; to this end the student is referred to the necessary literature, classified ac- cording to subjects, at the close of each chapter. It is hoped that the introduction of eight pages of references to the intro- ductory literature of plants lower than the pteridophytes may prove valuable to students who, like the writer, have been obliged to grope in the dark with no kindly suggestion as to what works were valuable for beginners. (v) vi PREFACE. Acknowledgments are here rendered to those who have aided in the preparation of this edition. Especially we would men- tion Dr. Sereno Watson, of the Botanic Gardens at Cambridge for access to numerous specimens; Professor Daniel C. Eaton, of Yale, for elucidating the synonymy of Aspzdium patulum ; and most of all, Mr. George E. Davenport for very many kindly suggestions, specimens, and courtesies extending through a series of years. SyrRacusE UNIVERSITY, Feb. 18, 1888. PREFACE- TO FIFPH. EDITION: IN the fourth edition (1893) numerous changes were made: (1) by rewriting several of the chapters, (2) by the addition of four species new to our flora, and (3) by the modification of the nomenclature to conform with the “ Rochester rules.” The further amendment of these rules. at Madison, Wisconsin, in August, 1893, renders necessary two or three additional changes. It is also a pleasure to record two additional species which have been found in the country since the fourth edition was published, viz., Dryopterzs simulata from New England, and Equisetum Mexicanum from Southern California, the former described by Mr. George E. Davenport, and the latter discov- ered by Prof. A. J. McClatchie of Pasadena, California. The total number described is, therefore, 230; of these 159 are ferns and the remaining 71 are fern allies. In other respects the present edition is essentially the same as the fourth, AvuBuRN, ALABAMA, Nov. 15, 1895. INTRODUCTION, TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . BERRI VEATLONS tie aaah igs cage aaict “hosp hot Mele 6 atlas ete CHAPTER I. II. The Organs of the Growing Fern, III. Fructification in Ferns, . ... IV. Germination of Fern Spores, . . . Vem her Stricture: © 4.) eon. VI. The Fern Allies, VII. Classification and Nomenclature, VIII. The Fern’s Place in Nature, IX. Distribution in Time and Space, . X. Methods of Study, OUR NATIVE . PTERIDOPHYTA. OrpDER I. FILICES, II. MARSILEACEA, . III. SALVINIACEA, IV. OPHIOGLOSSACEA, .. . Wee EOUISETACEA 4 25 fe tessicl. ees Vile ViGCORODIACEAS ss tcc. «© 606 le Will Ww USELAGINELEACE AR clos 6, jo. ie) e & ve Wi Sel SORTACK Airs isin sare—t is 16 «lula ©) fe ENTE NeeANIY GEOSSARWEN Pais (ja slipettien ss) Ne) ‘sje, | ¢ Haunts and Habits of Ferns,. .. . (vii) 125 127 132 140 142 149 ey INTRODUCTION. in the entire vegetable world there are probably no forms of growth that attract more general notice than the Ferns. Deli- cate in foliage, they are sought for cultivation in conservatories and Wardian cases, and when dried and pressed add to the culture of many a domestic circle by serving as household deco- rations. They furnish to botanists a broad and inviting field for investigation, and he who examines their more minute struc- ture with the microscope will find deeper and still more myste- rious relations than those revealed to the unaided eye. Ferns thus appeal to the scientific element of man’s nature as well as to the esthetic, and while they highly gratify the taste, they furnish food for the intellect in a like degree. The Fern allies have also played their appointed part in the domestic and decorative economy of thisand other generations. The scouring-rushes served our ancestors for keeping white their floors and wooden-ware in the days when carpets were a luxury. The trailing stems of various species of Lycofodzum have long been valued for holiday decorations ; while their burning spores have flashed in triumphal processions, and have added their glow to the fervor of political campaigns. In olden time the obscure fructification of the common brake led to many superstitious ideasamong the common people, and the older poets have woven these popular notions into our litera- ture. Butler tells in Hudibras of bugbears so often created by mankind : ' ‘¢ That spring like fern, that infant weed, Equivocally without seed, And have no possible foundation But merely in th’ imagination.” X INTRODUCTION. Shakespeare only reflects a prevalent belief of his time when he says: ‘“ We have the receipt of fern seed ; we walk invisible.” Others allude to the falling of the seed on the anniver- sary night of the birth of John the Baptist. The old simplers with their lively imagination were impressed by the fancied resemblances of some parts of fern growth to various organs of the human body, and introduced them into their system of specifics. Traces of their influence still remain in the names of some of our common ferns, as spleenwort and maidenhair. To form a correct understanding of ferns we must study the ferns themselves as well as the text-book, as it is only by direct contact with nature that we gain definite and satisfactory informa- tion. The text-book is useful only in giving directions how to investigate. To understand thoroughly an animal we must study its habits in its native haunts. To know its structure and posi- tion in the animal kingdom we must carefully dissect a large number of specimens, and study the development of the individ- ual from its beginning. In like manner, to understand fully a fern we must search where nature has planted it, watch it as it un- coils from the bud, matures, produces its fruit, and finally returns to the earth ; examine it with needles and lenses, and discover its minute structure and its life-history. These pages, which aim to give an outline of the forms of fern growth, the methods of fruiting, the germination or growth from the spore, and finally the more minute structure of the entire plant, can only be thoroughly understood by taking the ferns in hand and studying them in connection with the text. For the first three chapters and the determination of species a strong pocket lens and a few needles mounted in handles for dissection will furnish the necessary outfit. Chapters IV. and V. will require a com- pound microscope with its appliances for successful investiga- tion. Those unused to such an instrument will need special directions in regard to the care of a microscope and the methods of using it. Such directions will be found in the laboratory guides recommended in Chapter X. The following will also be useful and suggestive: INTRODUCTION. x1 STOKES (A. C.). Microscopy for Beginners. 12mo. New York, 1887. (Harper & Brothers.) BauscH (Edward). Manipulation of the Microscope. 12mo. Rochester, N. Y., 1885. (Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.) A collection of the native ferns of the country is interesting and attractive. Good specimens should include roots so as to show as much as possible of the method of growth. They should be mounted on standard herbarium paper sixteen and one half by eleven and one half inches. Let no one imagine that the study of ferns will be an easy one. Patient application and careful observation are essential to success, yet he who becomes once interested in the work will find a subject that deepens in interest with every step, and even becomes enchanting as he seeks to determine the mysteri- ous processes of fern development and the marvels of fern structure, ABBREVIATIONS. ADANS......- Rleseeseaisiecee ep AGAnSOn: PAU Nereis rercte scrctatetewis's ee eaen cee W. Aiton. PANG Sistelsie's aise’ eiaiete peisiciaeere J. Angstroem. SBAUV cose tsiatonle aciosteneceis P. de Beauvais IBERNHing savescesescere: J. J. Bernhardi. BIGEL o% wysrsole soe eae state ee J. Bigelow. BRAGCKe...% seiawess W. D. Brackenridge. ACOBR ivieieles, a5 5 scence ,--A. Braun. PRR oravemts tosis canoe strsarece R. Brown BONG actctotsrcen.cvaieiseiecerers oe Bongard. IBRONG » ciesse siecle cove eters A. Brongniart. GAVE ciismeiseis e's copes A. J. Cavanilles. CHARM feds. os sfeSeiines A. W. Chapman. MDIAV Ris ciessnitewtsiseles « G. E. Davenport. D Gish ienmeacansecs A. P. DeCandolle. ID ESE s cro, nsins aise stale’ R. L. Desfontaines. DESY cc cicieiracsieisenssletase's N. A. Desvaux. BER Ha s.0°s felacrceewinress larewioteie « F. Ehrhart. FENIDE:, aycnioee tees ace S. L. Endlicher PENGEDM 256 cee detesece G. Engelmann. FD RSA ec ee Hooker and Arnott. 1S i a Ceo tree Hooker and Greville HBK..Humboldt, Bonpland and Kunth AMIE alsa ei siste tay crvectos escerece E. Hitchcock ORR ce steacten severe G. F. Hoffman EL OO: eprint cis eters tea rel teakereye W. J. Hooker. FLUDS ie oe wea te sca hese tes W. Hudson. Jahon e aediogs agces Baron von Humboldt PUSS iscine ee en ta he decays A. L. Tussieu KEAUIDR & cele cinetnccetese G. F. Kaulfuss. KEG CHa crass Hin nae ee oniae W. D. Koch SSUES storo sis restore cies ionomers Kuhlewein. | RSG BOO Cee C. von Linne [Linnzeus]. ISAM ae acc iease cae tee J. B. de Lamarck. OPED OR .intoreiete/saeisters ce C. L. L’Heritier. ETE isicioveisictetsreniaisiecieto ker F. Liebmann. TIN DE ecleise sctetaints OCH IBG ae J. Lindley. TEINNG Ropgoe he easels cis C. Linnzus (son). Mart. & GALE...Martens and Galeotti. MET. cha heticaineaate G. Mettenius. MIGHX 2 sacs Sore strtes A. Michaux. Muri ceeieacccsa G. H. E. Muhlenberg. NECKS ane ticeon scab enctesitce N. J. Necker. INGE Da = 5c teiclewistiw eieiesrren eae T. Nuttall. PEUM Ssanicucitacenies ean eae C, Plumier. REICHENB....... H. G. L. Reichenbach. RICH IAs Sek sree C. L. M. Richard. SCHUBIGH «sic sis aiciciste pimrstoleles Schleicher. SCHREB 2. esccasss ee) C.D. schreher. SMiGeunmctee caidas ies et erente eee J. E. Smith. Wis SMS cis cmaae are teintcese coma J. Smith. SPRENG ae cieciciomlecls cievele . K. Sprengel. SWZi ooo Seats cb eloeshoeeee O. Swartz. FPHUNE een aanoeeee C. P. Thunberg. MRORR Ge Se tes cele baetere Sette J. Torrey. ‘PUCK ERM 32% sone eceueee E. Tuckerman. WIND Retciceaicesies S L. M. Underwood. WANTS S aie nicine siateictatovanlere eters S. Vaillant. MENG ce istecaut elena E. P. Ventenat. WALL). dnc mesesienis Henlen sees N. Wallich. Wea TR a earaeiavareatterctets F, W. Wallroth. WWWAIE TD iharay Nore (ere abe atulorstesavaresieete T. Walter. WILE ccicioatere earns K. L. Willdenow. Gree Mise cccsrode seeecs sees Greek atin. ccs chon scaebne coaeeameate Latin (GlNend “SnAocadan con waceconnnac centimetre. PL RA RARBBOrCCOOBEOAnOAn Aone millimetre. Wain eicioinisieiciopmeiaert= qoudAGoancage variety. O og sd apiatdnuse nals eis(ele Seieieee peices feet. BPS ARR T ABCA ONR COCA CHIC UGOE ac inches. Ue SNC Bamcconcsode ae meeiecaretarainrs lines. OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. CHAPTERS HAUNTS AND HABITS OF FERNS. Our outward life requires them not,— Then wherefore had they birth ? To minister delight to man, To beautify the earth. —Mary Howiltt. 1. General Characters.—Our native ferns comprise plants varying in height from less than an inch to six or seven feet, or even more. Some are stout and fleshy, others are delicate and even filmy, but most are herbaceous, resembling ordinary flowering plants in the texture of their foliage. While most would be recognized as ferns by even a novice, a few differ so widely from the ordinary typical forms that to an unskilled ob- server they would scarcely be considered as bearing any resem- blance to ferns whatever. The fronds of one of our Florida species resemble narrow blades of grass, and the fertile spikes of another from New Jersey might be mistaken for a diminutive species of sedge. A third from Alabama would, perhaps, be called a moss by the inexperienced, while the “ Hartford fern,” found from New England to Kentucky, has a climbing stem and broad palmate leaves. When we add to these peculiar forms of our own country those of foreign lands, and include the immense tree ferns of tropical regions, we find our early conception of a fern inade- quate to cover this diversity of forms. Without attempting an accurate definition of a fern, let it be regarded for present pur- I 2 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. poses as a flowerless plant, producing spores instead of seeds, possessing more or less woody tissue, and having its leaves coiled in the bud from apex to base. After the necessary study of the structure of some of our common ferns, we will be able to comprehend the more technical definition found later in the work. 2. Mode of Growth.—Ferns vary greatly in their method of growth, yet each species has a plan which, within certain limits, is fixed and definite. Some, like the common brake, have their fronds rising from more or less distant portions of the creeping rootstock. Others, like Asplenium trichomanes, are tufted, many fronds rising irregularly in a cluster; while still others, like the ostrich-fern (Onoclea) and many of the shield- ferns (Dryofpterzs), grow in crowns or circles, the later fronds continually rising within the older ones. In the grape-ferns (Botrychtum) the rootstocks usually produce a single frond each season, the bud for the succeeding year growing within the base of the common stalk. 3. In many there is a tendency to dimorphism, the fertile or fruit-bearing fronds differing to a greater or less extent from the sterile ones. In a few species, like the sensitive-fern and the ostrich-fern (Ovoclea), this is carried so far that the sterile and fertile fronds bear no resemblance to each other, and in one instance have been mistaken for different species, and so de- scribed. Osmunda cinnamomea, Woodwardia areolata, Pel- lea Stellert, Cryptogramma, and Lomarza offer further examples of this principle of growth. 4. Variation.—The same species will often present wide differences in the size of the fronds. This depends to some ex- tent on the character of the soil and the ordinary climatic con- ditions. For example, the lady-fern (Asplencum filix-famina), which in ordinary locations grows from two to four feet high, in mountainous regions is sometimes reduced to from three to six inches, when it forms the var. exz/e. In like manner the marginal shield-fern (Dryopterzs marginals), usually two or three feet high, is reduced to five inches when growing on rocky cliffs, and yet regularly produces fruit.* * Cf. Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, v1. 266 (Oct. 1878). HAUNTS AND HABITS OF FERNS. 3 5. In some cases there is a tendency to variation in size that cannot be referred to soil or climatic influences. The com- mon grape-fern (Botrychtum Virginéanum) will be found in some localities to vary from six inches to two feet in height, all well fruited and matured, and with the extreme sizes growing within a pace of each other in the same soil and with the same environment. The other species of the same genus present similar variations, and judging from size and external appear- ance alone, a regular gradation of forms might be arranged from the most diminutive undivided forms of &. szmflex to the larg- est of B. Vergintanum. 6. Another tendency to variation is noticed in the forking of fronds either at the summit or at the ends of the branches. The hart’s-tongue (Scolofendrium) is frequently forked at the summit, the walking-leaf (Camptosorus) less commonly, while the same tendency is noticed in various compound forms, as Asplenium angustifolium, Chetlanthes lanosa, Gymnogramme Ehrenbergiana, Dicksonia, Pellea atropurpurea, and others. Some of the species of Botrychium show the same tendency, especially in their fertile segments. It is probable that all our species will be found to fork under certain conditions. More definite information is desirable with regard to many species that show this tendency, as it doubtless involves the question of ancestry of existing ferns. 7. In those species whose sterile and fertile fronds are un- like, forms often appear that are intermediate between the ster- ile and fertile fronds, and sometimes even form a graded series from one to the other. This is especially true of the sensitive- fern (Onoclea) and the cinnamon-fern (Osmunda ctnnamomea), and has frequently been the source of so-called “ varieties.” Whether this variation arises from some peculiarity of environ- ment, or from some inherent tendency to reversion toward an older form, will require more extended observation to deter- mine. One of the varieties of Botrychzum ternatum seems to have been founded on a condition which is intermediate in structure between the sterile and fertile segments. gs. Ina few forms there is an apparent mimicry, one species imitating another in foliage or method of fruiting. In the cin- namon-fern just alluded to, which has a cinnamon-colored 4 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. sterile frond totally unlike the fertile, sterile fronds will some- times be found which are fertile at the apex—the normal method of fruiting in the royal flowering-fern (Osmunda regaizs) ; and in turn the royal flowering-fern is sometimes fertile in the middle, in imitation of Osmunda Claytonzana. 9. Time of Fruiting.—The time of maturing fruit is dif- ferent among different species, and also varies with geographi- cal location and proximity to tropical climates. In the Northern States some species produce their fruit as early as May (Osmunda cinnamomea), and others as late as September (Lygodzum), but the greater number are best studied in July and August. In the Northeastern States, where the two species of Cystopterzs abound on limestone rocks, C. /ragz/7s matures its spores and withers in June or July, while C. du/bzfera reaches its maturity only in August or September. In semi-tropical climates, like Southern California and the Gulf States, the time of fruiting is often earlier, sometimes occurring in February or March. Some fronds are killed by the early frosts, while others, like the Christ- mas-fern, are evergreen, and may be gathered in midwinter. 10. Local Distribution.—Ferns are largely dependent for successful growth on the amount of warmth, moisture, and shade to which they are subjected, and we would naturally ex- pect to find them reaching a maximum in size and abundance in warm swamps or shady marshes. While this is in general true, we nevertheless find many species thriving only in rocky places, thrusting their roots into the crevices of the rocks with little earth for their nourishment, and many times exposed to the scorching rays of the sun. Of necessity, such species are of comparatively small size, and likely to be protected in some way against the heat of the sun, and provided with means to retain their moisture in times of drought. Others still are found in wet, rocky ravines, often where moistened by the spray of cascades or waterfalls, and consequently have no such pro- vision against the heat of an extended summer. Certain others thrive in open fields that are comparatively dry and unshaded. One species of Southern Florida is aquatic, having the sterile fronds floating in shallow water. A few species are epiphytic, or grow on other plants, some being found on tree-trunks to the height of 150 or 200 feet! HAUNTS AND HABITS OF FERNS. 5 So, while moisture, warmth, and shade in abundance are the climatic conditions essential to promote luxuriant fern growth, it can and does continue when any or all these conditions are reduced to a minimum. 11. Ferns may then be sought in any of the following situa- tions, and it will be seen that each situation has its charac- teristic species : A. Wet swamps or marshes with or without abundant shade. B. Rich woods, more or less moist. C. Uncultivated open places and dry hillsides. D. Moist, rocky ravines or rocky places not subject to sum- mer drought. E. Exposed rocky cliffs. F. Standing water. G. Growing on other plants. (Epiphytic.) 12. In the first location mentioned above, we may find the chain-ferns ( Woodwarda), many of the spleenworts (Asplenzum), a few of the shield-ferns (Dryopterzs),the flowering-ferns(Osmun- da), as well as the genera Acrostichum, Onoclea, etc. These in- clude some of our largest and coarsest ferns. A few more deli- cate in structure are also found here, notably the dainty Phegof- terts dryopterts. 13. In the second we find a few spleenworts, most of the shield-ferns, the beech-ferns (Phegofterzs), most of the grape- ferns (Botrychium), the maidenhair (Adzantum), the Dzcksonza, and some others. In this situation we find the finest develop- ment of foliage and the greatest artistic finish among all the ferns. 14. In uncultivated places and on rocky hillsides we often find the common bracken or brake (Péerzs aguzlina), and the lady-fern (Asplentum filix-femzna), though these are by no means confined to these locations, the latter growing quite fre- quently in moist woods, and even in cold, wet swamps. Many other ferns are found occasionally in openings of the forest or recent clearings, where they maintain a sickly existence, some- times for a series of years. In such locations ferns often be- come contracted and abnormal in growth, and take on a faded yellow hue from their exposure to the open sunshine. 15. In moist ravines and on rocky banks the bladder-ferns (Cystopterts) may be found, with the peculiar walking-leaf 6 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES (Camptosorus), the rare hart’s-tongue (Scolopendrium),* and many of the smailer spleenworts. The long, pendent fronds of Cystopters bulbifera add greatiy to the beauty of our natural ravines, and often serve to conceal the uncouth rocks, or at least draw the attention to that which is more deli- cate and artistic. On dripping rocks, or where the sides of ravines are kept continually moist by the spray of waterfalls, such delicate pellucid ferns as the filmy-fern (Zyzchomanes) and Pellea Steller? may be sought. There seems to be a direct connection between the environment and the texture of the fern. The last two mentioned grow in very damp situations. and are pellucid and almost membranous. Cys¢ofzerzs in some- what drier situations is thinly herbaceous, while Asplentum trichomanes and Camptosorus, requiring less moisture, are more firm, and form the transition to the next group. 16. On dry cliffs we may look for the various species of Woodséa, the cloak-ferns (othclena), the lip-ferns (Chezlanthes), and the cliff-brakes (Pe//@a). Many of these are firm and even leathery in texture, and others are thickly covered on one or both sides with tangled hair or scales, fitting them to survive long periods of drought. 17. Only one of our native species is strictly aquatic, the anomalous Ceratopieris thalzctroédes found in Southern Florida, though Acrostichum aureum is often found with its rhizoma rising from the water of salt marshes. Osmunda regalis is oc- casionally found in standing water several inches deep, though this is not usual. 18. Among the epiphytic ferns are several species of Pody- podium, P. polypodiotdes, P. Scouleri, and P. aureum, the last always being associated with the cabbage-palmetto (Sada/ palmetto). Vettaria, Tenitis, and Nephrolepis are also of this class, and are frequently pendent from the same plant, though occasionally found on other tree-trunks. Ophzoglossum pal- matum, another peculiar tropical fern-ally, belongs to the same * This rare fern seems to show a decided preference for limestone rocks, and thus far has been found only above the geological formation known as the Corniferous limestone. I believe a thorough search for this fern along the outcrops of the formation in Central New York and elsewhere would show a wider distribution than is at present attributed to this species, HAUNTS AND HABITS OF FERNS. 7. list. Even in the streets of Southern cities, Polyfodium poly- podtordes is often seen growing with various mosses well up on the trunks of shade-trees. It is only in tropical regions, however, that epiphytes are seen in profusion. __ 19. These principles of climatic distribution are necessarily modified by the geographic range of species, which must be considered in this connection, For example, Dryopterzs spinu- /osa or its varieties form the leading foliage ferns of Northern New England and New York, while Dzcksonza, less common in those localities, largely replaces them from Connecticut south- ward. This subject will be more fully discussed in a later chapter. LITERATURE. Most of the American literature bearing on this subject is in the form of short notes which have appeared from time to time in our two botanical monthlies ;* a classified summary appears below : HaBits.—Botanical Gazette, 1,2; U1, 100; 11,82; IV, 140,177, DAP Ve27, 30: AZ, AO; V1, 161, 205 5 VII, 86. DIMORPHISM.— Jorrey Bulletin, VU, 101, 109; 1X,6; XIII, 62. FORKING FRONDS.—Sotanical Gazette, 1, 50; I, 80; III, 39; VI, 220; VIII, 242.—TZorrey Bulletin, Vi, 26, 85; IX, 116, 129; ae RELATIVE ABUNDANCE :— DAVENPORT (George E.). A Bit of Fern History. In Botanical Gazette, Vu, 60-64 (May, 1882). CULTIVATION :— JACKSON (Robert T.). Cultivation of Native Ferns. In Garden and Forest, 1, 317, 318; 330, 3313 340-342; 352-354 (Aug.-Sept. 1888). ROBINSON (John). Fernsin their Homesand Ours. 12mo, illustrated. Salem, 1878. A valuable outline of fern cultiva- tion, indispensable to those desiring to undertake the cultivation of ferns either in conservatories or Wardian cases. SMITH (John). Ferns, British and Foreign, 8vo. Lon- don, 1879. * The Botanical Gazeée (Bloomington, Ind.) and the Budletzn of the Torrey Botanical Club (Columbia College, New York). Students of ferns should have these journals on file to enable them to appreciate the botanical activity of the country. . 8 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. CHAPLER. Ii, THE ORGANS OF THE GROWING FERN. Pour bien savoir une chose, il faut en savoir les details. —La ROCHEFOUCAULD. 20. Every one familiar with the forest and its products must have seen the young ferns unrolling from the bud in spring and early summer. It will be noticed that the fronds are coiled from the apex to the base, and form crosiers, so called from their resemblance to the head of a bishop’s staff. This method of vernation is called czrcznate, and is rarely found except among ferns. In the grape-ferns and adder-tongues the vernation is straight or merely inclined, thus approximating that of ordinary flowering plants. 21. Rootstock.—Ferns usually spring from an under- ground stem called the rootstock. This may be simple or branched, smooth or scaly, horizontal, oblique, or even vertical. In some ferns it is fine and hairlike, while in others it is very large and stout. In some cases the rootstock creeps at the sur- face of the ground and even rises above it, as in the variety of Dryopter’s contermina which grows in Florida. In the tree ferns of warmer climates it often forms a trunk fifty feet high, bearing the fronds at the summit, when it takes the name of caudex. 22. Frond.—The aerial portion consists essentially of a leaf-stalk and blade; the former is technically called the s¢zpe, and the latter the frond. Though these are usually distinct from each other in appearance, the stipe is sometimes wanting, and in others no distinction can be made between them. Both stipe and frond, or either one, may be glabrous (smooth), pubes- cent (softly hairy), hairy, woolly, or scaly; when the scales are small and somewhat appressed, the surface is said to be squa- mous. The careful discrimination of these hairy or scaly appendages becomes a matter of importance in distinguishing many of the species of Chez/anthes. Jn a few of our native ferns THE ORGANS OF THE GROWING FERN. 9 the under surface is covered with a white or yellow powder bearing some resemblance to flour or corn starch. For this reason a surface of this character is called farzwaceous. Such is the California gold-fern or “ golden back” (Gymnogramme trian- gularts), and several of the cloak-ferns (Votholena), and such are the various gold and silver ferns of conservatories, including some of the richest and most beautiful in the world. 23. The frond may be szmf/e, when it consists of a single undivided leaf, as in Scolopendrzum or Camptosorus ; or compound, when it is divided into segments. The exquisite delicacy and the extent to which this dividing is carried in some ferns deter- mines largely their zesthetic value. The continuation of the stipe through a simple frond is called the mzdvezn ; through a compound frond is called the rachzs, and is further distinguished as przmzary when the frond is much compounded. A frond is exfzre when the margin forms an unbroken line; when so cut as to form lobes extending half way or more to the midvein it is called pzznarzfid, when these incisions extend fully to the midvein the frond is said to be stmply pinnate, and the divisions are called pzzu@. When the pinnee are cut into lobes the frond is ézfzznatzfd and the lobes are called segments, and when these extend to the secondary midveins it is dzfzzate and the divisions are called pzxnules. The secondary midvein then becomes a secondary rachzs. In like manner we may have ferns that are ¢rzpznnatifid and trzpin- nate, guadripinnatifid and guadripinnate. The last lobes are designated w/¢témate segments, and the last complete divisions ultimate pinnules. All these various forms from entire to quad- ripinnate are abundantly represented among our native ferns. 24. In some pinnate fronds, as in the oak-fern (Phegopteris dryopter’s), the lower pair of pinnze is greatly enlarged and more compound than those above, so that the stipe appears to form three branches bearing similar and nearly equal portions. Fronds of this character are usually triangular or pentagonal in outline, and this method of branching is called ¢ernate. It will be readily seen that this is merely a modified form of the ordi- nary pinnate frond. Throughout the domain of nature there is infinite variety of form and structure, and at the same time unity in plan and conformity to a few generalized types. 10 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 25. Venation.—The method of veining admits of great variation, often serving to distinguish species, and more especi- ally the sections of the various genera. In some ferns, like most shield-ferns (Dryopierzs),the veinsare /vree—that is, arising from either side of the midvein they do not unite with any other vein. In some of these the vein is simple (not branched), in others variously forked. In many the veins repeatedly anastomose or unite together, forming a series of network or areole. This may be somewhat irregular, as in Oxoclea ; or forming a single row of areolez next to the midvein and thence free to the margin, as in Woodwardia Virginica ; or forming many uniform areolze by the parallel transverse veinlets connecting the distinct and parallel primary veins, as in Polypodium phyllitid?s. In case the venation does not appear when examined by reflected light, it may be brought out clearly by holding the frond between the observer and the light, and then using a lens if necessary. A few fleshy species require dissection to show the veins. GHAPTER aE FRUCTIFICATION IN FERNS. “But on St. John’s mysterious night, Sacred to many a wizard spell, The hour when first to human sight Confest, the mystic fern-seed fell.” 26. Spores and Sporangia.—In the flowering plants (SPERMAPHYTES) there is a manifest sexual reproduction, the ovules in the female organs (pistils) being fertilized by the pollen produced by the stamens, thus giving rise to the embryo Fic. 1.—Enlarged section through a sorus of Polypodium falcatum Kellogg, of the new plant. The Ferns, showing the stalked sporangia, . eis on the contrary, produce no flowers. Instead of seeds developed from fertilized ovules, minute spores are produced asexually, from which new ferns are developed by a peculiar process of germination very unlike that FRUCTIFICATION IN FERNS. {l of flowering plants. These spores are collected in little sacs known as sforangza or spore cases. The sporangia in the true ferns (POLYPODIACE#) are collected in little clusters on the back of the frond, or are variously arranged in lines along the veins or around the margins (Fig. 1). These clusters of spo- rangia are called sorz, and may be naked, as in Polypodium, or provided with a special covering known as the zaduszum, as in Dryopterts (Fig. 8). The various forms of the sori and indusia serve as the basis for classifica- tion into genera and tribes, while each sub-order has its peculiar form of sporangia. 27. In the POLYPODIACE& the sporangia are more or less completely surrounded with a jointed vertical ring or azwudus, and at maturity burst open transversely by the straightening of the annulus and discharge their copious spores (Fig. 2). The clusters of sporangia are said to be marginal, intramarginal, or dorsal, according as they have their position at the margin or more or less remote from it. They may be __Fic.2.—Sporan- roundish, oblong. or linear in shape, or arranged aa Pg Sea a Peon ae Sea et discharging its in variously forking lines, or may even be spread pores.” Much en- in a stratum over the entire under surface of the |@'ged- frond. They are called indusiate or non-indusiate according as they are covered or naked; and the indusia may be inferior (at- tached below the sorus), as in Woodsz¢a (Fig. 9), or superior, as in Dryopterzs (Fig. 8), or of various intermediate methods of at- tachment. "i dpi ff 2s. In the other sub- orders of FILICES the spo- rangia are variously ar- ranged. In the HYMENO- PHYLLACE# or filmy ferns the flattened sporangia are sessile along a filiform recep- eee: hoc hes Fig. 3.—Enlarged sessile sporangium tacle, and are surrounded of 7>7chomanes radicans Swz. as Fig. 4.—Sporangium of Schiz@a pu- with a complete transverse sidla Pursh, showing the epical fe annulus. At maturity they IS LENSE open vertically (Fig. 3). In the SCHIZHACEA the sporangia 12 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. are ovate, surrounded at the apex by a complete annulus, and open by a longitudinal slit (Fig. 4). In the OSMUNDACEZ# or flowering ferns the sporangia are larger, globose, and naked, with the mere trace of a transverse annulus, and open longitudinally. The various methods of fructification can be best understood by describing the peculiarities of the various genera in regular succession and noting the variations occurring in the sections or sub-genera. By this means we will arrive at a better under- standing of the principles of fern classification as discussed in a future chapter. As the subject of venation is closely connected with that of fructification, it will be treated in the same connec- tion. 29. Acrostichum.—In this genus the sporangia are spread in a stratum over the under surface of the upper pinnz in our solitary species, but in some exotics they cover portions of the upper surface as well. There is no indusium. 30. Polypodium (Fig. 1).—This genus contains the larg- est number of existing ferns, and though all the species agree in the roundish naked sori, the venation is widely different in the various sections, which are chiefly formed on the character of the veins. Four of the five sections are represented in our nine species. In § EUPOLYPODIUM the veins are free, yet are occasionally known to unite,* thus indicating a tendency to vary toward the next section. The sori are generally found at the end of a free veinlet. In § GONIOPHLEBIUM the veins unite near the margin, form- ing large areolz, each containing a single free veinlet which bears the sorus at its end. A tendency to variation is seen in P. polypodiordes, whose veins are free, as well as in P. Calzfor- ntcum in which they are often partly free. In § PHLEBODIUM the veins form ample areola in a row next the midvein, and frequently in one or more secondary rows, each bearing a single sorus at the junction of two or more vein- lets. A large number, however, bear the sori at the end of a single veinlet. From the fertile areolz to the margin the veins anastomose more copiously. * Catalogue of the Davenport Herbarium, p. 8. FRUCTIFICA TION IN FERNS. 13 In § CAMPYLONEURON the areole, each usually bearing two sori, are found between the parallel primary veins which extend from the midrib to the margin. 31. Gymnogramme.—In this genus the sori follow the course of the veins, and consequently vary with the venation, being simple, forked, pinnated, or anastomose with each other. The sori are non-indusiate. 32. Notholzna.—In thecloak-ferns the sori are marginal, and provided with no indusia. This genus is linked very closely to Gymnogramme on one hand and to some species of Chez- lanthes on the other. From the latter it is separable only by the absence of the marginal indusium; the two are likely to be con- founded by beginners. 33. Tzenitis has simple fronds, and the fructification in a continuous sub-marginal line near the apex of the frond. 34. Vittaria.—This peculiar genus occupies a somewhat in- termediate position between the indusiate and non-indusiate genera, and while usually associated with the latter has consid- erable claim to be ranked with the former. The fronds are nar- row and grass like, bearing the sporangia in an intramarginal groove, often more or less covered by the inrolled edge of the frond. The venation is very obscure. 35. Adiantum (Fig. 5).—The maidenhairs have a peculiarly smooth foliage, and usually possess no midvein. The veins are usually flabellate, and after forking one or more times bear the sori at their extremities. The margin of the frond is reflexed, thus forming an indusium which bears the sporangia on its under surface. Fic. 5.—A_ segment of ; F Adiantum, showing the 386. Pteris (Fig. 6).—In this genus, sori covered by indusia . : * formed by reflexions of the which includes the common brake, the margin of thefrond—From otherwise free veins are united by a fili- }© Maout and Decaisne. form receptacle which bears the sporangia. This continuous marginal line of fructification is covered by a membranous in- dusium formed of the margin of the frond. 37. Cheilanthes.—The lip-ferns found within our limits are unequally divided among four sections, all agreeing in bear- 14 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. ing the sori at or near the ends of the veins, covered by an in- dusium formed of the margin of the frond. In § ADIANTOPSIS the indusia are distinct, and confined to a single veinlet. One of our species varies from the typical species of this section, and has even been assigned to a separate genus. ID In § EUCHEILANTHES the indu- Fic. 6.—Pteris longifolia L. En- Sia are more or less confluent but Serre ceceoe pers 4 pa Ae not continuous, usually extending HELO a over the apices of several veinlets, In § PHYSAPTERIS the ultimate segments are bead-like, and the indusium is continuous all round the margin. § ALEURITOPTERIS has the fronds farinose below, and 1n- cludes a single species somewhat doubtfully assigned to cur limits. 38. Cryptogramma has dimorphous fronds, the margins of the fertile being closely rolled toward the midvein, thus cov- ering the confluent sori. At maturity these open flat in order to discharge the spores. 39. Pellza has representatives of three sections within our limits, all agreeing in possessing intramarginal sori, which finally became confluent and form a marginal line covered by an indusium formed of the margin of the frond. § CHEILOPLECTON includes herbaceous species with visible veins and broad indusia., § ALLOSORUS includes coriaceous species having wide indusia, while $ PLATYLOMA includes species similar in texture, but with extremely narrow indusia and broad segments. 40. Ceratopteris is an anomalous genus from southern Florida, having a few sori arranged on two or three veins par- allel to the midvein, and covered by the broadly reflexed margin of the frond. 41. Lomaria (Fig. 7) stands intermediate between those genera, in which there is an indusium formed of the revolute margin of the frond and those in which the indusium is remote from the margin. Our single species has dimorphous fronds, free veins, and the fructification in a broad band next the mid- FRUCTIFICATION IN FERNS. 15 vein, covered by acontinuous and distinctly intramarginal indu- sium. This genus closely resembles the next in general habit, and is sometimes united with it. 42. Blechnum.—In this genus the sori are linear and near the midvein, and are covered by a membranous indusium which is fixed at its outer margin, burst- ing at its inner margin when the spo- rangia are mature, A single Pe Pres Gnas Vance omaie edivent tive is found within our limits. Desv. Enlarged section of : . the contracted fertile pinna, 43. Woodwardia.—Three species showing intramarginal indu- of chain-ferns occur within our limits, 'Y™ and each represents a distinct section based on the methods of venation. All have oblong or linear sori more or less sunken in the frond, covered by special lid-like indusia burst- ing at their inner margins, and arranged in chainlike rows near the midvein, thus giving the popular name to the genus. § EUWOODWARDIA has uniform fronds and veins forming at least one series of areolz between the sori and the margin, § ANCHISTEA has also uniform fronds, but with free veins from the sori to the margin while § LORINSERIA has dimor- phous fronds, and the veins everywhere uniting to form areole, as in the sensitive-fern (Oxoclea senszbilis). 44. Asplenium.—The numerous species of spleenworts are Closely related to each other in their methods of fructifica- tion, but differ widely in the form, texture, and cutting of their fronds. The sori are placed on the upper side of an oblique vein (Sometimes crossing it in § ATHYRIUM), and covered by an indusium of thesame shape attached by its edge to the fruiting vein and opening toward the midvein. In some species part of the indusia are double. The veins are free in all our species, In § EUASPLENIUM the sori are straight or slightly curved; in $ ATHYRIUM they are often curved, even horseshoe shaped ; and frequently cross to the outer side of the fruiting vein. 45. Scolopendrium bears the linear sori in pairs, one from the upper side of a veinlet and its mate from the lower side of the next. The indusia are attached by their edges to the veins, and folding toward each other appear like a double 16 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. indusium covering a single sorus. The veins extend nearly at right angles to the midvein, are free, and usually forked. 46. Camptosorus.—The walking-leaf has oblong or linear indusiate sori, which are irregularly scattered and borne partly on veins parallel to the midvein, and partly on those that are oblique. Those near the midvein are single, those toward the margin are often approximate in pairs and often form crooked lines. The veins are everywhere copiously reticulated. 47. Phegopteris.—In this genus the sori are round and naked as in Polypodzum, with which this genus is sometimes united. The sporangia spring from the back of the veins in- stead of the apex, as in the latter genus, and the veins are free except in the § GONIOPTERIS, in which they are more or less united. 48. Dryopteris is largely represented in our limits by two well-marked sections, which are sometimes regarded as distinct / genera, and two others with characters scarcely less’ distinct, containing each a single species, In all the sori are roundish, and borne on the back of the veins or rarely at their apex. In § NEPHRODIUM the indusium is cordato-reni- form or orbicular with a narrow sinus. This at first covers the sorus and is attached by its mar. gin, but later bursts away at the margin but re- mains attached at the sinus. In some species in this section the indusium becomes shrivelled ee ee before the fruit matures, and in this condition side of a fertile seg- Might be mistaken for a non-indusiate species alts mae wien Eig: 8). pelea ene In § POLYSTICHUM the indusium is orbicular fied. (After Sachs.) and neltate, being fixed by the centre ; the veins are free, as in § NEPHRODIUM. In §$ CYRTOMIUM the indusium is the same as in § POLys- TICHUM, but the veins tend to unite near the margin, while in § ASPIDIUM the veins anastomose copiously. 49. Nephrolepis has roundish sori borne at the apex of the upper branch of a free vein, near the margin of the frond. The indusia are usually reniform, fixed by the sinus or base, and open toward the margins of the pinne. 50. Cystopteris.—The bladder-ferns take their popular FRUCTIFICA TION IN FERNS. LZ. name from the delicate, hood-like indusium which is attached by its broad base on the inner side of the roundish sorus and partly under it. Later this is thrown back and withers away. The veins are free, and the fronds have the aspect of species of Dryopterzs, but are usually more delicate in texture. 51. Onoclea.—This genus contains two quite dissimilar species, which until recently have been separated into two genera by American botanists. Both have dimorphous fronds, the margin of the contracted fertile frond being strongly revo- lute, and concealing the fruit. O. struthzopter7s has necklace- shaped pinnae, crowded confluent sori, and free and simple veins. O. senszbz/7s has panicled berry-shaped pinnules and co- plously anastomosing veins. 52. Woodsia (Fig. 9) has round- ish sori borne on the back of the veins, with the indusia attached be- neath the sporangia and flat and open, or early bursting at the top into ir- regular laciniz or lobes. In § Ev- WoopsIA the indusia are flat and open Fic. _9.—Woodsia __ obtusa from an early stage, with their cleft ead Pea ae and ciliate margins concealed under !ferior indusia. the sori. In § HYPOPELTIS the indusium is more conspicuous and encloses the sporangium at first, but soon bursts at the top, forming several jagged lobes. 53. Dicksonia.—In this genus the small globular sorus is borne in an elevated, globular receptacle, and enclosed in an in- ferior, membranous, cup-shaped indusium, The veins are al- ways free. 54. Trichomanes (Fig. 10) has sessile sporangia borne on a filiform receptacle at the summit of a vein. The indusia are tubular or funnel- shaped, with an expanded and often somewhat two-lipped mouth. 55. Lygodium.—In our species of climbing-fern the fructification is F'G_10.—Trichomanes radi- : cans Swz. Enlarged section, borne on contracted, forked pinnules showing method of fructifica- occupying the upper portion of the “°™ frond. The ovoid sporangia are solitary or occasionally in 2 18 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. pairs, and are borne in the axils of the large, imbricated, scale- like indusia which are fixed by their bases to short, oblique veinlets. 56. Anemia.—In this genus the two lowest branches of the frond bear panicles of fruit at the end of very long stalks. Fic. 11.—Schiz@a pusilla Pursh. Entire plant, nat- ural size. The ovate sporangia are sessile in two rows along the branchlets of the panicle, without special covering of anykind. In thesection represented by our species the veins are free. 57. Schizza.—In this genus the large ovoid sporangia are sessile in double rows along the single vein of the narrow fertile divisions. In our species the pairs of fertile pinnz form a dis- tichous spike (Fig. 11). 58. Osmunda has the large globose spo- rangia, short-stalked, and borne on the con- tracted fertile portions of the frond. In the cin- namon-fern (O. czznamomea) the fertile fronds are entirely distinct from the sterile, yet mani- festing a tendency to variation in the var. fron- dosa. In the interrupted flowering-fern (QO. Claytonzana) the fructification is confined to a few of the middle pinnz of the frond. In the royal flowering fern (O. regadzs) the fructifica- tion is borne at the apex of the fronds. 59. Spores.—The spores of ferns constitute the fruit proper. A spore consists of two* dis- tinct closed sacs and the cell contents, all of which differ from each other not only in struc- ture, but also in chemical composition. The outer layer (exosfore) consists chiefly of cellu- lose; the inner layer (ezdospore) contains some albuminous matter in addition, while the cell contents consist chiefly of a thin, colorless, jelly like substance known as protoplasm, with grains of chlorophyll (the green * Campbell has recently demonstrated the existence of a third (middle) layer, which is not readily apparent until after germination. C/ Memoirs Boston Soc, Nat, History, Iv, 17 e¢ seg. (April, 1887). GERMINATION OF FERN SPORES. 19 coloring matter of plants), starch, and oil. The exospore may be smooth or roughened by points, granules, warts, or prickles. The shape varies with different species, yet all are rounded, and most are oblong or at least longer than broad. All are micro- scopic, and many are of such a shape that they do not appear uniform owing to the various directions from which we view them. 60. The number of spores produced by a single fern is in- credible. Lindley calculated that a single frond of Scolopen- drium produced about 80 sori, with an average of 4500 sporan- gia in each sorus, and each sporangium containing 50 spores, making a total of 18,009,000 spores. The copious green spores of Osmunda ctnnamomea, or the pale-yellow, powdery spores of a well-developed specimen of Botrychium Virgintanum, must far exceed this computation. By drying either of these species under pressure between sheets of paper great quantities of the spores may be obtained for examination. Specimens for this purpose should be selected just before the sporangia reach their maturity. CHAP TEAR TY. GERMINATION OF FERN SPORES. Alle Glieder bilden sich aus nach ew’gen Gesetzen, Und die seltenste Form bewahrt im Geheimniss das Urbild. —GOETHE, 61. THE germination of the fern spores usually takes place a considerable time after they are discharged from the sporangia, but in Osmunda, which develops its fruit early in the season, they commence their growth only a few days after dissemination. 62. Thalloid Phase.—In germination the exospore splits along the side, and the protruding endospore, sometimes with its divisions already formed by septa or partitions, forms, not a fern, but a thalloid structure resembling one of the lower 20 OUR NA TIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES, liverworts called the prothallzum. Different ferns vary in the method of forming this prothallium, some producing it im- mediately at the spore and others AD AO M after the formation of a thread- oe sclaca Soelnecss tale like growth known as the pro- paces 4a embryo. The prothallium is en- Bese) 1 tirely composed of cellular tissue, and in the true ferns (POLYPO- DIACE#) is broadly cordate or reni- form in shape, and bears large numbers of root-hairs from the under part of its posterior portion (Figs. 12, 13). The prothallium varies in size from less than one tenth of an Fics. 12, 13.—Prothallium of Pteris . : 6 serrulata’ Linn, f., showing two inch up to one third of an inch stages of growth, (Atter' Moore.) "in its widest part. Onthe under surface of the prothallium two sorts of organs are produced analogous to the stamens and pistils of the SPERMAPHYTES, respectively known as aztherzdza and archegonta. The position of these organs on the prothallium varies in different sub- orders. In some species, notably the ostrich-fern, the two kinds of sex- ual organs are produced on separate prothallia, so that the plant becomes dioecious instead of moncecious. Analogous cases are familiar to all among flowering plants like the willows, poplars, and box elders (dicecious), and begonias and melons (mone- cious). 63. Antheridia.—These are small masses of tissue developed in the same manner as the root-hairs, consisting of a single layer of cells forming the wall, and containing a number of spirally coiled threads, usually with a number of cilia on their anterior coils. At maturity the antheridium swells by the ab- sorption of water and finally bursts its wall, discharging these coiled filaments, which possess the power of locomotion, and for this reason are called antherozo¢ds. These antherozoids often drag with them a little vesicle which seems to play no part in the process of reproduction (Fig. 14). 64. Archegonia.—The archegonium (sometimes called pistillidium) is also a rounded mass of tissue usually less prom- GERMINATION OF FERN SPORES. 734 inent than the antheridia, consisting of an external layer of cells and a large central cell, which soon divides into two. The lower portion, at first the larger, develops into a roundish cell, which is analogous to the ovule of flowering plants, and is called the odsphere. The upper portion of the central cell develops between those composing the neck of the archegonium into a canal filled with a sort of mucilage; this finally swells up, forces the cells of the neck apart, and is expelled to aid in attracting Fic. 14.—Antheridium of Adiantum Fic. 15.— Young archegonium of Prerzs capillus-veneris L., showing the es- serrudata Linn. f., showing odsphere, caping antherozoids. (After Sachs.) neck, and canal-cell. (After Sachs.) and retaining the antherozoids at the neck of the archegonium. The odsphere is thus left exposed (Fig. 15). 65. Fertilization.—The antherozoids, analogous to the pollen of flowers, when discharged from the antheridium swim in the moisture always present on the under surface of the prothallium, swarm in large numbers around the neck of the archegonium, and are retained by the mucilage. Some finally force their way into the canal of the neck, a few reaching the oGsphere and disappearing within its substance. There is thus a true sexual generation among ferns, and the formerly appro- priate term Crypffogamdza (hidden marriage) loses its application under the untiring scrutiny of the microscopist. After fertili- zation the neck of the archegonium closes, and the fertilized 22 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. odsphere, now called the odsfore, increases in size, and finally develops into a true fern. 66. Pteridoid Phase.—After the 06- sphere has been fertilized it commences its growth by the ordinary processes of cell multiplication, and for a time remains with- in the walls of the archegonium, which continue to grow, until finally the interior growth breaks through the walls, differen- tiated into its first root and leaf. The young fern draws its nourishment from the pro- thallium for a time, but soon develops root-hairs, which, extending into the soil, maintain thereby an existence independent of the prothallium. The latter growth hav- Fic. 16. — Adiantum ing accomplished its work, withers away capillus-veneris Ee Fro= (Big. 16), The first parts«of the root, stems thallium and young fern : seen from below, 44, and frond are very small and comparatively prothallium; 4, first leaf; , : A, root-hairs of prothal- simple in structure, but those formed later lium; w, w’, first and P second ‘roots. (After are successively larger, and not only bear So) a closer resemblance to the mature form of the species, but also develop increased complexity of struc- ture. ‘‘ The fern continues to gain strength, not by subsequent increase of size of the embryonic structures, but by each succes- sive part attaining a more considerable size and development than the preceding ones, until at length a kind of stationary condition is arrived at, in which the newly formed organs are nearly similar to the preceding ones.” 67. Thecomplete life-history of a fern illustrates a principle common among the lower forms of animal life known as “ alter- nation of generations.”’ Instead of the direct production of a mature sexual plant, as among the higher forms of vegetation, there is the production of a sexual growth resembling a lower form of vegetation, which in turn is followed by the growth of a mature plant producing its fruit without the assistance of sex- ual organs. 68. Recapitulation.—To review the life-history of a fern we find the following processes : GERMINATION OF FERN SPORES. 23 A. Production of the spores asexually by the mature plant. {FRUCTIFICATION.) B. Growth of the prothallium from the spore with or with- out the development of a pro-embryo. (THALLOID PHASE.)* C. Production of sexual organs, archegonia (female) and antheridia (male), on the under surface of the prothallium, or on separate prothallia. D. Fecundation of the odsphere developed in the arche- gonium by the antherozoids developed in the antheridium. (FERTILIZATION.) E. Growth of the mature fern in successive stages from the odspore. (PTERIDOID PHASE. )* LITERATURE. BESSEY (Charles E.). Botany. pp. 361-388. New York, 1881. (Henry Holt & Co.) GOEBEL (K.). Outlines of Classification and Special Mor- phology of Plants. pp. 189-298. (English Translation.) Ox- ford, 1887. (Macmillan & Co.) = CAMPBELL (Douglas H.). Fern Notes. In Zorrey Bulletin, % p16; 119. (Nov. 1883.) The Development of the Prothallia in Ferns. In Botan- zcal Gazette, X, 355-360, with Plate 1x. (Oct. 1885.) The Structure and Development of the Mosses and Ferns. 8vo. Londonand New York, 1895. (Macmillan & Co.) This also contains an extensive Bibliography of the entire subject. * The terms ‘‘ Thalloid Phase” and ‘‘ Pteridoid Phase” in place of the older terms ‘“‘ sexual generation” and ‘‘ asexual generation” were first sug- gested in the first edition of this work (1881). The older terms, although in common use by botanical writers, are decidedly unfortunate and misleading. A generation is properly the production of offspring resembling the parent, or the offspring thus produced, which the prothallium is not and the mature fern is not. The generation proper must then be considered as including the entire life-history of a fern, of which the prothallium and mature fern are suc- cessive phases. The terms ‘‘sexual” and ‘‘asexual”’ as used in this connec- tion are likewise misleading, as they might apply as well to the origin as to the producing power of the so-called ‘‘ generation.” The prothallium is asex- ual in origin, but develops sexual organs ; the mature fern, on the cther hand, produces no sexual organs, but is itself the product of bisexuality. The same criticism applies with equal force to the expression ‘‘ alternation of genera- tions,” used alike by botanists and zoologists. 24 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. CAMPBELL (Douglas H.). On the Development of the Antheridium in Ferns. In Zorrey Bulletin, x1, 49-52, with Plate Liv. (Apr. 1886.) The Development of the Ostrich fern. Jz Memoirs Boston Soctety of Natural Hestory, 1v, 17-52, with Plates 1v- vil. (Apr. 1887.) On the Prothallium and Embryo of Osmunda Clay- toniana L. and O. cinnamomea L. In Annals of Botany, V1, 49-94, pl. I1I-vI (1892). CHAPTER< V. FERN STRUCTURE. Be it ours to meditate, And to the beautiful order of thy works Learn to conform the order of our lives. —BRYANT. 69. Tissues.—The life-history of every plant commences in a single cell, and all the complications of vegetable growth depend on two simple processes, viz., the enlargement of indi- vidual cells to their full size, and their multiplication by divi- sion. The lowest forms of vegetable life consist of a single cell, either globular or elongate. Those of a somewhat higher grade consist of a single row of cells, or at most a single layer ; while still higher forms of growth consist of masses of cells variously grouped together and specialized by differentiation from the typical form and character. 70. Cells become specialized or set apart to fulfila certain function in the economy of plant growth in many ways. Some are lengthened for giving strength to stems or leaves; some have their walls thickened to give rigidity or hardness where protection is needed from injury to more: delicate structures within; and some are variously adapted for containing and dis- tributing the secretions or other fluids connected with the cir- culatory system of plant life. Seven distinct varieties of tissues are recognized by structural botanists, yet some of these are connected with each other by various gradations. . FERN STRUCTCORE. 25 71. Tissue Systems.—The earliest tendency to differen- tiation of cells is seen in the arrangement of the outer row of cells to form a boundary wall. In higher forms of growth the interior cells tend to form one or more series of string-like rows surrounded by the normal cellular tissue. We thus reach the basis of the classification of vegetable tissues into three groups: (a) Epidermal Systen. (b) Fiebro-vascular System. (c) Fun- damental System (Fig. 17). The first and third are common to both ferns and mosses. The second is first seen in the ferns and their allies, where it is a character so constant that it serves as the basis for separating the so-called “ vascular’ cryptogams from other flowerless plants. These three forms of tissue may be seen by examining a thin cross-section of the stipe of a living fern with the microscope. Longitudinal sections will show stil] further the character of the tissues composing the fibro-vascular bundle. 72. Roots.—Roots are constantly produced as the root- stock advances, and consist for the most part of little fibrils which are naked for a short distance from the apex in order that they may freely absorb moisture from the earth. The epi- dermis is also thin, and usually consists of a single layer of small cells. It differs from that of the rest of the plant in having no stomata (77). As the apex continues to grow, the epidermis of the part behind becomes harder, and frequently develops hairs, or more frequently irregular scales. 73. Stipe.—The stipe is made up of the three forms of tissue (Fig. 17), and usually con- tains several bundles of vascular tissue. In the dried stipe these can be easily seen, by scraping off the external covering of the stem. These bundles of fibres give sta- bility to the fern, and are con- tinued through the rachises and veins, thus forming the frame- Fic. 17.—Cross-section of stipe of work for the softer portions of Cystopteris fragilis Bernh., showing F two bundles of fibro-vascular tissue. the frond. The stipes are some- times smooth and polished, sometimes hairy or beset with stalked glands, and sometimes densely clothed, especially near the base, with chaffy scales. 26 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 74. Fronda.—in the HYMENOPHYLLACE& the frond con- sists of a single layer of cells. This condition is also found in the leaves deveioped aiong the axis of growth among the mosses to which this sub-order is related in some of its forms. In all other terns there are several layers of cells variously compacted together, and forming all the varieties of texture —membranous, herbaceous, coriaceous and fleshy. The epi- dermis is usually easily separable from the underlying tissue, when its pecuiiar markings can be studied. 75. From the epidermis a great variety of appendages are developed which are all modifications of hairs, and are all in- cluded under the term ¢rzchomes. however different in appear- ance or distinct in function. These are not confined to the frond, but develop here their greatest variation. They are fre- quently found on the roots, the rootstock, and the stipe, under the form of root-hairs or scales of various forms. Scales are especially abundant in certain forms of Dryofferzs, as well as in Scolopendrium, Chetlanthes, and other genera. 76. Trichomes.—On the fronds the trichomes may be de: veloped as simple unarticulated or articulated hairs, consisting of one or two cells at most. They may appear as stalked glands like those that arise from the stipe of Chedlanthes Coopere or the margin of t e indusium of Dryopterzs spinulosa, var. intermedia ; or they may be developed into scales of in- tricate cellular structure like those on the under surface of cer- tain forms of Chezlanthes, particularly C. Fendlert and C. Cleve- fandit. Among the FILICES the sporangia are specialized, tri- chomes developed in clusters (sorz’) along the veins, or spread over the entire surface of the frond, or even arranged in spikes or panicles. The epidermis also develops an excrescence known as the indusium, which consists of a single layer of cells, and is variously arranged as indicated in Chapter III. In some cases a false indusium is provided, which is not a growth from the epidermis, and may consist of several layers of cells. 77. Stomata.—lIf the epidermis covering the under surface of a fern be examined under a high magnifying power, peculiar structures will be seen in the form of semi-elliptical or crescent- shaped cells connected at their apices and separated between. These are the guard-cells of stomata which control the open- br FERN STRUCTURE. 27 ings to the air-chambers of the plant. The two elliptical cells form the mouth of the passage and expand when moist, allow- ing the atmospheric gases and watery vapor to escape or enter but close the entrance by contraction in time of drought. The stomata are not confined to the fronds, but are found to a ereater or less extent on all aerial portions of ferns and higher plants, as well as on subterranean stems. 78. Asexual Reproduction.—Besides the ordinary meth- ods of sexual reproduction discussed in Chapter IV., most ferns are propagated by growth of the rootstock under ground, giving rise to a succession of fronds each season. In addition to this, which is common to all perennial plants, there are some meth- ods of reproduction that deserve attention. The first is by 79. Buds and Bulblets.—Ina few species of conservatory ferns adventitious buds are produced on the surfaces of the fronds. These soon develop into young ferns, and it is not un- common to see a large number in vari- ous stages of growth rising from a sin- gle frond. This peculiarity is common among several species of Asplenzum, especially A. furcatum Thunb., and will be sometimes found to occur among some of our native species. Bulblets are found in the axils of the upper pinne of Cystopterts bulbtfera, which often fall to the ground and develop into new plants after a manner analogous to the devel- opment of the axillary buds of the tiger- lily. so. Another method is seen in the walking-leaf (Camftosorus rhizophyllus), in which the long, attenuated, simple fronds bend over and take root in the adjoining soil in a manner quite analo- ON eda aise oer gous to the propagation of strawberries showing peculiar method of by runners (Fig. 18). The same method propreancn. of rooting at the apex has also been noticed in Asflenzum pinnatifidum, A. platyneuron, and Phegopteris reptans. 28 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. LITERATURE.* BESSEY. Botany. (See p. 23.) GOEBEL. Outlines of Classification. (See p. 23.) DE Bary (A.). Comparative Anatomy of Phanerogams and Ferns. 8vo. Oxford, 1884. (Macmillan & Co.) CAMPBELL (Douglas H.).. A Third Coat in the Spores of the Genus Onoclea. In Torrey Bulletin, Xi, 8, 9 (Jan. 1885). SCHRENK (Joseph). The Dehiscence of Fern Sporangia. In Torrey Bulletin, X111, 68, 69 (1886). Lyon (Florence May). Dehiscence of the Sporangium of Adiantum pedatum. In Torrey Bulletin, X1v, 180-183 (Sept. 1887). ATKINSON (George F.). The Study of the Biology of Ferns by the Collodion Method. 8vo. New York, 1894. (Macmillan & Co.) CHAPTER =v. THE FERN ALLIES. Beneath my feet The ground-pine curled its pretty wreath_— EMERSON, A. THE GRAPE-FERNS AND ADDER-TONQGUES. 81. General Characters.—These peculiar plants, former- ly united with the order FILICES, are now regarded as consti- tuting a distinct botanical order. They include mostly small, fleshy, terrestrial plants, and, like ferns, may usually be found in swamps or rich, moist woods. As already noticed (5), there is a marked tendency to variation in the same species, and numerous varieties have been established from the various forms. 82. The sterile and fertile portions of the plant are borne on a common stalk, and either portion may be sessile, long * See other references at close of Chapter X. THE FERN ALLIES 20 or short stalked, in the various species. In Ophzoglossum the sterile portion is simple, and in all our species except the anoma- lous O. falmatum appears like a sin- gle leaf borne on the common stalk. In Botrychium (Fig. 19) the sterile segment (except in some forms of B. simplex) is somewhat pinnately or ternately divided, and in the larger forms of B. Virginzanum is broad- ly ternate, with the divisions even tri—quadripinnatifid. Theveins are free in the latter genus, but anas- tomose inthe former. This charac- ter, however, is frequently obscured by the fleshy texture of the plant. 83. Vernation.—As has been before stated, ferns are rolled in the bud from the apex downward (czr- cinate), distinguishing them from the higher forms of vegetation. Among the OPHIOGLOSSACE&, how- ever, the vernation is either straight, inclined at the apex of one or both segments, or else the fertile seg- ments are folded on the main stalk, making the vernation wholly in- clined. Until recently there has been much difficulty in distinguishing the smaller species of Botrychtum, and some forms seem to connect the smaller ones with the reduced forms of B. ternatum and B. Virginz- anum. Fic. 19.—Plant of Botrychium Zunarta, natural size. Mr. Davenport has investigated the bud characters of these intimately related species, and has made their identification a matter of comparatively easy investigation. The buds may be found enclosed in the base of the common stalk (except in 2. Virginianum, where they are placed in an upright cavity at one 30 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. side), and may be examined with a strong lens. The three di- visions are summed up as follows: “J, Vernation wholly straight. 2. semplex Hitch. (Fig. 31). II. Vernation partly inclined in one or both portions. JB. funarta Swz. (Fig. 32), B. doreale Milde, B. matricariefolium A. Br. (Fig. 33), and B. ternatum Swz. (Fig. 34). III. Vernation wholly inclined, in the fertile frond recurved. LB. lanceolatum Angs. (Fig. 35), and B. Verginianum Swz.” The special characters of each species will be found under the descriptions of the Botrychia later in this work. The cuts will be valuable for reference, and will enable even beginners to identify the species of this complicated genus with compara- tively little difficulty. 84. Fructification.—in this order of plants the fructification consists of sporangia, which, unlike those of the true ferns, are not reticulated, possess no trace of a ring, open by a transverse slit, and are variously spiked and panicled (Fig. 20). In the adder-tongues (Ophioglossum) the sporangia are large, and cohere in two ranks along the margins of a single spike, opening transversely to discharge their copious sulphur-yellow spores. In the grape-ferns (Lotrychium) the sporangia are Fic. 20.—Enlarged globular and arranged in double rows along sporangia of Boiry- the narrow segments, more or less in panicles. Swz. In both genera the sporangia are not developed from the epidermal cells, but arise from a transformation of the interior tissue of the leaf. This, with other characters as clear- ly defined, serves to separate these anomalous plants from the order FILICES. 85. Germination.—Among the OPHIOGLOSSACE4., so far as known, the prothallia are destitute of chlorophyll, develop under ground, and are moneecious. In Botrychium lunaria the prothallium is an ovoid mass of cellular tissue, light brown without and yellowish white within. It produces a number of antheridia and archegonia on the upper surface as well as the lower, differing in a few minor points from the true ferns in the method of their development, THE FERN ALLIES. 31 LITERATURE. HooKkER (W. J.) and BAKER (J. G.). Synopsis Filicum, pp. 444-448. MILDE (J.). Botrychiorum Monographia. In Verhandl. der kk. zool. bot. Gesellschaft, XVI, 507-516 (1868); XIX, 55-190, Tafel vil, VIII (1869); XX, 999-1002 (1870). DAVENPORT (George E.), Notes on Botrychium simplex. Ato, paper, with plates (1877). Vernation in Botrychia. In Torrey Bulletin, V1, 193- 199, plate (1878) ; VII, 115,116 (1880) ; VIII, 100, ror (1881). C/. NSO Xe 22226 CAMPBELL (Douglas H.). The Development of the Root in Botrychium ternatum. \n Botanical Gazette, X1, 49-53, with plate (March, 1886). A Method of Spore Germination. In Sotanzcal Ga- zette, X, 428 (1885). GILBERT (Benjamin D.). Notes on Botrychia. In TJorrey Bulletin, Xi, 75, 76 (July, 1884). Cf. XII, 22, 23. PRANTL (K.). Beitriige zur Systematik der Ophioglosseen. In Jahrb. des Kon. Bot. Garten (Berlin), 111, 297-350 (1884). B. THE HORSE-TAILS. 86. General Characters.—The horse-tails or scouring- rushes belonging to the genus /gz7zsetum are perennial, rush- like plants, that may be found in damp, gravelly, or loamy soil, some species even growing in shallow water. Our native species vary in height from a few inches up to eleven feet, as seen in some of the larger forms of E. robustum. In some species only the root is perennial, the stems which are sent up for producing fruit dying down tothe ground every year. In others the stems are evergreen, continuing through the winter. Some species, like the common horse-tail (Z. arvense), are dimorph- ous, the fertile stems being simple and destitute of green color- ing matter (chlorophyll), while the sterile stems are green and copiously branched, The fertile stems of some other spe- cies, as /. sz/vaticum, which are simple at first, after maturing their fruit produce branches and resemble the ordinary sterile stems (Figs. 21, 22). No OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. Ww 87. The furrowed stems are hollow, except in £. sczrpozdes, and in addition to the large central cavity there is a series of smaller air-cavities opposite the furrows known as the vadlecular canals, the furrows themselves being called vad/ecu/e and the ridges carzn@. Opposite the carine there are still smaller cavi- ties known as carénal canals. The carinz vary in number from E ae op8. i “3a RY | 302 F BY] ee sae, \, = Nt SEAS Fics. 21, 22.—Equisetum silvaticum L., showing sterile and fertile stems. (From Thome.) five to fifty in different species. The stems are also jointed, and at each node some species produce a whorl of branches which may be simple or compound. Some species, however, like the common scouring-rush (£. Azemazle), produce simple stems. ss. The leaves are produced also at the nodes, and by the union of their margins form a short sheath which ends in a row THE FERN ALLIES. 33 of teeth. These teeth may be deciduous or persistent, and their number, varying from three upwards, indicates the number of leaves forming the united whorl. 89. Stomata (77) are distributed along the vallecule either irregularly or disposed in ranges on either side of the valleculz. The epidermis frequently contains much silica, and the rough- ened tubercles of some species give the surface a harsh feeling. 90. Fructification.—The fructification in Agzzsetum is arranged in cone-like spikes borne at the apex of the fertile stems. These spikes are composed of successive closely-placed whorls of shield-shaped, stalked scales or modified leaves, each of which bears from five to ten one-celled sporangia on its under side. The sporangia open along the inner side to discharge their numerous spores, whose outer coat is spirally split into two bands, forming the so-called e/aters. The elaters when dry are spread out at right angles to each other in the form of a cross, and probably assist in scattering the spores; when moist they rapidly absorb water, and become closely coiled around the spore.* 91. Germination.—The spores of Lgzzsetum retaining their powers of germination only a few days, soon develop branched and irregularly lobed prothallia, which are provided with chlorophyll. These are usually dicecious, the male being smaller, and producing antheridia at the end or margin of the larger lobes. The antherozoids are large, and provided with a peculiar appendage known as the “float.” The female prothal lium may reach one half inch in length, and develops archegonia on the anterior margin of the fleshy lobes. The process of fertilization is similar to that of ferns. * An interesting illustration of this can be seen by placing a mass of fresh spores on a slide uncovered, and examining it with a low power. By breath- ing on the slide the elaters coil closely about the spore; as soon as the moist- ure evaporates they uncoil, and in their activity jostle each other in great confusion, 3 34 OURkK NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. LITERATURE, BAKER (J.G.). Fern Allies, pp. 1-6 (1887). BRAUN (Alexander). A Monography of the North American Species of the Genus £guzsetum. With additions by George Engelmann, M.D. In Svd/¢man’s Fournal, XLVI, 81-91 (1843). Describes the then known North American species of Egudsetum. CAMPBELL (Douglas H.). The Development of the Male Prothallium of the Field Horse-tail. In Amerzcan Naturalist, XVI, I-10 (Jan. 1883). MILDE (J.). Monographia Equisetorum. 4to, pp. 607, with 35 plates. Dresden (186s). NEWCOMBE (F. C.). Spore dissemination in Equisetum. In Botanical Gazette, X111, 173-178 (1888). C. THE CLUB-MOSSES. 92. General Characters.—The club-mosses are chiefly small perennial plants usually growing in dry or moist woods, or even on exposed rocks with little soil for nourish- ment. Most of the species are somewhat moss-like in habit, as might be suspected from the popular names given to these plants, the genus Lycopodium taking the name of club-moss and Selaginella that of rock- moss. Various species of Lycopodium are also known as ground-pine, ground-fir, ground-cedar, running-pine, etc., from more or less marked resemblances (Fig. 23). In the curious Se/a- Fic, 23 —Portion of Lycopodium entie e sey EEE oe ¥ natural size. (After Prantl.) Arizona the branches of the closely coiled central stem rol{ up when dry into a nest-like ball, and when moistened expand so as to appear flat or saucer- = THE FERN ALLIES. 35 shaped. As the plant retains this power indefinitely, it has sometimes been called “the Resurrection-plant.” 93. The stems are usually creeping, yet in some species show a tendency to become erect, and most species send up erect branches which bear the fruit. Most species bear roots at irregular intervals along the under side of the creeping stems, but our solitary species of Psz/otum is rootless, bearing only underground shoots which perform the functions of roots. The leaves are small and unbranched, in some instances resembling appressed scales, in others resembling the acicular leaves of Conifers, and are arranged in four, eight, or many ranks. In some species the leaves are of one kind, while in others two or even more forms may occur on the same plant. In Psz/otum the leaves are all rudimentary. 94. Fructification.—The fructification of the club-mosses is chiefly borne on upright branches in solitary or clustered (2-5) spikes, which are formed of numerous scales or scale-like leaves, each bearing a single large sporangium in its axil. The sporangia open transversely, and are one-celled, except in Pszlotum, where they are three-celled. Ina few species of Lycofodzum the sporangia are borne near the summit of the fertile stems in the axils of ordinary leaves. The usual shape of the fruit-bearing scales is represented in Figs. 24-26. 95. The spores of Lycopodium and Pszlotum are of one kind (Fig. 24), but in Selagznella two kinds of spo- rangia are developed—the mzcrospo- rangia, producing numerous w7zcro- Spores (Fig. 25) not unlike the spores of Lycopodium; and the macrospo- rangza, producing usually four macro- eee jek. spike nl spores (Fig. 26), so called from their bearing asporangium in its axil. ‘ : Z _Fias. 25, 2b.—Scales from fer- larger size. This character of Se/a- tile spike of Selaginella rupes- Fi rehie i A ; trzs Spring,disclosing two sorts ginella, which it shares with the quill- of spores. (After Sprague.) worts and pepperworts soon to be described, serves as the basis for the division of the fern allies into two groups: the 36 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. zZsosporous, producing spores of one kind; and the eferosforous, producing spores of more than one kind.* 96. Germination.—The germination of Lycopodium is only partially known, as the prothallia have been seen in only three species, and in these they have not been carried through all the stages of development. That of Z. avnotznum is a yel- lowish-white mass of tissue with a few small root-hairs.t The antheridia and archegonia are developed from the upper side of the prothallium. In Z. cernwum, Treub{ found the pro- thallia much smaller (one twelfth of an inch long), vertical in growth, yellowish below and bright green above. The anthe- ridia and archegonia are found round the summit of the cylin- dric prothallium. 97. The germination of Se/agznella is better known. The contents of the ripened microspores are transformed into a mass of tissue consisting of a few cells, one of which remains sterile and is considered a rudimentary prothallium, while the others give rise to antherozoids, and are consequently considered as a rudimentary antheridium. The macrospores, on the other hand, produce a many-celled prothallium, which develop a few root-hairs and numerous archegonia, which after fertilization give rise to a new plant. Two plants are sometimes produced on the same prothallium. 98. The microspores are thus seen to be male and the macrospores female, showing a clearer differentiation of sex in the products of the mature plant than appears in any other group of the fern allies already studied. This may be consid- ered a foreshadowing of the completely differentiated sexual organs which occur in the flowering plants. In the method of formation of the embryo the Se/agznel/a also differs from all other plants of this group, and approaches the flowering plants. * This division, though used by some of the best botanists, is at best an artificial classification, as it separates genera otherwise closely allied to each other. + Cf. J. Fankhauser, Botanische Zeitung, 1873, pp. 1-6; Bruchmann, Botantsches Centralblatt, Xx1 (1885). t Ch Treub, Ann. ad. Jard. Bot. d. Buitenzorg, 1V (1884). = ss THE FERN ALLIES. 37 LITERATURE. BAKER (John G.). Fern Allies, pp. 7-123. London, 1887. (George Bell & Sons.) SPRING (A.). Monographie de la Famille des Lycopodia- cées. In IJémozres de l Académie Royale de Belgique, XV, 1-110 (1842) ; XXIV, 1-358 (1849). D. THE QUILLWORTS. 99. General Characters.—The quillworts, so named from the appearance of the leaves, are principally incon- spicuous aquatic plants of a grass-like or rush-like aspect (Fis. 27). Some species are always submerged — often in several feet of water; others grow in marshy soil or in the shallow margins of ponds or streams, where they become ap- parently terrestrial in time of low water; while others still are found between high and low water marks, where they will be covered by water at high tide. The leaves are awl-shaped or linear, and are attached to a short fleshy trunk. They vary in number from ten to one hun- dred in each plant, and in length from two to twenty inches in various species. On account of their resemblance to the im- Fic. 27.—Jsoétes lacustris L., natural mature forms of rushes and size. (Redrawn from Sprague.) other aquatic vegetation of a higher order, they have been very sparingly collected. Many questions of distribution, habits, and life-history may be studied by even amateur botanists in various sections of the country. 38 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. In this way valuable additions to science may be contributed by those whose labor misdirected might be wasted. 100. Fructification.—The sporangia of the quillworts, like those of the club-mosses, are sessile in the base of the leaves. The leaf base, sometimes called the sheath, is some- what triangular from the broad insertion, convex behind and concave in front, where there is a large depression known as the fovea, which contains the sporangium. The margin of the fovea rises in the form of a delicate membrane called the velwm, which in many species lies above the sporangium and en- closes it. The sporangia of the outer Fics. 28, 29.—Two kinds of - é - sporangia in /. /acustris L., en- leaves contain large spherical ma- larged. (After Sprague.) crospores; those of the inner con- tain numerous oblong, triangular microspores. The size and marking of the spores form important characters in distin- guishing species. 101. Germination.—The microspore after ren:aining dor- mant through the winter forms a few-celled structure which produces the antherozoids, which are long and slender, and provided with a tuft of cilia at each end. The macrospore produces a prothallium much as in Selagzmella (97); from this the germ of the mature plant arises after fertilization by the antherozoids. LITERATURE. BAKER (J.G.). Fern Allies. pp. 123-134 (1887). BRAUN (Alexander). On the North American Species of Tsoétes and Marszlea. Communicated by Dr. G. Engelmann. In Sz/liman’s Fournal, Second Series, HI, 52-56 (1847). CAMPBELL (D. H.). Contributions to the life-history of Tsoétes. In Annals of Botany, V, 231-258, pl. XV—XVII (1891). ENGELMANN (George). J/soéfes of Northern United States. In Gray's Manual, Fifth Edition (1868). The Species of /soéfes of the Indian Territory. In Bo- tanical Gazette, 111, 1, 2 (Jan. 1878). The genus /soéfes in North America, In Zvraas, S¢, DHE FERN ALLIES: 39 Louzs Acad. Scz., 1V, 358-390 (1882). A valuable monograph of this most difficult genus of the fern allies. UNDERWOOD (L. M.). The distribution of Isoétes. In Botanical Gazette, X\11, 89-94 (1888). See also notes in Botanzcal Gazette, V1, 228. E. THE WATER FERNS. 102. General Characters.—This group includes plants of very diverse characters. Some, like M/arsz/ea, root in mud and produce quadrifoliate leaves. Others, like Pz/ularza, re- semble the stcrile forms of E/eocharzs, or other sedges. Others, like Azolla or Salvinza, float on the surface of water, sending numerous roots into the wate1. JMJarszlea and Pilularza havea circinate vernation like the ferns. 108. Fructification.—The fruit of J/arsz/ea consists of a hollow-stalked receptacle known as the sforocarp, which is oblong or rarely globose, and bears the spo- rangia in sori on the inner walls of its two valves. The spores are of two kinds, as in all rhizocarps. The numerous microspores are con- tained in microsporangia, while the macrospores are solitary in the few macrosporangia. aNaN ra NY os be) < = Aa CS ar, A as = > 2a Ca a ra b AD Ma <. - PS et x sx — 2 Se Rar. " Mf 104. The sporocarp of P2/u- Ws ng ae ce AN ins /rata is globose, containing from WW) Ms two to four cells, which produce microsporangia in the upper portion and macrosporangia below; the microspores are numerous, while a single macrospore is found in each sporangium. 105. In Azolla the sporocarps Hig qo Savucniae nalans are of two kinds, borne in the axils oe ceanaey (Re- of the leaves; the larger are glo- bose, and contain numerous microspores, which are aggregated in masses; the smaller are ovoid, and contain a single macro- spore, 40 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 106. Salvinia (Fig. 30), recently discovered in Missouri, has the sporocarps borne in clusters on short branches of the floating stem, one or two of each cluster bearing ten or more macrosporangia, each of which contains a single macrospore, the remainder bearing numerous globose microsporangia with numerous microspores. 107. Germination.—In JZarszlea the antherozoids are produced in a rudimentary prothallium which develops from the microspore and are corkscrew-shaped, consisting of several coils. The prothallium, developed fromthe apex of the ma- crospore is a hemispherical mass of tissue, and contains a sin- gle archegonium. Much is yet to be learned of the habits and life-history of our native species. LITERATURE. ANDREWS (W. M.). Apical growth in roots of Marszlia guadrifolia and Eguzsetum arvense. In Botanical Gazette, XV, 174-177 (1890). BAKER (J. G.). Fern Allies. pp. 134-149 (1887). BRAUN (Alexander). On the North American species of Tsoétes and Marsilia. In Silliman’s Journal, Second Series, III, 52-56 (1847). Ueber Marszlia und Pilularta, In Monatsh. der Konigl. Akad. der Wréssenschaft, 1863, 413-436; 1870, 653-753; 1872, 635-679. CAMPBELL (D. H.). The systematic position of the Rhizo- carpee. In Zorrey Bulletin, XV, 258-262 (1888). The development of Prlularia globulifera L, In An- nals of Botany, i. 233-264, pl. XUI-xv (1888). On the Prothallium and Embryo of Marszléa vesteta. In Proc. Cal. Acad. Sctence, 111, 183-205, pl. 111, IV (1892). —— Some notes on Azolla. In Zoe, 111, 340-343 (1893). —— The development of the Sporocarp of Pzlularia Amere- cana A. Br. In Torrey Bulletin, XX, 141-148, pl. CXLVI (1893). ENGELMANN (George). New Species of Marszléa. In Szd/e- man’s Journal, Second Series, VI (1848). STRASBURGER (L.). Ueber Azol/a. 8vo,7 plates. Jena (1873). UNDERWOOD (L. M.) and Coox (O. F.). Notes on the American Species of Marszléa, In Torrey Bulletin, X1v, 89-94 (May, 1887). CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE. 4! CHAPTER VIL CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE. The education of a naturalist now consists chiefly in learning how to compare. —AGASSIZ. 108. Nomenclature.—Before the time of Linnzeus, the method of naming plants and animals was a subject of much embarrassment to science, and gave rise to endless confusion. This great author, justly called the ‘‘ Father of Botany,” intro- duced a new system of nomenclature that gave an impetus to the study of nature. His system has since been in constant use, and has made possible the greater accuracy and definiteness in the descriptions of subsequent naturalists. He also introduced a system of classification which, though artificial and since abandoned, paved the way to the more natural system since adopted. He arranged the various plants and animals known to him ina few groups according to some particular plan of structure, divided these into still smaller groups, and so on to the lowest divisions, genera and species. To these divisions special names were assigned, thus giving to each organism a double name, the first geerzc, which may be likened to our fam- ily name, the other sfeczfic, corresponding to our baptismal name. Thus the “golden-back” of California bears the name Gymnogramme triangularzs given it by Kaulfuss. The first it bears in common with other species from this and other coun- tries which possess a like fructification. The latter is peculiar to this species, which has a somewhat triangular frond. 109. Generic Names.—These may be derived from some characteristic of growth or structure (Cryptogramme, Chetlan- thes, Schizea), in honor of some botanist or distinguished patron of science (Dicksonza, Woodsta), or occasionally from some mythological or symbolical character (Osmumnda). 110. Specific Names.—These are usually adjective ele- ments either Latin or Latinized, and must agree in gender with 42 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. the generic name, according to the rules of Latin syntax. Errors in agreement have frequently been made by botanists who were not versed in the classics, and it is unfortunate that errors of this character as well as gross errors in the orthography of gen- eric names have found their way into accepted text-books of botany.* Specific names frequently indicate something regard- ing habit or mode of growth (dulbéfera, gracilis, atropurpurea), or may indicate the locality in which the organism was first dis- covered (Calzfornica, [lvensis). A few take their name from their discover, in which case the name is Latinized and takes a genitive ending (Boofttzz, Lemmonz), or else an adjective form (Goldieanum, Clintonéanum). 111. The advantage of this binary nomenclature is at once evident when we consider the immense number of ferns alone, to say nothing of the remainder of the vegetable world and the hosts of the animal creation. Bythis means organisms of complex structure can be definitely characterized with com- paratively few words, and the scientific name once established, is recognized among scientists of all nations and languages. 112. Among some there is a tendency to regard scientific names with disfavor, on the ground that they are long and dif- ficult. But what shall we say of Geranium, or Gladiolus, or Fuchsta, or Phlox Drummondzz, or a hundred others familiar to every lover of flowers? Are these less difficult than Adzan‘um, Notholena, Woodsza, or Pellea Breweré? A little reflection will convince a person of sense that such a criticism is unjust. 113. A worse tendency is perhaps that which prompts the introduction of “‘ popular names” for ferns: occasionally a name of this kind is highly appropriate, and deserves wide-spread adoption, as in the case of ‘“Christmas-fern” for Dryopteris acrostichoides, suggested by Mr. Robinson; the greater part, however, have no merit, and when such monstrosities appear as “Leather-leaf Polypody” for Polypodium Scoulert, “Mr. Goldie’s Shield-fern” for Dryofterzs Goldicana, nomenclature is made cumbrous instead of simple. 114. There are liabilities to error and confusion even in the Linnzean system of nomenclature, as various authors have * Cistopteris for Cystopter’s is an example, CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE. 43 often assigned the same name to several species. For example, the name Chedlanthes vestita was given by Brackenridge to C. gracillima. Wooker assigned the same name (in part) to C, gracilis, while Swartz assigned the same to the fern described in this volume under the name of C. Zazosa. It becomes neces- sary, therefore, in referring to a species to indicate the author of the specific name thus—Chedlanthes vestita Swz. 115. Synonymy.—It may also be remarked in this con- nection that different authors have described the same fern under widely different generic and specific names, owing (1) to the different conceptions that have prevailed at different times as to what constituted generic characters, and (2) to ignorance of what others had already written on species, redescribed as new. For example, the delicate Woodsza //venszs of Robert Brown was described as Acrostichum TIlvense by Linnzeus, Polyfodium I- vense by Swartz, Nephrodium rufidulum by Michaux, Aspedium rufidulum by Willdenow, and Woodséa rufidula by Beck. Many other species have been as variously classified. The oppor- tunities for errors of this character are much less now than for- merly, yet redescription is not unknown in our day. 116. Species.—Goethe tells us that nature knows only in- dividuals, and that species exist only in the school-books. From this extreme there has been every grade of opinion respecting species to the one which regards species as invariable, actual existences, types originally ordained and summoned to existence by the Creator. Linnzeus, for example, defined species in these words: ‘“ Sfeczes tot sunt diverse, quot diversas formas ab initio creavit infinitum ens.” * Various definitions have been given to species, but none accord with the actual practice of systematists, who seem inclined to make a species what they choose; and indeed the existence of various connecting forms between many species distinct under normal conditions makes the prac- tical definition of the term almost an impossibility. We may, however, for practical purposes, regard as a species an assem- blage of individuals not differing essentially from each other, and capable of producing like individuals by the ordinary pro- cesses of reproduction. A recent writer defines species as “ the * There are as many different species as the Infinite Being created in the beginning, 44. OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. present aspect of a line of organic development, destined to become something else in the future, as it was something else in the past,”—a definition in accord with the now universally accepted biological doctrine respecting the origin of species. Species among ferns are founded chiefly on differences in the cutting of the fronds and their method of venation. 117. Varieties.—Many forms differing only slightly from the ordinary specific types, and yet capable of transmitting their variations from generation to generation, are regarded as vari- eties. It was the opinion of a prominent botanist, that all so-called varieties among the lower plants “ were purely the result of the accident of environment, and never of cross-fertili- zation.” Since a species which varies in some minor particular is likely to revert to the ordinary form as soon as the normal conditions of soil, moisture, or environment are restored, there is no scientific foundation for the multiplication of varieties to serve as rubbish in works on systematic botany. There is a tendency on the part of a few authors to multiply varieties in- definitely, and of a single species as many as sixty-five varieties have been described. The mania for naming new varieties is quite universal, but is usually transient, and seldom affects one a second time; with some, however, it becomes chronic, when more vigorous treatment is necessary. In the systematic por- tion of this volume varieties that are deemed worthy to stand as such are printed in the same bold-face type as the species. Others less marked are noted in italics under the descriptions of species. A true variety is doubtless the early stage of a species in process of separation from its parent form. 118. Genera.—The genera of ferns are founded mostly on the arrangement of the sporangia on the veins, as well as the character, shape, and position of the indusia. The generic limits, however, are largely matters of opinion, and vary among different authorities. 119. Tribes.—Genera are collected into tribes, according as they agree in the position and arrangement of the sporangia in clusters or sori, or resemble each other in mode or habit of growth. 120. Sub-Orders.—Tribes are grouped into sub-orders according as they agree in the characters of the sporangium, its CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE. 45 shape, method of discharging its spores, and the existence, char- acter, or absence of a ring. The true ferns contain with us three well-marked sub-orders; the Glezchentacee are mainly tropical ferns. 121. Orders.—Ferns were formerly classed in a single order, but in accordance with later researches they are sepa- rated into three distinct orders, FILICES, MARATTIACEA, and OPHIOGLOSSACE, which are distinguished by the method in which the sporangia are developed, by the character of their spore development, and by other minor characteristics. Two of the orders are well represented in our flora; the MARAtT- TIACE# are mostly confined to tropical regions. The horse- tails (Aguzsetum) form a distinct order, the EQUISETACE®. The club-mosses of the genera LycopodZum and Pszlotum, with two genera not found in America, form the order LYCOPODIACE#. Selaginella and Jsoétes each form an order which takes its name from the single genus. J/arszlza and P7lularza form the MaR- SILIACE&, while Azolla and Salvinia form the order SALVINI- ACE. 122. Principle of Classification.—The true idea of clas- sification is the grouping together of objects according to essen- tial and fundamental resemblances. Every system is more or less artificial, yet there is a continual approach toward the true natural system, which is the ultimatum of scientific classifica- tion. The study of life-histories will continually clear up points of relationship before unknown, and it will be long before the classification will become fixed and constant. Every new study contributes to this end. LITERATURE. The references to original writings would include all the botanists who have named or classified ferns since the time of Linnzus (1707-1778). Among the more prominent of these we may mention Swartz (1760-1818), Willdenow (1765-1812), Presl (1791-1849), Mettenius (1823-1866), Hooker (1785-1865), Fee (1789-1874), Milde (1824-1871), Al. Braun (1805-1875), and J. G. Baker ( - ). The following work gives a good review of the various systems: SMITH (John). Historia Filicum. London, 1875. (Mac- millan & Co.) 46 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. The American literature bearing on the subject is as follows : BECK (Lewis C.). Synoptical tables of the Ferns and Mosses of the United States. In Sz/dman's Journal, 1v (1829). DAVENPORT (George E.). Aspidium spinulosum (Swz.) and its varieties. In American Naturalist, X11, 707-717 (1878). New species of Ferns. In Budleten of the Torrey Bot. Club, VI, 190, 191 (1877) ; VII, 50, 51 (1880); VIII, 61, 62 (1881); X, 61, 62 (1883). —— Fern notes. In Bulletinof the Torrey Bot. Club, vu, 85, 86 (1880) ; vill, 88, 89 (1881); 1X, 20-23. 68, 69, gg-1o1 (1882) ; X, 4-7 (1883); XII, 21-24 (1885); x11, 81, 82, 129-135 (1886); XV, 225-229 (1888). EATON (Daniel C.). Ferns of the Mexican Boundary. In Mexican Boundary Survey (1857). —— Ferns of the Southern States. In Chapman: Fvora of the Southern States (1860). Ferns of the Northern United States. In Gray: Man- ual of Botany, 6th edition (1890). Notes on some of the plants in the herbaria of Linne and Michaux. In Canxad¢an Naturalist (1870). New and little known Ferns of the United States. In Bulletin of the Torrey Bot. Club, 1V, 11, 12, 18, 19 (1873); VI, 33 (1875), 71, 72 (1876), 263-265 (1878), 306, 307, 360, 361 (1879); VII, 62-64 (1880) ; VIII, 4, 5, 99, 100 (1881) ; 1X, 49, 50 (1882); x, 26-29, 101, 102 (1883). Ferns of North America. Illustrated with colored plates by J. H. Emerton and C. E. Faxon. —— Ferns of the Southwest. In Wheeler: Report of the U.S. Geog. and Geol. Surveys west of the \00th meridian, Vi (1877). Vascular Acrogens of California. In Watson: Botany of Calzfornza, 11 (1880). Gray (Asa). On the discovery of two species of Tricho- manes in the State of Alabama. In S7//man’s Journal, 2d ser., XV (1853). KUNZE (G.). Notes on some Ferns of the United States. In Szlliman's Journal, 2d ser., V1, 80-89 (1848). LAWSON (George), The Fern Flora of Canada. (1889.) CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE. 47 WILLIAMSON (John). Ferns of Kentucky. 12mo. (1878.) Fern Etchings. 12mo. (1879.) The literature relating to exotic species is very extensive Some of the more important works are the following: BAKER (J. G.). A summary of the new Ferns which have been discovered or described since 1874. (1892.) FEE (F. L. A.).. Mémoires sur la Famille des Fougéres. 4to. (1844-1873.) 289 plates. HOOKER (W. J.). Genera Filicum., 4to. (1842.) 120 col- ored plates. Species Filicum. 5 vols. 8vo. (1846-1864). 304 col- ored plates. HOOKER (W. J.) and BAKER (J. G.). Synopsis Filicum. 2d ed., 8vo. (1874.) Contains descriptions of all the ferns of the world recognized at Kew to the date of publication. HOOKER (W. J.) and GREVILLE (R. K.). Icones Filicum. 2 vols. folio. (1831.) 240 colored plates. 48 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. CHAPTER: VIL. THE. FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 123. THE popular conception as to what constitutesa plant needs to be considerably enlarged and otherwise modified, for as soon as we commence to look about us after our eyes have been really opened, we find a vast array of forms varying in size and complexity of structure from the simple cells of the yeast- plant that we use in bread-making to the highly organized tree of the forest, and including such diverse forms of growth as the green scums that accumulate on ponds in summer, the gray lichens covering rocks and trees, the puff-balls and mushrooms that seemingly develop in a single night, the mosses, ferns and flowers in all their varietyand beauty. Where in all this array of plants do our ferns stand, and what relations do they sustain to other plants? In answering this question we will have to give some account cf the various groups of plants, pointing out their structural peculiarities and noting here and there in their appropriate place in the system such forms as are likely to be popularly recognized. 124. Aside from the plants producing flowers, the ferns and the mosses,* all of which are widely known and generally * It should be noted that even this name is often misapplied. The lichens, which are in no way related to the true mosses, are sometimes popularly called ““gray mosses.” In ‘‘ Evangeline’ where Longfellow speaks of the trees ‘“ bearded with nioss”” he evidently alludes to the lichen, Usnea baréata ; the “hanging moss” of the Pacific coast is also a lichen, Ramalina reticulata, which has a much more appropriate name in ‘‘ Jace-lichen.” The ‘‘hang- ing moss” of the Gulf States, on the contrary, isa flowering plant whose near- est allies are in the pineapple family. Another flowering plant, Euphorbia cypartsstas, is often called ‘‘ graveyard moss” in the Northern States. This loose and confusing use of language is to be deplored, and those who know better should assist in relegating these incorrect usages to a merited oblivion. THE FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 49 recognized, we find two types of plants of lower grade which stand out prominently to even the unpracticed eye. Of these the first are mostly green,* and though variously known and named may be called collectively a/gg. Like the higher plants, these low forms maintain an independent existence, drawing their nourishment directly from the air and water. Of the second group we may find examples in the mildew that spreads its white cobwebby film over the leaves of the lilac, the willow and other plants; or in the rust, red or black, that injures our fields of standing grain; or in the black smut that often re- places the ears of corn and greatly disfigures the plant. Other examples may be seen in the shelving masses that protrude from old stumps or logs, or in the bright scarlet cups that ap- pear on the ground in rich woods in earliest spring. Whatever the color of these forms of plant growth, they may be charac- terized as wot green. They represent a group of plants that require nourishment from some source besides air and water; some are parasitic—drawing nourishment from living plants or animals, while others are saprophytic—living on decaying or- ganic matter. Though widely differing in character, we may call them all fwugz. In addition to these forms are the lichens which are intimately related to some of the groups of fungi and cannot be considered as forming a definite group by them- selves. 125. Looking over this array of forms we find that with all their diversity they may be arranged somewhat naturally in four groups as foliows, commencing with the highest : I. SPERMAPHYTES. (Seed-bearing plants.) I]. PTERIDOPHYTES. (Ferns and their allies.) Ill. BRYOPHYTES. (Mosses and Liverworts.) IV. THALLOPHYTES. (Algz, Lichens and Fungi.) It will be observed that the last three are all spore producers instead of seed producers like the flowering plants of the first * Observant visitors at the seaside are familiar with the brown, purple and bright red ‘‘ sea-weeds”” that belong here but have their fundamental green color masked by other coloring matters. These are sometimes called ‘sea mosses,” which is another unfortunate and confusing use of a term which ought to be confined to its part-cular group. 50 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. group; that the second like the first contains plants with a highly organized structure; that the third is like the first two in including plants with a distinct leafy axis, but differs in pos- sessing a less complicated structure ; while the last differs from all the others in having no distinction of stem and leaves. To bring out these and other characters more fully, and at the same time to indicate some hints of the leading subdivisions of these great groups of plants, will necessitate a more technical and tabular arrangement. 126. The Thallophytes include the lower forms of vege- tation whose plant-body varies from a unicellular condition, through filamentous forms to a more or less highly differ- entiated thallus. While some forms, especially among the higher alge, assume the habit of a leafy-stemmed plant, none attain to a true differentiation into stem and leaves. The thallophytes are most simply divided on a purely physiological basis into two main groups * : 1. Alg@ which develop chlorophyll. 2. ung? which are parasitic or saprophytic colorless plants. 127. The ALG comprise the following groups: I. CYANOPHYCE&. (Blue-green algz, nostocs, etc.) 2. DIATOMACE&. (Diatoms, secreting a siliceous covering.) 3. CHLOROPHYCE#.+ (Green alge.) Consisting of four ~ well-marked groups : (a) Protococcotdea. (Green slimes, volvox, water-net.) (6) Conjugate. (Desmids, Spirogyra, etc.) (c) Stphonee. (Bladder-plants, green felts, etc.) (zd) Confervotdee. (Sea-lettuce, water-flannel, etc.) * The sexual system of classification frequently adopted in this country can- not be maintained among the fungi, and even among the alge is at points very unsatisfactory. Moreover it groups together forms that have no near relation to each other and cannot be regarded as a natural system. It is further to be doubted if the group commonly known as Protophytes can be maintained on any rational grounds. t+ The Chlorophycez include by far the greater part of the fresh-water alge, though quite a number of the group are marine. The brown and red alge of the two following groups make up the most conspicuous marine forms, CHE FERNS PLACE IN NATORE: 51 4. PH®OPHYCE®. (Rock-weeds, devil’s-aprons, Sargas sum, and other marine forms; brown alge.) 5. RHODOPHYCE&, (Red and purple algze;-mostly marine.) 6. CHARACE&. (Stoneworts of fresh waters.) 128. The FUNGI may be divided into four main groups: 1. MYXOMYCETES. (Slime-moulds.)* 2. SCHIZOMYCETES. (Bacteria.) 3. PHYCOMYCETES. (The lower or algal Fungi.) 4. EUMYCETES. (The higher or spore-fruit Fungi.) 129. The PHYCOMYCETES are represented by the following groups: 1. Chytridiacee. (Of simple structure, parasitic on alge, etc.) 2. Mucorine. (Black moulds.) 3. Entomophthorine. (Fly-fungus, and others parasitic on insects. ) 4. Saprolegniacee. (Water-moulds, some forms parasitic on fish.) 5. Peronosporacee. (Downy mildews, white rust, potato- rot, etc.) 130. The EUMYCETES include two types, the first known as Basidiomycetes bearing the spores on enlarged cells known as das¢dza, and the second known as Ascomycetes, from the fact that the spores are borne in sacs (known as ascz). Of the fol- lowing groups the first five are Basidiomycetes and the last six are Ascomycetes : 1. Usttlaginee, (Smuts of grain, corn, etc.) 2. Uredinee. (Rusts, cluster-cups, cedar-apples.) 3. Tremellinee.t (Gelatinous fungi.) 4. Hymenomycetes. (Mushrooms, toadstools, bracket- fungi, etc.) * The Myxomycetes in their vegetative stages are unlike all other plants, consisting of naked masses of protoplasm and are capable of an apparent creeping motion. In their fruiting condition they show a superficial resem- blance to some of the Gastromycetes with which they were formerly associated. Their true position in the world of life is not yet settled, some removing them entirely from the vegetable kingdom. + This is really a composite group consisting of at least three orders. In this limited outline only the more common and conspicuous groups are noted, 52 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 5. Gastromycetes. (Puff-balls, earth-stars, bird’s-nest fungi, stink-horns. ) Saccharomycetes. (Yeast-plant.) Gymmnoascee. (Leaf-curl of peach, plum-pockets, etc.) Tuberacee. (Truffles.) Pyrenomycetes. (Black fungi, ergot, powdery mildews.) 10. Lichenes.* (Lichens.) 11. Dzscomycetes. (Morels, cup-fungi, etc.) 131. Besides the above there are a large number of fungi that are mould-like or are parasitic on leaves, forming ‘“ leaf- spots.” These are called Fung? zmperfectz, because of the fact that some of them are known to be the early stages of certain ascomycetous fungi. The mould-like forms are known as Hyphomycetes. 132. The BRYOPHYTES include forms whose plant-body varies from a thallus to a distinct leafy axis, containing only a rudimentary fibro-vascular system, if any; their life-history involves two alternating phases: (1) A highly organized sexual phase producing antherids and archegones; and (2) A sporo- gonial phase living parasitically on the first and producing spores asexually. This division contains three well-marked Oo ND classes : 1. Hepatice. (Liverworts.) 2. Sphagnuacee. (Peat-mosses.) 3. Muscz. (True mosses.) 133. The PTERIDOPHYTES have a well-developed fibro- vascular system of highly-developed tissues distributed through a leafy axis. Their life-history also involves two phases: (1) A thalloid phase (prothallus) producing antherids and arche- gones,t and (2) A highly-developed asexual phase producing spores by cell-division, (The subdivisions of this group are more fully arranged in another portion of this work: see pp. 75-148.) * The lichens may be placed here provisionally. Their relations to the other groups of fungi have not yet been fully determined. + From this character the Bryophytes and Pteridophytes are sometimes called Archegoniata, to which group some also add the Gymnosperms, THE FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 53 134. The SPERMAPHYTES include the highest of the plant- world. In this group the plant-body, except in rare cases (Lemna, Podostemon, etc.) is a well-developed leafy axis contain- ing highly differentiated tissues of every kind; the sexual re- production consists of the union of pollen-grains (male ele- ment) with the embryo-sac (female element), resulting in the formation of an embryo which, with its coverings, constitutes the seed.* This group contains two well-marked classes ft: 1. Gymnosperme. (Cone-bearing trees, Cycads, etc.) 2. Angiospermae. (AIl other seed-bearing plants.) 135, It will thus be seen that the Ferns and their allies occupy a high place in the plant-world, standing just below the seed-bearing plants. This position they maintain not only from their complexity of structure but from their evident graded reiation to some of the lower forms of spermaphytes, especially to some that are now extinct. 136. To make the relations of the various groups of pteri- dophytes to each other and to the lower forms of plant-life more apparent than can be done ina lineal classification, we present the following outline of a possible genealogical tree: * It will be readily seen that this process is only a slight modification of what appears in the development of the higher forms of Pteridophytes like Selaginella. The prothallium, which in ferns is a marked feature, becomes reduced in Selaginella, and disappears except in rudiment in the Sperma- phytes. + The above is in accordance with the older botanical systems. The com- parative and morphological study of the higher plants is leading us on to a more natural system of classification than that which is given in the ordinary Manuals of Botany. The day of artificial groups like the ‘t Apetalous division of Exogens” is long since passed. This is not the place to discuss these changes, but this note is given merely to call attention to the progress in a field where many have been led to believe there was no further progress possible. Among the many transitional systems the following ought to be accessible in almost any good library :—zgler-Prant/: Nattrlichen Pflanzenfamilien, 11, pp. 1-5, and Macmillan: The Metasperme of the Minnesota Valley, pp. 18-29. 54. OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. GYMNOSPERMA© Rae Eas SELAGINELLACEZ ISOETACE MARSILIACE SCHIZAACEZ SALVINIACE © OSMUNDACE& HYMENOPHYLLACEZ MARATTIACEZ LYCOPODIACEAZ OPHIOGLOSSACEZ EQUISETACEZ MUSCI SPHAGNACEA ANTHOCEROTACE JUNGERMANIACEA (FOLIOS) JUNGERMANIACA (THALLOS€) MARCHANTIACE 4 RICCIACEZ CHARACEA CONFERVOIDA EUMYCETES SIPHONEZ PHYCOMYCETES RROTOCOCCOIDEZ PROVISIONAL PEDIGREE OF THE LEADING Groups OF PLANTS. THE FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 55 LITERATURE. Bower (F. O.).. The comparative study of the Meristem of Ferns as a phylogenetic study. In Annals of Botany, WW, 305~ 322, pl. XX-XXIV (1889). ——- Is the Eusporangiate or the Leptosporangiate the more primitive type in the Ferns? In Aznals of Botany, v, 109-134, pl. vir (1891). CAMPBELL (Douglas H.). On the affinities of the Filicinez. In Botanical Gazette, XV, 1-7 (1890). A study of the apical growth of the prothallium of Ferns with reference to their relationships. In Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, XVi1, 73-80 (1891). On the relationships of the Archegoniata. In Botanical Gazette, XVI, 323-333 (1891). 137. Since many students have no accessible list of the leading literature of the lower plants, and available manuals for their study for the most part have not been written, it may not be considered amiss to indicate some of the leading systematic literature relating to their study. It is not to the credit of American botany that we are obliged to this day to refer to European manuals as the best media for information concern- ing the lower plants of this country. It is to be hoped that a stimulus will be given to the study of the lower plants in all parts of the country. The literature will be arranged in con- formity with the classification above given. 1. ALGAE. FARLOW (W.G.). Marine Algz of New England. Refort of U.S. Fesh Comm. (1879). KIRCHNER (Oskar). Algen, in Cohn: Axryptogamenflora von Schlesien. WILLE (N.). Algen, in Engler-Prantl: Dze nattrlichen Pfhlanzenfamtlien. Contains valuable synopses of genera. WOLLE (F.). Fresh-water Algze of the United States. 2 vols. (1887.) HARVEY (W.H.). Nereis Boreali-Americana. 3 parts, 4to. 50 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. (1851, 1853, 1857.) This and the next are expensive works with colored plates relating chiefly to marine forms. Harvey (W. H.). Phycologia Britannica. 4 vols. (1871). DE Ton! (J. B.). Sylloge Algarum omnium hucusque cog- nitarum. (1889.) This work covers the alge of the world, giving compiled descriptions in Latin. Volume I (Chlorophy- cee, pp. 12, CXXXIX, 1315) only has appeared. Diatomacee. SmitH (H. L.). Conspectus of the Families and Genera of the Diatomaceee. Zhe Lens, 1, 1-19, 72-93 (1872). WoLLE (F.). The Diatomaceze of the United States. (1891.) Van HeEvuRCK (H.). Synopsis des Diatomées de Belgique. (1880.) Desmidiacee. WoLLE (F.). Desmids of the United States. (1884; 2d edition 1892.) SToKEs (A. C.). Key to the Desmidiee. Amer. Monthly Micros. Journal, Vil, 109-114, 125-131, 144-148, 163-169 (1886). An analytic key to the above work. Characee. ALLEN (T. F.). Characee of America, Part I (1888); Part II (1893). HALSTED (B. D.). Classification and Description of the American Species of Characee. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Pater XX, 169-190 (1879). 2. FUNGI. For the structure and biology of this group the following are useful: DE Bary (A.). Comparative Morphology and Biology of the Fungi, Mycetozoa, and Bacteria. (English translation.) (1887.) ZopF (W.). Die Pilze. (1890.) Especially full on the physi- ology of the Fungi. THE FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 57 BREFELD (O.). Untersuchungen aus dem Gesammtgebiete der Mykologie. Hefte Vil, viI1I, 1X, X (1888-1891). The most elaborate morphological work on the subject. ~ For the systematic study of the Fungi no single work is avail- able for American students. The scattered literature is very abundant, and the more available portions are classified below. Among the European manuals the following is the most ex- tensive and useful: WINTER (G.) e¢a/. Die Pilze,in Rabenhorst: Aryptogamen- flora von Deutschland, Oesterreich und der Schwetz. Three volumes are completed and the fourth is nearly so. Myxomycetes. McBrIpDE (T. H.). The Myxomycetes of eastern Iowa, Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. State Unzv., 11, 99-162 (1892). Cooke (M. C.). .Myxomycetes of Great Britain. (1877.) The Myxomycetes of the United States. Avnals N.Y. Lyceum Nat. H7st., X1, 378-409 (1877). An incomplete but serviceable list. BERLESE (A. N.). Myxomycetez, in Saccardo: Sylloge Fungorum, Vil, 323-450; X, 83-99. MASSEE (Geo.). A Monograph of the Myxogastres. (1892.) To be used with caution; cf. criticisms in Bulletzn Torrey Bot. Club, XX, 73-82 (1893). Schizomycetes. GRoveE (W. B.). A Synopsis of the Bacteria and Yeast Fungi. 12mo. (1884.) SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, VIII, 923-1087. THAXTER (Roland). On the Myxobacteriacee, a new order of Schizomycetes. Zot. Gazette, XVII, 389-406 (1892) ; XVIII, 29, 30 (1893). Phycomycetes. FISCHER (A.). Phycomycetes, in Winter: Dze Pdlze Deutschlands, Oesterreichs und der Schwerz (1892). FaRLOW (W.G.). Enumeration of the Peronosporee of the United States. ot. Gazette, VIII, 305-315, 327- 337 (1883) ; Additions, 1x, 37-40 (1884). 58 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. FARLow (W. G.). The Synchitria of the United States. Bot. Gazette, X, 235-245 (1885). THAXTER (Roland). The Entomophthoreze of the United States. Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hi7st., 1V, 133-201, pl. 14-21 (1888). BERLESE (A. N.) et DE TONI (J. B.). Phycomycetez, in Saccardo: Sylloge Fungorum, VII, 181-322; IX, 335-363. Ustilaginee. DE Ton! (J. B.). Ustilaginez, in Saccardo: Syloge Fun- gorum, VII, 449-527; 1X, 282-291. SETCHELL (W. A.). An Examination of the Species of the Genus Doassansia. Azmnals of Botany, V1, 1-48 (1892). Uredinee. BurRRILL (T. J.). Parasitic Fungi of Illinois, Part I. Budd. Illinots State Lab. Nat. H7st., 11, 141-255 (1885). PLowRIGHT (C. B.). A Monograph of the British Uredi- nez and Ustilaginez. (1889). DE Ton! (J. B.). Uredinez, in Saccardo: Sylloge Fungorum, VII, 528-822; IX, 291-334. Tremellinez. SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, VI, 760-815; IX, 257, 201. Hymenomycetes. FRIES (Elias). Hymenomycetes Europzi (1874). SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, V; VI; IX, I 261. Peck (Charles H.). Boleti of the United States. Ludi. N. Y. State Mus., 11, 73-166 (1889). MassEE (George). A Monograph of the Thelephoree. Jour. Linn. Soc., XXV, 107-155 (1889); XXVII, 95-205 (1890). The following of more limited range are useful: PecK (Charles H.). Reports of State Botanist. Report of Regents of the State Museum of Natural History (New York), XXII-XLIV. Contain many synopses especially of the Agaricini. MorGan (A. P.). The Mycologic Flora of the Miami Val- THE FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 59 ley. Jour. Cincinnaté Soc. Nat. Hist., Vi, 54-81, 97-117, 173- 199; Vil, 510+ VIM, O%=111, 168-174; 1X, 1-85) .X, 7-18, 188-202; XI, 86-95 (1883-1887). The following more expensive illustrated works treat of the Agaricini : FRIES (Elias). Icones Selecte Hymenomycetum. Parts I and II. Folio. (1867-1884.) Contains two hundred colored plates. CooKE (M. C.). Illustrations of British Fungi. 8 vols. 8vo. (1881-1887.) Illustrates over 1200 species, many of which are common to Europe and America. Gastromycetes. MorGAn (A. P.). North America Fungi—Gastromycetes. Jour. Cinctunat? Soc. Nat, Hest., X1, 141-149; XH, 8-22, 163- 172; XIII, 5-21; XIV, 141-148 (1889-92). MASSEE (George). British Gastromycetes. Annals of Botany, 1V, 1-94 (1889). FISCHER (E.) et DE Tonr (J. B.). Gasteromycetez, in Saccardo: Sylloge Fungorum, VII, 1-180, 469-492; IX, 262-281. Peck (Charles H.). United States species of Lycoperdon. Trans. Albany Inst., 1X, 285-318 (1-35) (1879). MorGAN (A. P.). The North American Geasters. Amer. Nat., XVII, 963-970 (1884). Reprinted without the illustrations in Jour. Mycol., 1, 11-13 (1885). TRELEASE (William). The Morels and Puff-balls of Madi- son. TZyrans. Ws, Acad. Sctience, VU, 105-120 (1889). Gymnoascee. ROBINSON (B.L.). Notes on the Genus Taphrina. Aznads of Botany, 1, 163-176 (1887). SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, VIII, 811-825. Tuberacee. TULASNE (L. R. et C.). Fungi Hypogzi (1862). SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, VIII, 863-907; X, 80-83. 60 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. Pyrenomycetes. BuRRILL (T. J.) and EARLE (F. S.). Parasitic Fungi of Illinois. Part Il. Bull. [Minos State Lab. Nat. Hist., 11, 387- 432 (1887). BESSEY (C. E.). The Erysiphei. 772 Bzen. Report Towa Agric, Coll. (1877). ELLIs (J. B.) and EVERHART (B.M.). The North American Pyrenomycetes (1892). SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum,1; 11; Additamenta; IX, 364-1129. TULASNE (L. R. et C.). Selecta Fungorum Carpologia. 3 vols. 4to. (1861, 1863, 1865.) Lichenes. WILLEY (H.). An Introduction to the Study of the Lichens. (1887.) TUCKERMAN (E.). Genera Lichenum. (1872.) — A Synopsis of the North American Lichens. Parts I and II. (1882, 1890.) ; Discomycetes. Cooke (M. C.). Mycographia, seu Icones Fungorum. Vol. I, Discomycetes. 4to. (1879.) PHILLIPS (William). A manual of the British Discomy- cetes. (1887.) REHM (H.). Discomycetes, in Winter: Dze P7lze Deutsch- lands, Oesterretchs und der Schwetz. L11. Abthetlung. SACCARDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, vil, 1-842; xX, I-79, Fungi Imperfecti. ELLIS (J. B.) and EVERHART (B. M.). Enumeration of the North American Cercosporee. /our. Mycol., 1, 17-24, 33-40, 49-56, 61-67 (1885). Additions, zézd., 11, I, 2; III, 13-21; IV, 2-7. — North American species of Ramularia. our. Mycol. I, 73-83 (1885). Additions, zdzd., Iv, 1, 2. —— The North American species of Gloeosporium. /our. Mycol., 1, 109-119 (1885). Additions, zdzd., 111, 21. North American species of Cylindrosporium. /our Mycol., 1, 126-128 (1885). Additions, zdzd., 111, 21, 22. THE FERN’S PLACE IN NATURE. 61 MarTIN (George). The Phyllostictas of North America. Jour. Mycol., 11, 13-20, 25-27 (1886). —— Enumeration and Description of the Septorias of North America. /our. Mycol., 111, 37-41, 49-53, 61-69, 73-82, 85-94 (1887). SaccaRDO (P. A.). Sylloge Fungorum, 111; Iv; Addi- tamenta; X, 100-739. Hepatice. UNDERWOOD (L. M.). Hepatice, in Gray: Manual of Botany, 6th edition. — Descriptive Catalogue of the North American Hepatice, north of Mexico. ull. Liinors State Lab. Nat. Hist., U1, 1-133 (1884). Sphagnacee, WARNSTORF (C.). Contributions to the knowledge of the North American Sphagna. Sot. Gazette, XV, 127-140, 189-198, 217-227, 242-255 (1890). BRAITHWAITE (R.). The Sphagnacez or Peat Mosses of Europe and North America. (1880.) Musci. BARNES (Charles R.}. Artificial Keys to the Genera and Species of Mosses. Trans. Weasconstn Acad. Sctence, Vil, 11-81, 163-166 (18g0). LESQUEREUX (Leo) and JAMES (T. P.). Manual of the Mosses of North America. (1884.) For any really satisfactory work in this group of plants.the following more expensive publications are essential : SULLIVANT (W. S.). Icones Muscorum and Supplement. 2vols. (1864, 1874). BRAITHWAITE (R.). British Moss Flora. In course of publication in parts. BruCH (Ph.), SCHIMPER (W. P.), et GUMBEL (Th.)._ Bry- ologia Europea. 6 vols. 4to. (1835-1555.) Suppl. (1864-66. ) 138. The literature of the Pteridophytes has been given elsewhere in this volume, and that of the Spermaphytes is better known and need not be mentioned here. 62 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES, CHAPTER 1X. DISTRIBUTION IN TIME AND SPACE. 139. Geographic Distribution.—Ferns are found in all parts of the world. The number of described species is not certainly known, and the uncertainty is largely increased for the reason that our best systematists do not agree as to what constitutes a species. Baker, whose authority is generally recognized in England and America, places the estimate at about 3000 species. Added to these are 565 fern allies as recog- nized by the same author, From what has been said respecting the climatic conditions of fern growth we would naturally expect to find them most abundant in countries where warmth and moisture predomi- nate. These conditions seem most completely met on tropical islands or in tropical continental areas with insular climates. The little island of Mauritius, having an area of 676 square miles, or less than one third the area of Delaware, has 235 na- tive species, while Java, little larger than New York, has 460. Brazil furnishes 387, and the Isthmus of Panama 117. Com- paring these with colder climates, we find 67 in all Europe, and only 26 grow within the borders of the arctic zone. “Our Native Ferns,” as described later in this volume, in- cluding those species that are classed in the order FILICES, number 158 species. Adding to these the 11 species of the order OPHIOGLOSSACE&, which have frequently been enumer- ated with the ferns, we have a total of 169 species. ‘The remain- ing fern allies number 59, making a grand total of 228. 140. Divisions of our Flora.—It has been found con- venient to divide the surface of the earth into faunas and floras, limited by the natural distribution of the various species of animals and plants. These limits are by no means sharply defined, for wherever the limit is made some species will pass DISTRIBUTION IN TIME AND SPACE. 63 beyond it; yet the majority found on once side are different from the majority of those on the other. North America (ex- cluding Mexico) forms the Nearctic realm or fauna (Aegnum Nearcticum), and the same boundaries may be used in the limi- tation of our fern flora, although some species from tropical regions invade our borders in Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Leaving out of question the species that are widely distributed over the greater part of our country, many of which are cos- mopolitan species, we may divide the Nearctic realm into five provinces, each of which possesses many species peculiar to itself. 141. The provinces* are as follows : I. BOREAL: inhabiting (with a few exceptions) the northern portion of the United States, extending through Canada and British America, some species even reaching Labrador, Green- land, and Alaska, and nearly all represented also in the north- ern portions of the Old World. II. MEDIAL: extending throughout the mountain and hilly region of the States east of the Mississippi, westward to the mountains, and northward into Canada, and in a few instances also inhabiting the Old World. III. OCCIDENTAL: extending along the western border of the continent from British Columbia to California, in a few cases appearing also in the Rocky Mountain region. IV. SoNoRAN: inhabiting the central mountain regions of Western Texas, Arizona, and Colorado, many of the species ex- tending thence into Mexico, and some even to South America. V. AUSTRAL: inhabiting the border of the Gulf of Mexico, many of the species extending into the West Indies and Tropi- cal America. 142. The following lists will indicate the relations of our native species, though several species exceed the bounds here indicated, and occur within the borders of other provinces. * This division is a slight modification of one proposed by John H. Red- field in 1875. Cf. Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, V1, 1-7. 64 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. BOREAL, (Those marked * are known only from Alaska.) Cheilanthes argentea.* Local, Cryptogramma acrostichoides. Pellza Stelleri. Asplenium viride. Dryopteris lonchitis. aculeata, var. Braunii. oreopteris. fragrans. filix-mas. spinulosa, Boottii. Cystopteris montana, W oodsia alpina. glabella. Botrychium lunaria. boreale.* Local. Equisetum pratense. palustre. litorale. Rare. variegatum, Lycopodium annotinum, alpinum. sabinefolium. Selaginella selaginoides. Rare and local. MEDIAL, Adiantum pedatum. Cheilanthes lanosa. Pellza atropurpurea, Woodwardia Virginica, areolata. Asplenium pinnatifidum. ebenoides. platyneuron. angustifolium, ruta-muraria. montanum. fontanum. Bradleyi. thely pteroides, Scolopendrium scolopendrium, Rare. Camptosorus rhizophyllus. Phegopteris phegopteris. hexagonoptera. dryopteris. Dryooteris acrostichoides, Noveboracensis. thelypteris. cristata. var. Clintoniana. Goldieana. marginalis. Dryopteris spinulosa, var. interme- dia. var. dilatata. Cystopteris bulbifera. Onoclea sensibilis. struthiopteris. Woodsia Ilvensis. obtusa. Dicksonia punctilobula. Lygodium palmatum. Rare. Schizza pusilla. Osmunda regalis. Local. Claytoniana. cinnamomea. Marsilea quadrifolia. Local. Salvinia natans. Local. Botrychium simplex. matricarizfolium. lanceolatum. Equisetum silvaticum, fluviatile. scirpoides. Lycopodium selago. lucidulum. inundatum, DISTRIBUTION IN TIME AND SPACE. Lycopodium obscurum, clavatum. complanatum. Selaginella apus. Isoétes lacustris. Tuckermani. Local. echinospora, var. Braunii. 6 ~ > Isoétes echinospora, var. muricata. Local. saccharata. Local. riparia. ; Engelmanni. var. gracilis, var. valida. var. robusta. melanopoda. var. Boottii. Butleri. Rare. OCCIDENTAL. (Species marked * are confined to California; those marked t+ are found only in Polypodium falcatum. Californicum.* Scouleri. Gymnogramme triangularis. Notholena Newberryi. cretacea.* tenera. Adiantum emarginatum. Pteris aquilina, var. lanuginosa. Cheilanthes Californica.* viscida.* Coopere.* gracillima. Parishii.* fibrillosa.* Clevelandii.* Pellza Breweri. andromedefolia.* brachyptera. ornithopus.* densa. Bridgesii.* Lomaria spicant. W oodwardia radicans. Oregon.) Phegopteris alpestris. Dryopteris munita. mohrioides.* aculeata.* var. Californicas* var. angularis.* Nevadensis.* rigida, var. arguta. W oodsia scopulina. Oregana. Azolla filiculoides, Marsilea vestita. Pilularia Americana. Equisetum telmateia. robustum. Selaginella Oregana. Douglasii. Isoétes pygmza.* Bolanderi. Howellii.t nuda.t Nuttallii. Suksdorfii. maritima. SONORAN. (Species marked * are found in our region only in Arizona; those marked + are Polypodium thysanolepis.* Gymnogramme Ehrenbergiana. Notholena sinuata, ferruginea. Parryi, Texan.) Notholena Aschenborniana,* candida. Hookeri. Schaffneri.t 66 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. Notholena Grayi. Lemmoni.* nivea. Fendleri. Adiantum tricholepis.t Cheilanthes Pringlei.* Wrightii. leucopoda.t lendigera.* Pellza ternifolia.f Wrightiana. flexuosa. intermedia. Asplenium monanthemum.* septentrionale. Glenniei.* Dryopteris juglandifolia, Mexicana. gracilis. Woodsia Mexicana. tomentosa. Anemia Mexicana.t Fendleri. myriophylla. Marsilea macropoda. Lindheimeri. uncinata. Pellza aspera. vestita, var. tenuifolia.t pulchella. Selaginella lepidophylla. Pringlei. AUSTRAL. (Species marked * are found in our region only in Florida.) Acrostichum aureum.* Polypodium plumula.* pectinatum.* poly podioides. aureum.* phyllitidis.* Swartzii.* Tenitis lanceolata.* Vittaria lineata.* Adiantum capillus-veneris, tenerum.* Pteris longifolia.* serrulata. aquilina, var. caudata. Cheilanthes microphylla. Alabamensis. Ceratopteris thalictroides.* Blechnum serrulatum.* Asplenium serratum.* parvulum. dentatum. firmum. cicutarium.* rhizophyllum, var. myriophyllum* var. Biscaynianum* Phegopteris tetragona.* Rare. Phegopteris reptans.* Rare. Dryopteris trifoliata. Rare. contermina, var. strigosa.* patens. unita, var. glabra.* Floridana.* Nephrolepis exaltata.* acuta.* Rare. Trichomanes Petersii. radicans. Anemia adiantifolia.* Local. Ophioglossum crotalophoroides. nudicaule. palmatum.* Equisetum levigatum. Lycopodium inundatum, var. pinna tum.* alopecuroides. cernuum. Rare. Carolinianum. Psilotum nudum. Rare. Selaginella Ludoviciana. Rare. rupestris, var. tortipila. Rare. Isoétes melanospora. Local. . flaccida.* var. Chapmani.* DISTRIBUTION IN TIME AND SPACE. 67 COSMOPOLITAN SPECIES. Polypodium vulgare. Ophioglossum vulgatum, Pteris aquilina. Botrychium Virginianum, Asplenium trichomanes. ternatum. filix-foemina. Equisetum arvense, Cystopteris fragilis. hiemale. Selaginella rupestris. Azolla Caroliniana. 143. Local Lists.—The number of species found in a sin- gle locality is usually limited, yet in certain favored locations there is a marked diversity. As an instance, in one of the habitats of the rare hart’s-tongue* the writer has collected twenty-seven species illustrating fourteen genera within the radius of a thousand feet. Such localities, however, are com- paratively rare, and must include wide diversity of soil and shade within very narrow limits. Onondaga County, New York, possesses perhaps as many ferns as any county in the entire country, including 41 species. 32 are catalogued from Essex County, Massachusetts. Several State lists more or less complete have been compiled, and are noticed in the literature below. Carefully prepared lists from all the States and Territorics would be a valuable addition to our knowledge of geographic distribution. 144. Geologic Distribution.—It is well known that the plants and animals now existing on the earth are not the same in kind as those of former ages. Geologists have carefully studied the stony heart of nature, and have drawn therefrom the story of the development of land and sea, and the succes- sive populations that from time to time have held possession of our globe. Plants furnishing the natural food for animals must have preceded animal life, yet in the earliest geologic ages the remains of animals are far more numerous, The abundance of the deposits of graphite and iron-ore in the earli- est or Archzan rocks indicates the existence of extensive plant growth, but the remains are so transformed as to mad2 it im- possible to determine the character of this primeval vegetation. 145. In the succeeding Silurian age the fossil -emains in- dicate the existence of alge or sea-weeds in abundance, and a ® “Green Pond,” one mile east of Jamesville, Onondaga County, New York. 68 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. single small species of ground pine attests the existence of some of the higher Cryftegamza,; no ferns, however, have been found in America older than the Devonian. Over fifty species of Devonian ferns have been described from the American rocks chiefly, by Principal J. W. Dawson of Montreal. 146. It is in the coal measures, however, that ferns and other Crypffogamza are found in the greatest abundance and profusion. Their delicate foliage is impressed on the various rock strata above the beds of coal, and so perfectly are they preserved that not only the methods of fructification but even the microscopic spores have been detected! In the coal meas- ures of the United States and Canada (counting from the base of the Catskill), 381 species of ferns have been described, chiefly by Prof. Leo Lesquereux. Tne most abundant Ameri- can genera are Neuropter?s 45 species, Pecopterzs 50 species, Sphenopterts 31 species, Pseudopecopterts 25 species, and Rha- cophyllum 24 species, The frontispiece gives an ideal representation of the vegeta- tion of the Carboniferous age. The luxuriant tree-ferns, the Lepidodendrids, ancient representatives of the diminutive club- mosses or ground-pines, the Ca/am7tes, allies of the modern scouring-rushes, and other forms no less wonderful, are seen in their profusion. 147. In the later geologic ages, Mesozoic and Tertiary, ferns are found preserved in the rocks, with the leaves of many trees and shrubs of existing genera. The indications are that ferns formed a far smaller part of the vegetation of these later ages than in the preceding Carboniferous, and even approxi- mated to that of the present. Six Cretaceous and twenty-four Tertiary species have been catalogued,* including species in the existing genera Lygodéum, Pteris, Woodwardia, Dryopterts, Gymnogramme, etc., as well as some related to genera abundant in earlier formations. No living species is found fossil, unless Dr. Newberry’s variety of Ovoclea senstbilis becomes estab- lished.t In the course of geologic history, however, we can * Tenth report, Hayden Geological Survey of the Territories. Washing- ton, 1878. + Prof. Lesquereux writes me: ‘‘ Though analogous by the nervation, I doubt the identity on account of the coriaceous character of that fossil fern, DISTRIBUTION IN TIME AND SPACE. 69 trace a gradual approximation to the modern types from the generalized forms of Devonian and Carboniferous times. 148. Fern Allies.—Ofhzoglossum dates back to the Ter- tiary period with one species. The order EQUISETACE& have existed since the coal period and the genus Agwzsetum since the Triassic. The order CALAMARIACE&, which combined charac- ters of modern /guzseta and Conifers, came into existence in the Devonian, but became extinct before the close of the Permian. Illustrations of Ca/amztes can be seen at the left-hand corner of the frontispiece, also under the tree-fern in the centre. The club-mosses proper have been in existence since the Devonian, and the genus Lycofodzum since the Carboniferous. Selagznella has never been found fossil, but its near relatives belonging to the extinct orders LEPIDODENDRACE# and SIGILLARIACE& were very abundant in the Paleozoic era, particularly ‘during the Carboniferous, where they formed the largest part of the forest vegetation, reaching in some instances a height of sev- enty to one hundred feet. The former possessed characters connecting modern club-mosses with Conifers, while the latter seem to connect the club-mosses with the Cycads. Restora- tions of Lefzdodendron may be seen on the left-hand side of the frontispiece, and of Szgz?//arza on the right. Jsoétes dates back to the Miocene (Tertiary) and MMZarsz/za and Pzlularza to the same period. LITERATURE. Besides the works referred to below, many State floras will give additional information respecting local distribution. Among the more important of these are those of New Jersey (Britton), Ohio (Beardslee), North Carolina (Curtzss), Wiscon- sin (Lapham), Vermont (Perkzus), New Hampshire (F772), Pacific Coast (Lemmon), Illinois (Patterson), New York (Torrey), Michigan (Wheeler and Smzth), Indiana (Coulter and Barnes), Iowa (Arthur), Minnesota (Upham), Missouri (7racy). BurGEss (T. W. J.). Recent Additions to Canadian Filici- nee. In Zransactéons Royal Soctety of Canada (1886). which I have not seen in any variety of O. senzsrbz7/s now living.” Principal Dawson, however, writes: ‘‘ The Oxoclea senszbil’s of the Laramie is truly that species, and I have found with it in our Manitoba formations another modern fern, Davallia tenutfolia.” 7O OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. DAVENPORT (George E.). Catalogue of the “ Davenport Herbarium” of North American Ferns. Salem (1879). Sup- plement (1883). Some Comparative Tables showing the Distribution of Ferns in the United States of North America. In Proceedings American Philosophical Soctety, 1883, 605-612. MACOUN (John) and BurGEss (T. W. J.). Canadian Filici- nee. In 7ransactions Royal Soctety of Canada (1884). REDFIELD (John H.). Geographical Distribution of the Ferns of North America. In Yorrey Bulletzn, V1, 1-7 (1875). Minor notes on distribution will also be found in the follow- ing journals : Botanical Gazette; 1; 11,022; 275: I, 55, 62; Wl, 625 LV, si28, 130; 1773 232; Vo 15, 393 Vi, 195, 220,240; VIL; 76, 96) 1G0R oe 2705 MIP, 63, 67: 1815 XU 117s Torrey Bulletin, 1, 24, 28; Wi, 2; 335 IV, 2, 17, 4250 V, 98, 4a; VI, 8, 175, 177, 199, 206, 221, 234, 291, 345, 347; VII, 16, 80, 89, 94, 96, 118i; VIII, 47;. 93; TOS, 127, 1445 1X, 55, 7%, 1285, X, 32,401) Mae 7, 67; XIV, 97, 149. Other notes still will be found in Mr. Davenport’s series of “Fern Notes” and Prof. Eaton’s series of “ Newand Rare Ferns of the United States,’ together with much of the remaining descriptive literature noted in Chapter VII]. on the Ferns and their allies. The literature on fossil ferns is very extensive. A valuable work on the coal flora will be found in the Reports P and PP of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. CHAPTER xX. METHODS OF STUDY. The great benefit which a scientific education bestows, whether as training or as knowledge, is dependent upon the extent to which the student .. . learns the habit of appealing directly to Nature. —HUXLEY. 149. Determination of Species.—The first thing to learn about a plant or animal is not its name, but its structural characteristics, knowing which the name can be readily deter- METHODS OF STUDY. 71 mined. Having provided ourselves with a strong lens, two or more needles mounted in wooden handles for dissecting pur- poses, and a few well-fruited ferns taken with the roots, we are prepared to commence our study. In investigating any plant we should be systematic and accurate in our observations, and no subject will develop order and accuracy of description or enlarge our powers of observation as will the subject of botany rigidly pursued. In order to fix the characters of the fern in question, it is well to note them down in some systematic order, and the preparation of blanks like the following is suggested for the purpose: Synoptical characters of ROOT. ROOTSTOCK. STIPE. FROND. VEINS. SORI. SPORANGIA., SPORES, The characters thus commence with the lowest parts and continually advance upwards to completion. 150. Taking now a common fern, we will notice its charac- teristics. Suppose it to be the one commonly called “ Maiden- hair” in the Northern States. We take the parts in order and give them a searching examination: the character of the root; the direction of growth, position and appearance of the root- stock; the appearance, color, and method of growth of the 72 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES stipe; the method of cutting of the frond and the character of its surface; the method of veining; the position of the fruit clusters on the frond and veins, and the peculiar form of the indusium, if present. The sporangia and spores are best studied with a microscope, yet the shape of the sporangia and the character of the ring can be determined with a strong lens. 151. The characters of the Maidenhair can be summed up as follows: Synoptical characters of ADIANTUM PEDATUM L. ROOT. Many delicate fibres, somewhat matted. ROOTSTOCK. Scaly, somewhat creeping. Separate, slender, polished, black, forked at base of frond, forming two recurved rachises. Roundish in outline, formed of several pinnz, which FROND branch from the recurved rachises; pinnules unequal sided, 5 oblong or deltoid ; upper margins irregularly lobed; sur- faces smooth. STIPE. VEINS. Free, several times forked. Borne at the end of the veins on the under side of the re- SORI. flexed margins of the lobes, which form somewhat kidney- shaped membranous indusia. SPORANGIA. Globose, with a nearly complete vertical] ring. SPORES. Minute, of one kind. 152. We are now prepared to determine the specific name, and for this purpose will turn to the “ ARTIFICIAL SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS” (p. 75), where we read the statements under A, with the first of which our plant agrees ; then to Bas directed, where we find it agrees with the third statement; then to C, where we determine the Order to which our plant belongs. After having determined the plant to be a member of the order FILICES, we proceed to the “ ARTIFICIAL SYNOPSIS OF GENERA” (p. 80), Reading the two statements under A we find our plant agrees with the first, bearing the sporangia at the margin of a leafy frond, so we proceed to B as indicated at the right-hand mar- METHODS OF STUDY. 74 gin. There being an indusium present, we are directed to C, where we find four statements. Our fern agrees with the second, as the indusium is formed of a reflexed portion of the frond, Passing to D we find it agreeing with the first state- ment. Passing to E, the statement, “ Sporangia at the ends of the veins, borne on a reflexed portion of the margin of the frond,” answers our purpose, and the marginal reference indi- cates the genus Adzantum. Under this genus (p. 89) we find two statements designated by ,, and ,,; the latter referring to the “ dichotomously forked” fronds, answers our purpose, and we find our fern to be number 5, Adzantum fedatum L., the scientific name of the Maidenhair, which we can now place in our description. Were we in Florida or any of the Southern States, instead of A. fedatum we would probably have found the Venus’ Hair (4. capzl/us-venerzs), or in California the Cali- fornian Maidenhair (4. emargénatum), either of which would agree with the common Eastern species in all respects save the method of branching of the frond and the shape of the pinnules. In like manner we can trace any of our native species to their scientific names, by carefully noting their structure and methods of fruiting. 153. In a few ferns it will be necessary to exercise great care in the examination of the indusia. In the genera Cys¢op- terts, Dicksonta, and Woodsza, and ina few species of Dryopterzs, the indusia wither away after fruiting, so that one is likely to classify them under the non-indusiate genera if he carelessly examines them in this condition. In such cases a large number of sori should be carefully examined, and the least trace of an in- dusium should be noted. Five sixths of our genera, including four-fifths of our species, are indusiate. 154. Fern Allies.—In determining the species of the fern allies the method of procedure is quite similar to that indicated above for the Maidenhair, in each case referring the plant to its proper order. Thespecimens must be in fruit, and in the case of Eguzsetum must include both sterile and fertile shoots. As the species of /soéfes differ mainly in the size, character, and markings of the spores, they will require a microscope with micrometers for successful determination, though some can be identified with a lens if the life habits are also known. 74. OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 155. Histology.—We have now gained a slight knowledge of the more apparent characters of the fern as viewed from without, and have been formally introduced to the species in hand by name. With some the study might seem to be at an end, but in fact it has only fairly begun. The minute structure, the development and the life-history of our fern, is yet unknown, leaving the most important features yet to be ascertained. Classification as it now exists is only a temporary arrangement, for the true relations of our species can never be fully deter- mined until their minute anatomy and life-histories have been thoroughly studied and compared. The minute anatomy has been carefully studied in only a few of our native ferns,and fewer still have been watched through the phases of their life-history, Less still is known of the species of fern allies. There is no fear of exhausting the subject, and even amateur botanists with the most limited facilities can do something in original inves- tigation. 156. Guides to Study.—It is impossible within the limits of a manual of this character to do more than suggest guides for study, yet no guide can be followed blindly to the exclusion of native common-sense. For the study of anatomy the works already mentioned under Chapter V. will serve for reference, while the following laboratory guides, each containing an out- line for the study of a single fern, will be found valuable: ARTHUR (J. C.), BARNES (C. R.) and COULTER (J. M.). Hand- book of Plant Dissection. New York (1886). (Henry Holt & Co.). For Adiantum pedatum. Bower (F. O.) and VINEs (S.H.). A Course of Practical In- struction in Botany, Part I. London (1885). (Macmillan & Co.) For Aspidium filéx-mas and fern allies. SEDGWICK (W. T.) and WILSON (E. B.). General Biology. Part I. New York (1886). (Henry Holt & Co.). For Pverzs aguzlina. 157. For the study of life-histories the recent paper by Dr. Campbell on Oxoclea struthiopter’s can well serve as a model. (Cf. Literature under Chapter VI.) The study of fern structure and fern development will grow in interest at every step, and will result in contributions of value to the knowledge of our native ferns and their allies. OUR NATIVE PTERIDOPHYTES. PTERIDOPHYTA Cohn. Vascular acrogens containing woody tissue in the stems. Antheridia or archegonia or both formed on a prothallus which is developed from the spore on germination, and upon which the asexual plant is produced. Includes eight living and three extinct orders, all represented in North America. ARTIFICIAL SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS. A § Isosporous, z.e., spores of one kind, ( Heterosporous, z.e., spores of two kinds, Plant moss-like, . . Order VI. LYCOPODIACEA, p. B owe J Plane rush-like, . . . Order V. EQUISETACEA, p. 132 135 | Plant fern-like, Cc { Vernation erect or inclined ; sporangia not reticulate, in spikes or panicles, opening by a transverse slit. Order IV. OPHIOGLOSSACE&, p. 128 C 4 Vernation circinate; sporangia reticulate, provided | witha ring, usually borne on the back or margin of a frond sometimes in spikes or panicles, { Order 1, “FIiCEs, p75 { Terrestrial, moss-like plants, Order VII. SELAGINELLACE&, p. 140 » Aquatic, rooting in mud, Lt ei cane See here E | Aquatic, floating, . .Order III. SALVINIACEA, p. 127 Leaves awl-shaped, tubular, containing the sporangia in their axils, . . . Order VIII. ISOETACEA, p. 142 E Leaves quadrifoliate or filiform ; sporangia enclosed J } | in sporocarps borne on separate peduncles, [ Order 11. MARSILIACE&, p. 125 ORDER I. FILICES Juss. Plant bodv consisting of fronds usually raised on stipes ris- ing from a prostrate. ascending, or erect rootstock, circinate in vernation. Sporangia modified trichomes of the leaves, reticu- 76 OUR NATIVE PTERIDOPHYTA. late, one-celled, encircled by a more or less complete, jointed elastic ring, collected in clusters of various forms on the under surface of the frond, with or without an indusium or covering ; or panicled, or spiked and naked; or borne on receptacles of various kinds. Spores of various forms, minute. Prothallium above ground, green, moncecious or dicecious. Contains six well-marked sub-orders, four of which are represented with us. Genera, seventy,* of which we have representatives of thirty. SUB-ORDER I.—POLYPODIACEZ Presl. Sporangia pedicelled, surrounded more or less completely by a jointed, vertical, and elastic ring, bursting transversely. Sori dorsal or marginal, borne on a leafy frond, with or without indusia. TRIBE I. ACROSTICHEZ:. Sporangia spread in a stra- tum over the under surface, or rarely over both surfaces of the frond. Indusia wanting. I. Acrostichum L. Sori covering the entire surface of the upper pinne. TRIBE II, POLYPODIEZE. Sori dorsal, borne at or near the ends of the veinlets, without indusia. II. Polypodium L. Possessing characters of the tribe. TRIBE III. GRAMMITIDEZ:. Sori dorsal, variously arising from the veins, usually linear. Indusia wanting. III. Gymnogramme Desy. Sori oblong or linear, follow- ing the course of the veinlets. IV. Notholzna R. Br. Sori on the veins or near their extremities, roundish or oblong, soon confluent into a narrow marginal band. V. Tzenitis Swz. Sori linear, central, or submarginal. TripeE IV. VITTARIEA. Sporangia borne in a continu- ous marginal or intra-marginal furrow. VI. Vittaria Sm. Fronds simple, linear, grass-like. TRIBE V. PTERIDE. Sori marginal or intra-marginal, provided with an indusium formed of the reflexed margin of the frond, and opening inwardly. * This number is based on Hook2r’s classification. Other authors, narrow- ing the limits of generic characters, recognize a greater number. Smith, for example, publishes 220 and Presl 230, yet the tendency among most botanists is to restrict the number. FILICES. | * Sporangia borne on a reflexed portion of the margin of the frond. VII. Adiantum L. Sori usually numerous and distinct. Midrib of the pinnules near the lower margin or wanting. ** Shorangta borne on a continuous vein-like receptacle which connects the apices of the veins. VIII. Pteris L. Sori continuous. Indusium delicate, whitish. Midribs of pinnules central. *** Shorangia at or near the ends of unconnected veins, borne on the under surface of the frond. IX. Cheilanthes Swz. Sori minute, at the ends of the veins. Indusium continuous or interrupted. X. Cryptogramma R. Br. Sporangia on the back or near the ends of the veins forming oblong or roundish sori, which are at length confluent and cover the back of the pin- nules. Sterile and fertile fronds unlike, smooth. XI. Pellza Link. Sori on the upper part of the veins, distinct, or mostly forming a marginal band of sporangia. Sterile and fertile fronds usually similar, smooth. TRIBE VI. CERATOPTERIDE. Sori on two or three longitudinal veins which are nearly parallel with the edge of the frond. Habits aquatic. XII. Ceratopteris Brong. The only genus; having the characters of the tribe. TRIBE VI. BLECHNEE. Sori dorsal, linear or oblong, borne on transverse veins, parallel to the midrib. Indusium fixed at its outer margin, opening at the inner. * Veins free. XIII. Lomaria Willd. Sori in a continuous band. next the midrib. Indusium elongate, formed of the recurved and altered margin of the pinnz, or else sub-marginal. Fronds of two sorts, elongate, pinnate. XIV. Blechnum L._ Sori linear, elongate, continuous near the midrib. Indusium continuous. Fronds pinnate. ** Veins more or less reticulate. XV. Woodwardia Sm. Sori linear or oblong, forming chain-like rows. Indusia separate. TRIBE VIII, ASPLENIEZE. Sori dorsal, linear or oblong, 73 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES oblique to the midrib, or rarely sub-parallel with it. Indusium fixed by one margin to the veinlet, opening at the other, some- times double. * Veins free. XVI. Asplenium L. Sori on the upper side of a fertile veinlet, raraly on both sides. XVII. Scolopendrium Sm. Sori linear, confluent in pairs, which appear like a single sorus with the double indusium opening in the middle. ** Veins reticulate. XVIII. Camptosorus Link. Sori oblong or linear, borne partly on veins parallel to the midrib, partly on veins oblique to the midrib. TRIBE 1X. ASPIDIE-®. Sori dorsal, round or roundish, on the back or rarely on the apex of a vein. Indusium usually membranous, rarely wanting. * Wethout zndusta. XIX. Phegopteris Fee. Sori round, rather small, borne on the back of the free veins. ** With industa. + Industa superior. XX. Dryopteris Adans. Indusium orbicular and fixed by the centre, or reniform and fixed by the sinus, opening all round the margin. Sori mostly on the back of the veins. XXI. Nephrolepis Schott. Indusium reniform, fixed at the sinus or at the arcuate base, opening toward the margin of the frond. Sori at the end of free veins. tt Lndusta fixed by a broad base partly under the sorus. XXII. Cystopteris Bernh. Indusium convex, usually reflexed as the sporangia ripen. Texture delicate. tH Industa obscure. Fertile frond much contracted, very un- like the sterile. XXIII. Onoclea L. Sori dorsal on the veins of the con- tracted pinnz, concealed by their revolute margins. ttt Industa inferior, PITICES. 79 XXIV. Woodsia R. Br. Indusium roundish or stellate, delicate, cleft into irregular lobes. TRIBE X. DICKSONIE. Sori roundish or transversely elongate, borne at the ends of the veins or on marginal cross- veinlets, with an indusium attached at the base or base and sides and opening toward the margin of the segment. XXV. Dicksonia L’Her. Sori marginal, small, the indu- sium cup-shaped, somewhat two-valved, the under portion con- fluent with a lobule of the frond. SUB-ORDER II.—HYMENOPHYLLACEZ Endl. Sporangia borne on an elongate, often filiform, receptacle, surrounded by a complete transverse ring, Opening vertically. Sori terminal or marginal from the apex of a vein. Indusium inferior, usually of the same texture as the frond. Fronds deli- cately membranous and pellucid. XXVI. Trichomanes Sm. Indusia tubular, cup-shaped, or funnel-shaped, sometimes two-lipped. SUB-ORDER III.—SCHIZAZACEZ Presl. Sporangia ovate, sessile, arranged in spikes or panicles, hav- ing a complete, transverse, articulated ring at the apex, and opening by a longitudinal slit. * Stems scandent. XXVII. Lygodium Swz. Sporangia borne in a double row on narrow fertile segments, each on a separate veinlet and pro- vided with a special indusium. ** Stems not scandent, XXVIII. Anemia Swz. Sporangia naked, attached by their bases to the narrow divisions of the panicled fertile seg- ments of the frond. : XXIX. Schizzea Sm. Sporangia naked, fixed in a double row to the midrib of the narrow fertile segments. Sterile fronds simple or dichotomously forked. SUB-ORDER !V.-OSMUNDACE~ PR. Br. Sporangia naked, globose, mostly pedicelled, with no ring or 80 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. mere traces of one around the apex, opening into two halves by a longitudinal slit. XXX. Osmunda L. Fertile pinnz or fronds much con- tracted, bearing the large and abundant sporangia on the mar- gins of the narrow segments. | | | ( ! | ( | | | j | | | | | ARTIFICIAL SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. Sporangia collected in sori and borne on the back or Margin of a leafy; frond) eae pete oo were teas ROG ee coe ee B Sporangia in spikes or panicles not on the leafy portion of the FEO re. nie ate cay tor ob tah) tle od a eatec ay ee Sor, covered: withitudusia » 7). @ Me lente ue eee eae Cc SOU Make) sa. Ssihe+ 3. 4 1tah eda GS sa ee pee ee Fertile frond closely rolled together, entirely unlike the sterile, its segments berry-like or necklace-like . . XXIII. ONOcLEA, p. II9 Sori marginal, covered with a reflexed portion of the frond. D Sori marginal or terminal, borne on an elongate receptacle, XXVI. TRICHOMANES, p. 122 Sori dorsal or marginal, provided with specialiindusia’ ya H Terrestrial, growing mostly in rocky DIACES fas. cocteeure) eee me E Aquatic, sterile fronds floating on the water, XII. CERATOPTERIS, p. 101 Sporangia at the ends of the veins, borne on a reflexed portion of the margin of the frond oe oe 6 wt.) VAT SADIANTUM, piso Sporangia borne on a continuous, marginal, vein-like receptacle con- necting the apices of the veins . . . . . VIII. PTERIS, p. 90 Sporangia at or near the ends of unconnected veins, borne on the under surfaceron theifrondiay ue ieee eee ee EF Fronds conspicuously dimorphous ; stipes light-colored, X. CRYPTOGRAMMA, p. 97 Fronds nearly uniform; stipes usually dark . ...... G Sori on the upper part of the veins, mostly forming a continuous mar- ginal band; indusium membranous, continuous round the segment, XI. PELLA, p. 97 Sori minute, at the ends of the veins ; indusium interrupted, or if con- tinuous, the ultimate segments usually small and bead-like ; fronds mostly chaffy, woolly, or farinose, . . IX, CHEILANTHES, p. 91 Sori roundish ; indusia not more than twice as long as broad. I Sori linear or oblong ; indusia more than twice as long as broad L Indusium superior, attached by the centre orsinus. ... . J Indusium convex, fixed by a broad base partly under the sorus, XXII. CysTopTERIs, p. 118 Indusium inferior) s.. 2 hp acer ee eee a ee eee K Vv = FILICES. 8I [ Sori mostly on the back of the veins ; indusium orbicular or reniform, opening. all round the margin . . . XX. DRyopreris, p. 110 Sori at the end of a free vein; indusium reniform, opening toward | the margin of the frond; fronds simply pinnate, the pinne articu- latedtoithe rachis“ . 95) 52 =) XI ONEPHROLEPIS) p: 117 Indusium roundish or stellate, delicate . . XXIV. Woopsia, p. 119 Indusium cup-shaped, somewhat two-valved, XXV. DICKSONIA, p. 121 Sori all parallel to the midribs orrachises . . ...... M Sori all oblique to the midribs . . . a Aes tre oO Sori partly oblique and partly parallel to the alanine frond simple, tapering toapoint . . . . . . XVIII. CAMPTOSORUS, p. 108 MiG 1S BMG Bh Be de cb oye Sika? eee aN Weinsireticulatese 25. 4. G) Se Gee XV. WooDwaRnra, p- 102 Indusium near the margin ; femile frond much contracted, XIII. LomMarta, p. 101 Indusium remote from the margin ; fronds nearly uniform, XIV. BLECHNUM, p. 102 Sori on the upper side ef a veinlet, rarely on both sides, XVI. ASPLENIUM, p. 103 Sori confluent in pairs, with an apparently double indusium open- ing inthe middle... . . . XVII. SCOLOPENDRIUM, p. 107 Sori spread in a stratum on the under surface of the frond, I. ACROSTICHUM, p. 82 Sori roundish, or not more than twice aslong as broad . . . Q Sori usually linear, always more than twice aslong as broad . KR Stipes articulated to the rootstock; fronds (in our species) entire or simply pinnate. . . : Se le POLY PoODrlUuMeap soz Stipes not articulated to Atte footstock: fronds (in our species) bi—tripinnatifid or ternate. . . . . XIX. PHEGOPTERIS, p. 108 Bronds'simple: 9. =. SA CR muons, ead Sre.ct pst ie Fronds pinnate to quadepainate Bt Rc Cot a6 py SEE Tr Fronds very narrow, grass-like ; veins indistinct, free VI. VITTARIA, p. 89 Fronds broader; veins anastomosing . . . . V. TNITIS, p. 88 Sori marginal, more or less confluent in a marginal band, IV. NOTHOLAENA, p. 85 Sori following the veinlets, simple, forked, pinnate, or variously I ee anastomosing . .. .. . . . - III. GYMNOGRAMME, p. 84 Sporangia ovate, with transverse ring at apex . . sihyss Vv Sporangia globose without a ring . . . . XXX. Osun NDA, p. 124 Stems scandent, pinnz palmate . . . XXVII. LyGopIuM, p. 122 Stems motiscan dent paren sh ci0- mom acmetolart Keats) cv, Saves Deion 1 WWE Sporangia in close distichous spikes . . XXIX. SCHIZA, p. 123 | Sporangia in copiously branching panicles, XXVIII, ANEMIA, p. 123 6 82 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. I. ACROSTICHUM L. Sporangia spread over the whole surface of the frond or upper pinne, or occasionally over both surfaces. Venation and cut- ting various (in our species simply pinnate). Name from Gr. akpos, the summit, and orzyos,arow. A tropical genus con- taining over 170 species. §$ CHRYSODIUM. 1. A. aureum L. Stipes 1°—2° long, tufted, strong, erect, glossy; fronds 2°—6° long, 1°—2° broad, upper pinne fertile, slightly smaller than the barren ones; texture coriaceous ; areolz small, copious, without free veinlets. Florida. II. POLYPODIUM L. Sori round, naked, dorsal, in one or more rows each side of midrib, or irregularly scattered. Stipes articulated to root- stock. Name from Gr. zoAvs, many, and zovs, 70605, foot, allud- ing to the branching rootstock. The largest, most cosmopolitan genus of ferns, containing 350 or more species. § 1. EUPOLYPODIUM. Vezus free; fronds (tn our species) pinnate. * Sord large. I. P. vulgare L. Stipes 2’—4’ long, firm, erect; fronds 4’— 10’ long, 1'—3) broad, cut nearly or quite to the rachis into entire or slightly toothed, usually blunt pinnz; veins once or twice forked. Larger fronds with their pinnz sharply serrated and long-pointed form the var. occidentale Hook. New England westward to Oregon and southward to Alabama. 2. P.falcatum Kellogg. Stipes 5’—8’ long, stramineous ; fronds 12'—15' long, 4'—8' broad; pinnze numerous, tapering to a slender point, sharply serrate; sori nearest the midrib; veins with 2—4 veinlets. (P. glycyrrhiza D.C. Eaton.) California to British Columbia. ** Sorz smaller, often minute. 3. P.plumula H. B. K. Stipes 1’—4' long, black, slender; fronds narrowly lanceolate, 9 —18' long, 1'—2' broad; pinnz nu- merous, narrow, entire, blunt, lower gradually reduced ; surfaces naked except the black wiry rachis; veinlets forked, obscure. Florida. PILICES: 83 4. P. pectinatum L. Stipes rigid 2’—6' long; fronds el- liptical-lanceolate, 1°—24° long, 2’—6' broad, cut to the rachis into horizontal, entire or toothed pinnz, the lower ones much reduced; rachis naked or finely villose ; veinlets pellucid, once or twice forked; sori in long rows, of medium size. Florida. § 2. GONIOPHLEBIUM Blume. Vezus forming ample regular areole (almost imperceptible in No.5), each with a single distinct ree included vetntet, bearing a sorus at tts terminus. * Under surface squamous. 5. P. polypodioides (L.) Hitch. Rootstock creeping, cov- ered with small brown scales; stipes 1’—4’ long, erect, densely scaly; fronds 2’—6’ long, 1’—13’ broad, cut to the rachis into entire pinnz; texture coriaceous; sori small; veins indistinct. (P. éncanum Swz.) Virginia to Illinois, and southward. 6. P.thysanolepis A. Br. Rootstock slender, firm, densely covered with minute lanceolate scales ; stipes 3/—12’ long, erect, scaly ; fronds ovate, 3'—9’ long, 2'—3' broad; pinne distant, as- cending, blunt, dilated at base (except the lowest), thick, sub- coriaceous, covered below with ciliate scales with brown centre and broad scarious border; areolz and sori in a single series. Huachuca Mountains, Arizona (Lemmon), Mexico. ** Under surface mostly smooth. 7. P. Californicum Kaulf. Rootstock creeping, chaffy; stipes 2'—6' long, stramimeous when dry, naked; fronds ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 4'—9' long, 1’—5’ broad, cut nearly or quite to midrib into finely-toothed pinnz; texture papyraceo-herba- ceous; sori large; veinlets 4—6 to eachvein. (Including P. zz- termedtum H. & A.) California. 8. P. Scouleri H. & G. Rootstock stout, creeping, scaly ; stipes 2'—4’' long, erect, naked ; fronds thick, 3'—12' long, 2’—6' broad, cut down to rachis into from 5—29 close, blunt pinne; texture coriaceous, fleshy when recent; sori very large; veinlets regularly anastomosing forming a single series of large areolz. (P. carnosum Kellogg, P. pachyphyllum D. C. Eaton.) Cali- fornia and northward. § 3. PHLEBODIUM R. Br. Vezus forming ample areola, each with two or more distinct, free, included vetnlets bearing sord on their united points, 84 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 9. P.aureum L._ Rootstock stout, densely scaly; stipes 1°—2° long, castaneous, naked ; fronds 3°—5° long, 9'—18’ broad, cut nearly to the rachis into broad entire or slightly undulate pinne ; areolz copious. Florida. $4. CAMPYLONEURON Presl. Primary veins distinct from midrib to the edge, connecied by parallel transverse vetntets ; areole similar, containing two or more sore. Io. P.phyllitidis L. Rootstock stout, scaly; stipes short or none; fronds simple, 1°-—3° long, 1'—4’ broad, the point acute, lower part gradually narrowed; texture rigid, coriaceous ; areole in rows of 6—12 from midrib to edge. Florida. $5. PHYMATODES Presl. Aveole fine, copicus, irregular, the [ree veinlets spreading in various directions ; soré various in post- tzon. 11. P.Swartzii Baker. Rootstock wide creeping, slender, covered with linear ferruginous scales ; stipes $’—1' long, slender, naked; frond simple, 2’—4' long, §’—}' broad, narrowed gradu- ally toward both ends, the edge entire, undulate, or slightly lobed; sori uniserial on free veinlets. (P. serpens Swz.) Key Largo, Florida (Cur¢zss). III. GYMNOGRAMME Desv. Sori oblong or linear, following the course of the veinlets and like them, simple, forked, pinnate, or variously anastomosing, without indusia. Name from Gr. yusuvos, naked, and ypdupa, line. Includes about 100 species, mostly tropical. $1. EUGYMNOGRAMME. Veins free, under surface not fart- nose. I. G. Ehrenbergiana Klotzsch. Rootstock creeping ; stipes grayish, puberulent, 3—6' long; fronds 5-angled, 1’'—3' each way, hispid above, tomentose beneath, pinnate; lower pinnz much the largest, unequally triangular, pinnate; upper pinnz lobed or crenate. (G. Zedata of check-lists zot of Kaulf., G. podo- phylla Hook. in part, G. hzspzda Mett. and former edition.) Texas to Arizona. $2. CEROPTERIS Link. Fyvonds farinose below. 2. G.triangularis Kaulf. (GOLD-FERN, GOLDEN-BACK.) Stipes densely tufted, slender, blackish-brown, polished, 6'—12' long; fronds 2’—5’ each way, deltoid, pinnate; lower pinnz FILICES. 85 much the largest, triangular, bipinnatifid ; upper pinnze more or less pinnately lobed; lower surface coated with yellow or white powder, finally more or less obscured by the fruit. Arizona, California, and northward. IV. NOTHOLAENAR. Br. CLOAK-FERN. Sori marginal, at first roundish or oblong, soon confluent into a narrow band, without indusium, but sometimes covered at first by the inflexed edge of the frond. Veins free. Name from Lat. zothus, spurious, and Zena, a cloak, alluding to the rudimentary indusia. Includes 37 species. $1. EUNOTHOLANA. Fronds not farinose beneath, scaly, hairy, or tomentose. * Fronds simply pinnate. 1. N. sinuata (Swz.) Kaulf. Rootstock short, very chaffy ; stipes 2’—4’ long, erect; fronds 6’—2° long, 1’—2’ broad; pinnz numerous, short-stalked, roundish or ovate, entire to pinnately lobed, lower surface densely scaly. Texas to Arizona. 2. N. ferruginea (Desv.) Hook. Rootstock creeping, with dark rigid scales ; stipes tufted, 2’—4' long, wiry, blackish, woolly at first; fronds 8'—12' long, }'—1' broad, narrowly lanceolate; pinnz numerous, ovate, pinnatifid, hairy above, densely tomen- tose beneath, the wool at first whitish, but becoming ferruginous. (VV. rufa Presl.) Texas to Arizona. ** Fronds bt—quadripinnate. + Fronds stlky-hatry above. 3. N.Parryi D,C. Eaton. Rootstock short, scaly; stipes 2'—4' long, dark brown, pubescent with whitish jointed hairs; fronds 2'—4' long, oblong-lanceolate, tripinnate, lower pinne distinct ; segments crowded, roundish-obovate, one line broad, densely covered above with entangled white hairs, beneath with a heavier pale-brown tomentum. Utah, California, Arizona. 4. N. Newberryi D.C. Eaton. (COTTON-FERN.) Rootstock with very narrow dark bristly scales; stipes tufted, 3'—5’ long, blackish-brown, woolly when young, with pale-ferruginous to- mentum; fronds 3’—5’ long, lanceolate-oblong, covered most densely beneath with fine whitish hairs, tri—quadripinnate ; ultimate segments roundish-obovate, }’—” broad. California, tt Fronds slightly hispid above. 86 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 5. N. Aschenborniana Klotzsch. Rootstock _ short, creeping; stipes tufted, 2’-—3' long, wiry, ebeneous, densely scaly; fronds 4’—10' long, 2’—3) broad, oblong-lanceolate, tri- pinnatifid ; pinnae lanceolate, cut into linear-oblong, crenate or pinnatifid pinnules; upper surface pale-green, the lower denseiy matted with linear, ciliate, bright ferruginous scales, beneath which it is subfarinose; sori black. Huachuca Mts., Arizona (Lemmon), Texas (Drummond ), Mexico. $ 2. CINCINALIS Desv. Fronds farinose, with white or yel- low powder (in one spectes naked ). * Fronds fartnose below. + Fronds deltoid or pentagonal, barely bipinnate. 6. N. candida (M.etG.) Hook. Rootstock creeping, with rigid, nearly black scales; stipes tufted 3'—6' long, wiry, black and shining; fronds rather shorter than stipe, deltoid-ovate, pinnate; lowest pinnz with the lowest inferior pinnules elon- gate and again pinnatifid, the three or four succeeding pairs lan- ceolate, pinnatifid into oblong segments, the uppermost pinnz like the segments of the lower; upper surface green ; lower sur- face whitish farinose; margin slightly revolute. (JV. su/phurea J. Sm., V. pulveracea Kunze.) Southwestern Texas (Reverchon); New Mexico (Wrightz). 7. N. cretacea Liebm. Rootstock short, oblique, the scales rigid, lanceolate, with a narrow membranous margin; stipes 2'—7' long, brownish, wiry, scaly when young; fronds 1'—2’ long, broadly deltoid-ovate to pentagonal, tri—quadripinnati- fid at base, gradually simpler above ; ultimate segments oblong or triangular-oblong, numerous, crowded ; upper surface more or less covered with deciduous glands; lower surface copiously farinose with yellow or whitish powder except on the promi- nent dark-brown rachises; margins more or less recurved, not covering the sporangia; spores globose, black. (WV. Calzfornica D.C. Eaton.) San Diego County, California (Cleveland, Parish); Arizona (Parry, Lemmon). 8. N. Hookeri D. C. Eaton. Rootstock short, Censely covered with rigid lanceolate dark-brown scales; stipes tufted, 4'—8' long, reddish-brown, wiry, shining; fronds 2’—3’ each way, nearly pentagonal, composed of three divisions ; the mid- FILICES, 87 dle one slightly stalked, pinnatifid into a few toothed segments, the second pair larger than the first; side divisions bearing a single large pinnatifid basal segment on the lower side, and above it smaller ones like those of the upper side; lower surface covered with pale, yellow powder. Texas to Arizona. +t Fronds lanceolate or linear-oblong, bipinnate or tripinnatifid. g. N. Grayi Dav. Stipes tufted, 1’—¥4’ long, chestnut-brown, with nearly black, rigid scales below, paler deciduous scales above; fronds 2’/—6’ long, }’/—14’ wide, the upper surface spar- ingly, the lower thickly, covered with white powder; pinnz short-stalked, unequally triangular-ovate, deeply pinnatifid or divided into one or two pairs of oblong pinnatifid, obtuse pin- nules, the remaining portion obliquely pinnatifid with alternate segments; sori brown, Southeastern Arizona to Texas. 10. N. Schaffneri (Fourn.) Unde. Rootstock short, stout, with black pectinate scales; stipes 1’—2’ long, brownish-black, with narrow, rigid scales; fronds lanceolate, 5’—8’ long, bi— tripinnatifid, the pinnules numerous, narrow, with narrow dark scales underneath; sori continuous, brown or black. (JV. Vead- leyi Seaton, Aleurztopter?s Schaffner? Fourn.) Western Texas (Wealley). 11. N. Lemmoni D.C. Eaton. Rootstock short, scaly, with narrow, rigid, dark-brown chaff; stalks reddish-brown, 4’—6’ long, chaffy only at base with wider scarious-margined scales; fronds 6’—9q’ long, 1’—1}4’ wide, with numerous deltoid or ovate pinne, the lowest a little shorter than the middle ones; upper surface smooth, the lower with white or yellowish powder; sori in a narrow submarginal line. Arizona. ttt Fronds deltotd-ovate, tri—quadripinnate at base. 12. N. nivea Desv. Rootstock short, chaffy, with narrow scales; stipes tufted, 4/—6’ long, wiry, black and polished, 88 OUR NA TIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. fronds 3'—6' long, 14/—2' broad, ovate, lanceolate, triangular- ovate or deltoid, tripinnate; primary pinnez mostly opposite, the rachises nearly straight; pinnules long-stalked ; segments roundish, nearly as broad as long, terminal ones larger, entire or 3-lobed ; upper surfaces green, smooth, lower densely coated with pure white powder; sori brown, often descending the free veins half-way to the midvein. Arizona, New Mexico. Var. dealbata (Pursh) Dav. Segments more numerous, longer than broad, terminal ones rarely lobed. (/V. dealbata Kunze and former editions. Chezlanthes dealbata Pursh.) Up- per Missouri to New Mexico and Arizona. 13. N. Fendleri Kunze. Stipes densely tufted, dark- brown, 3—5' long; rachis and all its branches zigzag and flexuous; fronds broadly deltoid-ovate, 3’—5’ each way, quad- ripinnate below, gradually simpler above; pinnz alternate ; ultimate pinnules oval or elliptical,simple or 3-lobed. Colo- rado, New Mexico, Arizona. *k Eyonds naked below. 14. N.tenera Gillies. Stipes tufted, brownish, smooth and shining; fronds 3'—4' long, ovate-pyramidal, bi—tripinnate ; pinne mostly opposite, distant, the lower ones somewhat tri- angular; ultimate pinnules ovate, often sub-cordate, obtuse, smooth, and naked on both surfaces; possibly only a form of N. nivea. Southern Utah, California. V. TZENITIS Swz. Sori linear, but the line sometimes interrupted, central or sub-marginal. Veins reticulate. Name from Lat. senza, a band. Includes five species, all tropical. I. T. lanceolata (L.) R.Br. Rootstock creeping; stipes 1’/— 2' long; fronds simple, 6'—13' long, }’—}? broad, tapering both ways, the edge entire or sometimes crisped, midrib prominent ; veins immersed, the exterior free and clubbed at tieir apices ; sori ante-marginal, in a continuous line near the apex. (Lzugua cervina Plum., Péerds lanceolata L., Pteropsts lanceolata Desv., Neurodium lanceolatum Fee.) Old Rhodes Key, Florida (Cur- 7isS). FILICES. 89 VI. VITTARIA Sm. GRASS-FERN. Sori linear, continuous, in two-lipped marginal grooves or in slightly intramarginal lines, with the unaltered edge of the frond produced beyond and often rolled over them, but without spe- cial indusia. Fronds narrow, grass-like. Veins free. Name from Lat. vz¢ta, a fillet or head-band. A tropical genus con- taining 13 species. § TANIOPSIS J. Sm. I. V. lineata(L.) Sm. Fronds 6’—18’ long, 1”—5” broad, nar- rowed gradually downward toa stout compressed stem, the edge often reflexed; sori in a broad intramarginal line in a slight furrow, the edge of the frond at first wrapped over it. (V. an- gustifrons Michx.) Florida. VII. ADIANTUM L. MAIDENHAIR. Sori marginal, short, covered by a reflexed portion of che more or less altered margin of the frond, which bears the spo- rangia on its under side from the approximated tips of free, forking veins. Name from Gr. a, without, and 6zazv@, to wet, alluding to the smooth foliage. Includes over 80 species, mostly from Tropical America. § EUADIANTUM. * Fronds at least bipinnate, pinnules flabellate or cuneate. t Fronds smooth. 1. A. capillus-veneris L. (VENUS’ HAIR.) Stipes nearly black, polished, very slender; fronds ovate-lanceolate, delicate, bipinnate, the upper half or third simply pinnate ; pinnules and upper pinnze wedge-obovate or rhomboid, rather long-stalked, the upper margin rounded and more or less incised, crenate, or acutely dentato-serrate, except where the margin is recurved to form the lunulate separated indusia. Virginia, Kentucky, and Florida to Utah and California. 2. A. tenerum Swz. Stipes 1° high, erect, glossy; fronds 1°—3° long, 9’—18' broad, deltoid, tri—quadripinnate; pinnules articulated to their petioles, falling off at maturity, cuneate, the upper edge rounded or somewhat angular, broadly, often rather deeply lobed ; sori numerous, roundish, or transversely oblong. Florida. 900 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 3. A.emarginatum Hook. Stipes rather stout, nearly black, polished ; fronds ovate or deltoid-pyramidal, bi—tripin- nate; pinnules and upper pinnz ample, smooth, or nearly so, rounded or even reniform, upper margin rounded, slightly in- cised ; sori 2—5, transversely linear-oblong, subcontinuous. (4. tenerum Torr.) California and northward. tt Fronds pilose, with whitish hairs. 4. A.tricholepis Fee. Stipes smooth, polished, deep black ; fronds oval ; pinnules roundish, moderately long-stalked ; sori few (3—7), of unequal size; indusia very velvety. (4. dilatatum Nutt.) Western Texas. ** Fronds dichotomously forked, with numerous pinne spring- tng from the upper side of the two branches. 5. A. pedatum L. Stipes 9’—15' long, dark chestnut- brown, glabrous; fronds nearly circular in outline ; central pin- nz 6’—9g’ long, 1'—2’ broad; pinnules triangular-oblong, short- stalked ; sori roundish or transversely oblong. North Carolina to California and northward. Var. rangiferinum Burgess. Pinnules longer-stalked and deeply cleft into narrow-toothed lobes on the upper side. Mount Findlayson, British Columbia. VIII. PTERIS L. BRAKE. Sori marginal, linear, continuous, occupying a slender fili- form receptacle which connects the tips of the free veins. In- dusium membranous, formed of the reflexed margin of the frond. Name from Gr. zrépzs, a fern, from arepor, a wing, al- luding to the prevalence of pinnate fronds. A cosmopolitan genus containing 103 species. $1. EUPTERIS. Vedns free, stipes tufted, industum single. * Lower pinne linear, undivided. I. P. longifolia L. Stipes 6'—12' long, clothed more or less below with pale-brown scales; fronds 1°—2° long, 4’—9’ broad, oblong-lanceolate; pinnz sessile, 2’'—5’’ broad, linear, entire; veins close and fine, usually once branched; indusium yellowish brewn. Florida. FILICES. gl ** Tower pinne forked or slightly pinnate below. 2. P. Cretica L. Stipes 6’—12’ long, erect, stramineous or pale-brown; fronds 6’—12' long, 4’—8' broad, lateral pinnz usually in 2—6 opposite sessile pairs, the sterile ones considera- bly the broadest and spinulose-serrate, the lower pairs often cleft nearly to the base, into two or three linear pinnules ; veins fine, parallel, simple or once forked ; indusium pale. Florida. 3. P.serrulata Linn. f. Stipes 6’—g’ long, naked, pale or brownish ; fronds 9’—18' long, 6’—9’ broad, ovate, bipinna- tifid, the main rachis margined with a wing which is 1'—2” broad at the top and grows narrower downwards; pinnz in six or more distinct opposite pairs, upper ones simple, the lower ones with several long linear pinnules on each side, the edge of the barren ones spinulose-serrate ; veins simple or once forked. Alabama (JZohfr), Macon, Georgia (Farne//). §2. Pasta St. Hilaire. Vezns free, rootstock creeping, stipes sub-distant, tndustum more or less double. 4. P. aquilina L. Rootstock stout, wide-creeping, subter- ranean; stipes 1°—2° high, erect, stramineous or brownish; fronds 2°—4° long, 1°—3° wide, ternate, the three branches each bipinnate; upper pinnules undivided, the lower more or less pinnatifid. North America everywhere. Var. caudata (L.) Hook. Pinnules sometimes linear and entire, or with less crowded segments than the type and the terminal lobe linear and entire. (P. caudata L.) New Jersey to Florida and Texas. Var. januginosa (Bory) Hook. Fronds silky-pubescent, tomentose, especially on the under surface; otherwise as in the typical form. (7. /anugznosa Bory.) Utah, California and northward. IX. CHEILANTHES Swz. LIP-FERN. Sori terminal or nearly so on the veins, at first small and roundish, afterwards more or less confluent. Indusium formed of the reflexed margin of the frond, roundish and distinct, or more or less confluent. Veins free. Name from Gr. yetAos, a lip, and dros, flower, alluding to the lip-like indusia. A genus of 65 species of tropical and temperate zones. Q2 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. $1. ADIANTOPSIS Fee. Judusta d?stinct, roundish, confined to the apex of a single veinlet. 1. C. Californica (Nutt.) Mett. Rootstock short, creeping, chaffy; stipes densely tufted, dark-brown, glossy, 4/—8' long; fronds 4' or less each way, broadly deltoid-ovate, smooth on both surfaces, quadripinnatifid ; lower pinnee largest, triangular ; upper ones gradually smaller and simpler; ultimate segments lanceolate, acute, incised or serrate; indusia membranous. (Aspidotzs Calzfornica Nutt., Hypolepis Californica Hook.) Ca- lifornia. 2. C.Pringlei Dav. Rootstock slender, creeping, clothed with linear-lanceolate scales; stipes 14'/—4}' long, reddish or chestnut brown, scaly at base and sparingly above; fronds 1'— 24’ long, nearly as broad, triangular or ovate-deltoid, bi—tripin- nately divided into 5-—7 pairs of pinnze, opposite and spreading in the smaller sterile fronds, alternate and erecto-patent in the larger fertile fronds, naked, dark-green; pinne %'—1¥' long, the lower unequally deltoid or ovate, bipinnate, the uppermost ob- long, pinnate or deeply pinnatifid; pinnules ovate or oblong, pinnately divided or cleft into obliq 1e segments, which are again deeply cleft into cuneate, strap-shaped divisions, those of the largest segments again deeply cut into narrow, obtuse, cuneate lobes, the recurved tips in fertile fronds forming distinct her- baceous involucres with entire or slightly crenulate margins ; sori one to each ultimate lobe on the apex of a free veinlet. South-eastern Arizona (Przug/e). $ 2. EUCHEILANTHES. Jndusza more or less confluent, usu- ally extending over the apices of several veinlets, but not continu- ous all round the segments ; segments mostly flat, not bead-like. * Segments of the frond smooth. t Penne few, not more than 5—6 pairs. 3. C. Wrightii Hook. Stipes castaneous, slightly chaffy at base, 1'—2' long; fronds 2'—3' long, ovate-oblong, tripinnat- ifid, segments more or less incised; indusium sub-continuous or interrupted, similar to frond in texture. Western Texas to Arizona. tH Pznne numerous. 4. C. microphylla Swz. Rootstock short, creeping; FILICES. 93 stipes dark-brown, glossy, rusty pubescent on the upper side, 4’—6' long; fronds 4’—10’ long, ovate-lanceolate, bi—tripinnate ; pinnae lanceolate, the lowest ones usually largest and more del- toid; pinnules oblong or deltoid-ovate, deeply incised or pin- nate; indusium similar in texture to frond, interrupted or sub- continuous. Florida, New Mexico. 5. C. Alabamensis (Buckl.) Kunze. Rootstock creeping, with slender brown scales; stipes black with scanty ferruginous wool ; fronds 2'—10’ long, narrowly lanceolate, bipinnate ; pinnae close, ovate-lanceolate, the lowest ones not enlarged, usually smaller than those above; pinnules mostly acute, often auricu- late on the upper side at the base; indusia pale, membra- nous, interrupted only by the incising of the pinnules. (Ped/@a Alabamensts Baker, Pter?s Alabamenszs Buckley.) Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee to Texas and Arizona (Lemmon). ** Seoments of the frond glandular viscid. 6. C. viscida Dav. Stipes 3’/—5’ long, wiry, blackish, chaffy at the base with narrow ferruginous scales; fronds 3’'—5' long, #’—1' broad, narrowly oblong, pinnate, with 4—6 distant pairs of nearly sessile, deltoid, bipinnatifid pinnae; segments toothed, minutely glandular and everywhere viscid; teeth of segment recurved, forming indusia. California. * Tyonds somewhat hatry and glandular, not tomentose. + Fronds deltotd-ovate,; stipes stramineous. 7. C. leucopoda Link. Stipes 3’—10’ long, stout, chaffy at base; fronds 2’—7’ long, deltoid-ovate, quadripinnate at base, gradually simpler above, everywhere glandular-puberulent ; lowest pair of pinnze unequally deltoid-ovate, upper ones ob- long; pinnules short-stalked; ultimate pinnules divided into minute rounded lobules, strongly revolute when fertile. Texas. tt Fronds ovate-lanceolate , stipes brownzsh. 8. C. lanosa (Michx.) Watt. Stipes tufted, 2’—4’ long, chestnut-brown; fronds 4’—9’ long, 1/—2’ broad, tripinnatifid ; pinne somewhat distant, lanceolate-deltoid ; segments more or less thickly covered with acute hairs; sori copious; indusia formed of the ends of roundish or oblong lobes. (Vephrodzum lanosum Michx. C.vestzta Swz.) New York to Kansas and Georgia. 9g. C. Coopere D.C. Eaton. Stipes densely tufted, fragile, 94 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. hairy with straightish nearly white articulated hairs, which are usually tipped with a glandular and viscid enlargement; fronds 3—8' long, bipinnate, the pinnze rather distant, oblong-ovate ; pinnules roundish-ovate, crenate and incised, the ends of the ‘obules forming herbaceous indusia. California. $ 3. PHYSAPTERIS Presl. U/témate segments minute, bead- like, tndustum usually continuous all round the margin; fronds (cn our species) b¢-—quadripinnate, the lower surface scaly or tomen- tose or both. * Fronds hairy or tomentose beneath, not scaly. + Upper surface naked or nearly so. 10. C. gracillima D. C. Eaton. (LACE-FERN.) Stipes densely tufted, 2—6' long, dark-brown; fronds 1'—4’ long, nar- rowly ovate-lanceolate, bipinnate; pinnze numerous, crowded, pinnately divided into about nine oblong-oval pinnules, at first slightly webby above, soon smooth, heavily covered beneath with pale ferruginous matted wool; indusia yellowish-brown, formed of the continuously curved margin. (C. ves¢zta Brack.) California, Oregon, British Columbia, Idaho. It. C. lendigera (Cav.) Swz. Rootstock creeping, covered with narrow scales; stipes rather distant, 4’—8 long, at first loosely tomentose, at length nearly smooth; fronds 4’—8’ long, ovate-oblong, tri—quadripinnate ; ultimate pinnules small, cuneate-obovate, pouch-like from the recurved margins, green above, hairy below. Huachuca Mts., Arizona (Lemmon). tt Upper surface dectdedly pubescent. { Stzpes tomentose or smooth. 12. C. gracilis (Fee) Mett. Stipes densely tufted, slender, at first clothed with woolly hairs, at length nearly smooth ; fronds 2’—-4' long, ovate-lanceolate, tripinnate or tripinnatifid, rarely bipinnate; pinnz deltoid below, oblong-ovate above, the lowest distant; ultimate pinnules minute, the terminal one slightly largest, crowded ; upper surface scantily tomentose, the lower densely matted with whitish-brown, woolly hairs; indu- sia narrow, formed of the unchanged margin. (C. /anosa Eaton, C. vestita Hook. p. p., C. lanuginosa Nutt, Myriopteris gracilis Fee.) Illinois to Texas, Arizona, and British America. 13. C. tomentosa Link. Stipes tufted, 4’—6’ long, rather FILICES. 95 stout, covered with pale-brown tomentum; fronds 8’—15’ long, oblong-lanceolate, everywhere but especially beneath tomentose with slender, brownish-white, obscurely articulated hairs, tri- pinnate; pinnz and pinnules ovate-oblong; ultimate pinnules $8" long, the terminal ones twice as large; indusium pale, membranous, continuous. (C. Bradburz? Hook.) Virginia to Missouri, Texas, and Arizona. tt Stzpe and rachises covered with very narrow scales. Var. Eatoni Dav. Differs from the type mainly in having the rachises scaly ; characters scarcely sufficient to keep it dis- tinct. (C. Aatonz Baker and former editions.) Arizona. 14. C. fibrillosa Dav, Plant 3/—6' high; rootstock forming dense, entangled clumps of short rhizomes, clothed with dark linear-lanceolate scales, passing gradually into lighter-brown scales, mixed with coarse fibres and tomentum at the base of the stipes; stipes 2’—3' long, chestnut-brown, terete, at first tomentose with fibrous scales and wool, becoming smooth with age; fronds 2’—3' long, }#—1}' wide, tripinnate, loosely covered with deciduous tomentum, that along the rachises beneath per- sistent, tawny, mixed with coarse fibres. (C. danugznosa, var. fibrillosa Dav.) San Jacinto Mountains, California (Parzsh). I5. C. Parishii Dav. Rootstock creeping, short, clothed with deep-brown linear-lanceolate scales, with darker nearly black mid-nerves ; stipes 2,—3/ long, approximate, light to dark- brown, clothed at base with scales similar to those on the root- stock, passing gradually into broader pale-brown or nearly white nerveless scales, with moreor less deciduous, slender, pale scales and chaff above; fronds 3—4’ long, 1’—1} broad, oblong- lanceolate, tri—quadripinnate, with both surfaces scantily clothed with a coarse tomentum ; pinnz alternate, oblong-ovate, obtuse, the lowermost somewhat distant; segments roundish, the terminal ones largest and three-lobed ; indusia very narrow, only partially enclosing the sori. San Diego Co., California (Parish). ** Fronds covered beneath with imbricated scales, not tomentose. 16. C. Fendleri Hook. Stipes 2’—s5’ long, chaffy with minute slender scales; fronds 3— 4 long, ovate-lanceolate, tripinnate; scales of primary rachis like those of stipe, those of 96 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. secondary and ultimate rachises larger, broadly-ovate, entire or nearly so, usually edged with white, imbricate and overlapping the (#’—+4" broad) sub-globose ultimate segments; these are naked above, and commonly bear at their centre a single broad scale; indusium formed of the much incurved margin. Texas and Colorado to California. 17. C.Clevelandii D. C. Eaton. Stipes scattered, 2’/—6' long, dark~brown, scaly when young, but at length nearly smooth ; fronds 4’/—6' long, ovate-lanceolate, tripinnate, smooth above, deep fulvous-brown below from the dense covering of closely imbricate, ciliate scales growing cn the ultimate segments as well as on the rachises; segments nearly round, }''--3" broad, the terminal ones larger, margin narrowly incurved. Califor- nia. *** Under surface both tomentose and scaly. 18. C. myriophylla Desv. Rootstock very short, scaly; stipes tufted, 2,—6' high, castaneous, covered with pale-brown scales and woolly hairs intermixed; fronds 3'—8' long, oblong- lanceolate, tri—quadripinnatifid, smooth or pilose above, be- neath matted-tomentose and densely clothed with pale-brown, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, ciliate scales, those of the ultimate segments with long, tortuous cilia; pinne deltoid-ovate, nar- rower upwards; ultimate segments minute, }” broad, crowded, innumerable, the margin unchanged, much incurved. Very variable. (C. elegans Desv., C. vzllosa Dav.) Texas to Arizona. 19. C. Lindheimeri Hook. Rootstock long, slender, chaf- fy; stipes scattered, 4’/—7' high, blackish-brown, at first cov- ered with scales and woolly hairs; fronds 3’—8' long, ovate- lanceolate, tri—quadripinnate; ultimate segments }” long, crowded ; upper surface white tomentose, lower surface very chaffy, those of the midribs ciliate at base, those of the segments more and more ciliate, passing into entangled tomentum. West- ern Texas to Arizona. $4. ALEURITOPTERIS Fee. Judustza more or less confluent ; Jronds fartnose below. 20, C. argentea (Gmel.) Kunze. Stipes tufted, 3’—6' long, castaneous; fronds 3'—4' long, 2’ broad, deltoid, bi—tripinnati- fid; lower pinnze much the largest, cut nearly to the rachis; rachis polished like the stipe; upper surface naked, lower thick- FILICES. 97 ly covered with white powder; sori numerous, very small. Alaska. X. CRYPTOGRAMMA R. Br. ROCK-BRAKE. Sporangia on the back or near the ends of the free veins, forming oblong or roundish sori, which are at length confluent, and cover the back of the pinnules. %Jndusium continuous, formed of the membranous, somewhat altered margin of the pinnule, at first reflexed along the two sides and meeting at the midrib, at length opening out flat. Name from Gr. Kpuzros, concealed, and ypu, line, alluding to the concealed fructifi- cation. A boreal genus of two species. I. C. acrostichoides R. Br. Stipes densely tufted, stra- mineous; fronds dimorphous, sterile ones on shorter stalks, tri—quadripinnatifid, with toothed or incised segments; fertile ones long-stalked, less compound, with narrowly elliptical or oblong-linear pod-like segments. (C. créspa, forma Americana Hook., Allosorus acrostichotdes Spreng.) Lake Superior, Colo- rado to California and northward. XI. PELLAEA Link. CLIFF-BRAKE. Sori intramarginal, terminal on the veins, at first dot-like or decurrent on the veins, at length confluent laterally, forming a marginal line. Indusium commonly broad and membranous, formed of the reflexed margin of the fertile segment. Name from Gr, weAAds, dusky, alluding to the dark-colored stipes. In- cludes 55 species. § 1. CHEILOPLECTON Fee, Baker. Texture herbaceous or sub- cortaceous, veins clearly vistble, tndustum broad, tn most of the Sfectes rolled over the sorus t2ll maturity. I. P. Breweri D. C. Eaton. Stipes densely tufted, cov- ered with narrow, crisped, fulvous chaff; fronds 2'—6’ long, simply pinnate, the pinnz short-stalked, 6—8 pairs, membra- nous, mostly 2-parted, the upper segment larger; segments ob- tuse, in the fertile frond narrower; indusium continuous, pale; veins repeatedly forked. Colorado to California and southward. 2. P. Stelleri (Gm.) Beddome. Stipes scattered, 2/—3/ long, stramineous or pale-brown; fronds 2’—4’ long, 1/—2’ broad, ovate, bi—tripinnatifid ; pinnz lanceolate-deltoid, cut to the 98 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. rachis into a few broad, blunt, slightly-lobed pinnules; texture thinly herbaceous, flaccid; indusium broad, continuous, mem- branous; veins of the fertile fronds mostly only once forked. (Allosorus créspus, var. Steller? Milde, A. graczlzs Presl, Plerzs gracilis Michx., P. Stellcer¢ Gmelin.) Labrador to Pennsylvania, Illinois, Colorado, and northward. $2. ALLOSORUS Baker. Texture cortaceous, the vetns not e perceptible ; tndustum broad, conspicuous. * Prnnules or segments obtuse or barely acute. + Fronds pinnate or b¢pinnate. 3. P. atropurpurea (L.) Link. Stipes tufted, 2’—6' long, dark-purple; fronds 4’—12’ long, 2’—6' broad, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, simply pinnate or bipinnate below ; pinnules and upper pinnz 1’—2’ long, }’ broad or less, nearly sessile, smooth; indusium formed of the slightly altered incurved edge of the pinnules. (Allosorus atropurpureus Kunze, Pterzs atro- purpurea L., Platyloma atropurpurea J. Sm.) Arizona, New Mexico, Texas to Vermont and northward. 4. P. aspera (Hook.) Baker. Stipes slender, 2’/—3’ long, with scurfy pubescence, fronds 4’—6’ long, oblong-lanceolate. bipinnate ; pinnz and pinnules deltoid-lanceolate or oblong, pinnules next to main rachis often lobed; all of them rough on both surfaces with short harsh hairs. (Chezlanthes aspera Hook.} Western Texas and New Mexico. tt Fronds bi—quadripinnate, ultimate segments oval or cordate. 5. P. andromedefolia (Kaulf.) Fee. Stipes scattered, pale- brown, 2'—12’ long; fronds 6’—12’ long, 3'—6’ broad, ovate, bi—quadripinnate, usually tripinnate; pinnz rather distant, spreading ; ultimate pinnules 2”—5’’ long, oval, slightly cordate, coriaceous, the margin of the fertile ones sometimes revolute to the midrib; veins numerous, parallel. (A/osorus andromeda@- folius Kaulf., Pterzs andromedefolia Kaulf.) California. 6. P. pulchella (M. et G) Fee. Stipes tufted, 3’—8’ long, chaffy at base, nearly black; fronds 3’—g9’ long, 1’—5’ broad, triangular-ovate, quadripinnate below, gradually simpler above ; lower pinne deltoid, narrowly triangular above; ultimate pin- nules numerous, 1’—3" long, oval or often cordate-ovate, stalked, coriaceous, smooth, the edges often much reflexed. FILICES. 99 (Allosorus pulchellus Mart. and Gale.) Western Texas and New Mexico. ttt Fronds tri—quadripinnatifid ; segments linear-oblong ; secondary rachtses margined. 7. P. marginata (Hook.) Baker. Stipes, 3/—9’ long, casta- neous, shining, slightly fibrillose at the base ; fronds 4’—6’ long, nearly as broad, deltoid; the lower pinnz much the largest; indusium broad, continuous, the margins slightly erose; texture chartaceous. (Checlanthes marginata Hook.) Huachuca Mts., Arizona (Lemmon). ** Pinnules mucronulate or dectdedly acute. + Fronds narrowly linear tn outline, usually bépinnate. 8. P. ternifolia (Cav.) Link. Stipes tufted, nearly black, 2'—6' long, fronds 4’—10’ long, narrowly linear; pinne usually 9—I5 pairs, all but the uppermost trifoliate; segments com- monly linear, slightly mucronate, coriaceous, sessile or the middle one indistinctly stalked, the edges much inflexed in fer- tile fronds; indusium broad. (Pterzs ternzfol7a Cav.) Western Texas. g. P. brachyptera (Moore) Baker. Stipes 2’—8’ long, pur- plish-brown ; fronds 3'—8' long, narrow in outline from the as- cending secondary rachises, bipinnate; pinnules crowded, 2’ — 5 long, oblong-linear, simple or trifoliate, acute or mucronulate ; margins inflexed to the midrib in fertile fronds. (?. ornzthopus, var. brachyptera D. C. Eaton, Platyloma bellum et P. brachypte- rum Moore.) California. tt Fronds broader, lanceolate to ovate, bi—trzpinnate. Io. P. ornithopus’ Hook. Stipes tufted, 3’—8’ long, rather stout, dark-brown; fronds very rigid, 3—12’ long, 2’—-3' broad, broadly deltoid-lanceolate, bi—tripinnate; primary pin- nz spreading or obliquely ascending, linear, bearing 4-—16 pairs of trifoliate (varying from simpie to 5—7 foliate) mucronulate pinnules, 14’—2" long; margins inflexed to midrib in fertile fronds. (Allosorus mucronatus D, C. Eaton.) California. Il. P. Wrightiana Hook. Rootstock short, thick, densely chaffy; stipes crowded, purplish-brown, 4’—6' long; fronds 4/—10' long, 1’—3’ broad, lanceolate to deltoid, trifoliate at apex, 100 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. bipinnate below; pinne short with 1—2 pairs of long narrow pinnules besides the terminal one; mucro short, with margin broad and cartilaginous; margins of fertile fronds inflexed to the midrib. Very variable; forms with fronds decreasing to simply pinnate at the apex, and longer but less broadly winged mucro form var. longzmucronata Dav. (P. longimucronata Hook.); forms with pinnules densely crowded are var. compacta Dav. Colorado and Texas to California. 12. P. densa (Brack.) Hook. Rootstock slender, chaffy with blackish scales; stipes densely tufted, wiry, very slender, castaneous, 3—9' long; fronds ovate or triangular-oblong, 1'—3' long, densely tripinnate; segments 3’—6" long, linear, nearly sessile, sharp pointed or mucronate, in the fertile fronds entire, with the margin narrowly recurved; in the rare sterile fronds sharply serrate, especially toward the apices. (Ozych- Zum densum Brack.) Utah ( Fones),and Wyoming to California, Oregon, and northward; Mt. Albert, Gaspé, Quebec (Ad/en). § 3. PLATYLOMA J.Sm., Baker. Texture coriaceous, the veins usually hidden, the ultimate segments broad and flat, the industum so narrow as to be soon hidden by the fruzt. 13. P. Bridgesii Hook. Stipes 2'—6’ long, tufted, castane- ous; fronds 4’—6’ long, 1’ or more broad, simply pinnate; pinnze 5—18 pairs, mainly opposite, nearly sessile, glaucous green, coriaceous, rounded or cordate at the base; indusium narrow, formed of the whitish margin of the pinna, soon flattened out exposing the broad sorus. California. 14. P. flexuosa (Kaulf.) Link. Rootstock creeping, slender ; stipes reddish, passing into a more or less flexuous or zigzag rachis; fronds 6——30' long, ovate-oblong, bi—tripinnate ; second- ary and tertiary rachises usually deflected and zigzag, rusty puberulent or nearly smooth; pinnz mostly alternate; ultimate pinnules 5’—10" long, roundish-ovate, or sub-cordate, smooth ; margins at first reflexed, soon flattened out. (4/osorus flexu- osus Kaulf.) Western Texas to California. 15. P. intermedia Mett. Rootstock long, wide creeping, slender, chaffy; stipes scattered, 4—6' long, pinkish-stramine- ous, smooth; fronds 5’-—10' long, 3—8' wide, ovate-bipinnate ; pinne nearly opposite, remote; pinnules 2—6 pairs, petiolate, sub-coriaceous, oval or cordate-ovate; veins obscure; ra- FILICES. IOI chises often pubescent. Huachuca Mountains, South Arizona (Lemmon, Texas (Vealley). XII. CERATOPTERIS Brong. FLOATING-FERN. Sori placed on two or three veins which run down the frond longitudinally, nearly parallel with both the edge and midrib. Sporangia scattered on the receptacles, sessile, sub-globose, with a complete, partial, or obsolete ring. Indusia formed of the reflexed margins of the frond, those of opposite sides meet- ing at the midrib. Name from Gr, Kepas, horn, and zrepzs, a fern. Contains a single tropical species. I. C. thalictroides (L.) Brong. Stipes tufted, inflated, filled with large air-cells; fronds succulent in texture, the sterile ones floating in quiet water, simple or slightly divided when young, bi—tripinnate when mature; fertile ones bi—tripinnate; ultimate segments pod-like. Southern Florida. XIII. LOMARIA Willd. Sori in a continuous band next the midrib of the contracted pinne of the fertile frond, covered till mature by an elongate indusium, either formed of the recurved and altered margin of the pinna or sub-marginal and parallel to the margin. Veins of sterile frond oblique to the midrib, simple or forked and free. Fronds mostly elongate, of two kinds, the sterile foliaceous, the fertile commonly much contracted. Name from Gr. Aoua,a fringe. Principally south temperate, containing 45 species. § EULOMARIA. I. L. spicant (L.) Desv. (DEER-FERN.) Rootstock: short very chaffy; fronds tufted, erect, sterile ones nearly sessile, narrowly linear-lanceolate, 8’—24' long, 1'—3' wide, tapering to both ends, cut to the rachis into oblong or oblong-linear closely set segments, the lower ones gradually diminishing to minute auricles; fertile fronds sometimes three feet high, long-stalked, pinnate; pinnae somewhat fewer and more distant, longer and much narrower than in the sterile frond; indusia distinctly in- tramarginal. (Osmunda spicant L., Blechnum boreale Swz.) California, Oregon, and northward. 102 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. XIV. BLECHNUM L. Sori linear, continuous or nearly so, parallel with the midrib and usually contiguous to it. Indusium membranous, distinct from the edge of the frond. Veins usually free. Name from Gr. Blexvor, an old name for some kind of fern. A tropical and south temperate genus, containing 19 species. § EUBLECHNUM. I. B. serrulatum Richard. Stipes 6’—12’ long, stout, erect, nearly naked; fronds oblong-lanceolate, 1°—13° long, 36’ broad, with 12—24 pairs of distinct linear-oblong pinnz, the margins finely incised; texture coriaceous; veins very fine - and close; fertile pinnz narrower. (Slechnum angustifolium Willd.) Florida. XV. WOODWARDIA Sm. CHAIN-FERN. Sori oblong or linear, sunk in cavities in the frond, arranged in a chain-like row parallel to the midribs of the pinnze and pinnules and near them. Indusium sub-coriaceous, fixed by its outer margin to the fruitful veinlet and covering the cavity like a lid. Veins more or less reticulate. Named for 7homas F. Woodward, an English botanist. Contains six species, mostly north temperate. § 1. EUWOODWARDIA. Fronds untform, the veins forming at least one sertes of areole between the sort and margins. 1. W. radicans (L.) Sm. Caudex stout, erect, rising a little above the ground; stipes stout, 8'—12’ long; fronds 3°—5° long, sub-coriaceous, pinnate; the pinnz 8’—15' long, 2’—4’ broad, oblique to the rachis, pinnatifid nearly to the midrib; segments spinulose-serrate; veinlets forming a single row of oblong sorus-bearing areola next the midvein, besides a few oblique empty areolz outside the fruiting ones, thence free to the margin. California, Arizona. §$ 2. ANCHISTEA Pres]. Fronds uniform, the veins free be- tween the sort and the margins. 2. W. Virginica (L.)Sm. Stipes stout, 12’—18' long; fronds oblong-lanceolate, 12'—18' long, 6'—9 broad; pinnz linear- ianceolate, 4'—6' long, ?’—1' broad, cut nearly to the rachis into linear-oblong lobes. (W. Banésteriana Michx., Blechnum FILICES. 103 Carolintanum Walt., B. Virginicum L., Doodia Virginica Presl.) Canada and Florida westward to Michigan and Arkansas. § 3. LORINSERIA Presl. /vouds dimorphous, veins every- where forming areola. 3. W. areolata (L.) Moore. Sterile frond with slender stipes, 9/—12’ long, 6’—8’ broad, deltoid-ovate, with numerous oblong-lanceolate sinuate pinne ; rachis broadly winged ; fertile frond with an elongate, castaneous stem; pinnz 3'—4' long, nar- rowly linear. (W. onocleotdes Willd., W. angustifolia Sm., Acro- stichum areolatum L.) Maine to Florida, Michigan, Arkansas. XVI. ASPLENIUM L. SPLEENWORT. Sori oblong or linear, oblique, separate; indusium straight or rarely curved, opening toward the midrib when single, some- times double. Veins free in all our species. Name from Gr. a, without, and owAnv, spleen. A cosmopolitan genus contain- ing nearly 350 species. § 1. EUASPLENIUM. Vezus free, simple or branched ; indu- stum straight or slightly curved, attached to the upper side of a vein. ; * Fronds simple. 1. A. serratum L. Fronds growing in a crown from a short, stout, erect rootstock, 14°—24° long, 2’—4' broad, simple, spatulate or linear-oblanceolate, the margin crenulate or irreg- ularly but finely serrate, sub-coriaceous; midrib prominent, keeled and often blackish purple beneath ; veins closely placed, free, once forked; sori elongate, following the veins of the upper half of the frond from near the midrib half-way to the margin; indusia single, the free edge entire. Florida. ** Fronds pinnatifid or pinnate below, tapering to a point. 2. A. pinnatifidum Nutt. Stipes tufted, 2’—4’ long ; fronds 3'—6' long, 1'—14' broad, lanceolate, pinnatifid, or pin- nate below, tapering to a slender prolongation above; lobes roundish-ovate, or the lowest pair acuminate; sori numerous. Pennsylvania to Illinois, Kentucky, and Alabama. 3. A. ebenoides R.R. Scott. Fronds 4'—9’ long, broadly lanceolate, pinnatifid, pinnate below; apex prolonged and slender; divisions lanceolate from a broad base, the lower ones 104. OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. shorter; stipes black and polished, as is the lower part of the midrib, especially beneath. Schuylkill River, above Manayunk, Pennsylvania (.Sco/t); Havana, Alabama (M/zss Tutwiéler) ; Canaan, Connecticut (Adem); near Poughkeepsie, New York (Lown), Jackson County, Illinois (Patterson). *kE Fronds once pinnate. t Pinne 4'—® long, mostly blunt. t Rachis chestnut-brown or blackish. 4. A. platyneuron (L.) Oakes. Stipes 3/—6’ long, chest- nut brown, nearly naked; fronds 8’—16’ long, linear-lanceolate ; pinnae 20—40, lanceolate, subfalcate, or the lower oblong, }/—1 long, the dilated base auricled on the upper or both sides; sori often 1o—12 on each side. (A. ebeneum Ait., Polypodium platyneuron L.) Florida and Kentucky northward to Canada. 5. A. parvulum Mart. & Gale. Fronds tufted, erect, rigid, 4—10' long, narrowly linear-lanceolate ; stipe and rachis black and shining; pinne numerous, oblong, obtuse, entire or crenulate, auricled on the upper side, nearly sessile; middle pinne longest, the lower gradually shorter and deflexed ; sori short, abundant. (4. ebeneum var. mznus, Hook., A. reszliens Kunze.) Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida to Arkansas and New Mexico. 6. A. trichomanes L. Stipes densely tufted, purple- brown, shining; fronds 3'—8' long, $ or more broad, linear ; pinnae 15—30 pairs, nearly opposite, roundish-oblong or oval, the two sides unequal, obliquely wedge-truncate at the base, at- tached by a narrow point, the edge slightly crenate, the mid- vein forking and evanescent; sori 3--6 on each side of the mid- rib. (A. melanocaulon Willd.) Eastern United States to the Pacific coast. Var. incisum Moore. Fronds larger, often 2’ or more broad, pinnze more or less deeply incised. California, Vermont. 7. A. monanthemum L. Stipes densely tufted, 3'—6’ long, chestnut-brown ; fronds 6'—12' long, narrow, with 20—4o pinnee on each side; pinnz crenate above, abruptly narrowed at base, often auricled, the lower much reduced; texture sub- coriaceous; veins flabellate; sori 1—2, linear-oblong, parallel] FILICES. 105 with lower edge of pinna. Huachuca Mountains, Arizona (Lemmon). tl Rachis green. 8. A. viride Huds. Stipes densely tufted, 2'—4' long, naked, the lower part chestnut-brown; fronds 2'—6' long, ¥' broad, with 12—20 pinnz on each side, which are ovate or rhomboidal in outline, the upper edge narrowed suddenly at the base, the lower obliquely truncate, the outer part deeply crenate; rachis naked; sori copious. Vermont, Canada, and New Brunswick. 9. A. dentatum L. Stipes tufted, 2’—6' long, naked, ebeneous below; fertile fronds 2’—3' long, 1’ broad, with 6—8 pairs of stalked, oblong-rhomboidal pinne, the lower side trun- cate with a curve, the outer edge irregularly crenate; sterile fronds smaller on shorter stipes; rachis naked; sori copious in parallel rows. Florida, South Carolina. tt Pznne only 2—5, linear-cuneate. Io. A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. Stipes dense, tufted, 3/6’ long, slender, naked, ebeneous toward the base; fronds irregularly forking, consisting of two to five narrowly linear rather rigid segments, which are entire or more frequently cleft at the end into a few long narrow teeth; sori elongate, placed near the margin, usually facing each other in pairs, commonly only two or three to each segment. Ben Moore, New Mexico (Bigelow) ; Middle Mountains, Colorado, Arizona. tH Pzune numerous, linear or linear-oblone, acute or acuminate. It. A. angustifolium Michx. Stipes 1° or more long, brownish, slightly scaly below; fronds 14°—2° long, 4’—6' broad, lanceolate-oblong, flaccid ; pinnae 20—30 pairs, linear- lanceolate, acuminate, entire or crenulate, those of the fertile frond narrower; texture thinly herbaceous; sori linear, 20—4o0 each side of the midvein. New England to Kentucky and Wis- consin. 12. A. firmum Kunze. Stipes 4’—8’ long, erect, grayish, naked; fronds 6'—12’ long, 3'—4' broad; pinnz 12—20 pairs, oblong-lanceolate, the point bluntish, the margin inciso-cre- nate, the upper one narrowed suddenly at the base, the lower 106 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES one obliquely truncate; sori short, falling short of both mid- vein and margin. Florida, Arizona. *kKE Byonds b¢—tripinnatifid. + Texture somewhat corzaceous. 13. A. ruta-muraria L. Stipes tufted, 2-4’ long, naked ; fronds ovate-deltoid, 1'—2’ long, bi—tripinnate below, simply pinnate above; the divisions rhombic-wedge shaped, toothed or incised at the apex; veins flabellate; sori few, elongate, soon confluent. Vermont to Michigan and Kentucky. 14. A. montanum Willd. Stipes tufted, 2’—3' long, naked; fronds 2'-—-5’ long, ovate-lanceolate, pinnate; pinne 3—7 parted below, incised or toothed above ; veins obscure; sori short, the basal ones sometimes double. Lantern Hill, Connecticut, and Ulster County, New York, to Georgia, Ken- tucky, and Arkansas; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (A7éy). 15. A. Glennie: Baker. Stipes densely tufted, 3’—1’ long, castaneous; fronds 3’—4’ long, bipinnate; pinnae 20—25 pairs, lanceolate, the lower gradually reduced; pinnules 5—6 pairs, toothed or externally sub-entire. Huachuca Mountains, Arizona (Lemmon). 16. A. fontanum (L.) Bernh. Stipes 1/—3/ long, slightly scaly at base; fronds 3’/—6’ long, }’/—1’ wide, tapering both ways from above the middle; pinnee 10—15 pairs, their segments deeply dentate with spinulose teeth; sori one or two to each segment. Lycoming County, Pa. (J/cJ/éun), Springfield, Ohio Spence). tt Texture thinly herbaceous or membranous. 17. A. Bradleyi D. C. Eaton. Stipes tufted, 2’/—3’ long, ebeneous, as is also the lower half of rachis; fronds 3'—7’ long, pinnatifid; pinnze 8—12 pairs, the lowest not reduced, the largest pinnatifid with oblong lobes toothed at the tip; seri short. Ulster County, N. Y., Lancaster, Pa., Kentucky, Ten- nessee, and Arkansas. 18. A. rhizophyllum Kunze, vay. myriophyllum Mett. Stipes tufted, 2’—6’ long; fronds 3’—10’ long, lanceolate, bi— tripinnate ; segments entire or 2—3-lobed, bearing a single vein and sorus. Forms with fronds narrowly linear, ?/—1' wide, and FILICES. 107 widely ascending, 7—8-lobed pinnae, are var. Bzscaynianum be. Katon.. Florida: 19. A. cicutarium Swz. Stipes tufted, 4’—8' long, green- ish, naked; fronds 6’'—15' long, 4’—6’ broad, with 10—r5 hori- zontal pinnze on each side, the lower ones 2’—3' long, 1’ broad, cut down to the rachis into linear or oblong segments, which are once or twice cleft at the apex; rachis compressed and often winged; sori principally in two rows. Florida. § 2. ATHYRIUM Roth. Vezns free, sorz more or less curved, sometimes horseshoe-shaped, often crossing to the outer or lower side of the fruzting verntet. 20. A. thelypteroides Michx. Stipes long, erect, stra- mineous; fronds 1°—2° long, 6’—12’ broad, bipinnatifid ; pinnze linear-lanceolate ; segments crowded, oblong, minutely toothed ; sori 5—6 pairs to each segment, slightly curved, the lower ones often double. New England to Kentucky and Illinois. 21. A. filix-foemina (L.) Bernh. (LADY-FERN.) Stipes tufted, 6’—12’ long, stramineous or brownish; fronds delicate, 14°—3° long, broadly oblong-ovate, bipinnate ; pinnz 4’—8’ long, lanceolate; pinnules oblong-lanceolate, pointed, more or less pinnately incised or serrate, distinct or confluent on the second- ary rachises by a very narrow and inconspicuous margin; sori short; indusium straight or variously curved. Small starved specimens growing in mountainous places form the var. exzle D. C. Eaton, often fruiting when 3’'—6' high. Narrow forms with the pinnz obliquely ascending are var. Michauxiz Mett. (var. angustum D.C. Eaton), and other forms equally unim- portant, form the remaining szxty-three varzetzes that have been described of this species. (Aspzd¢um filix-femina Swz., Nephro- dium asplenotdes Michx.) Eastern United States to Utah, Ne- vada, California, and Arizona. XVII. SCOLOPENDRIUM Sm. Harv’s-TONGUE. Sori linear, elongate, almost at right angles to the midvein, contiguous by twos, one on the upper side of one veinlet, and the next on the lower side of the next superior veinlet, thus appearing to have a double indusium opening along the middle. Name from Gr. ok Aomevdpa, acentipede, alluding to the posi- tion of the sori. Includes five species. 108 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 1. S. scolopendrium (L.) Karst. Stipes 2’/—6’ long, fibril- lose below; fronds oblong-lanceolate from an auricled heart- shaped base, entire or undulate, 7’—18’ long, 1’/—2’ wide, bright green. (S. vulgare Smith, Asplenium scolopendrium L.) Chit- tenango Falls and Jamesville, New York; Woodstock, New Brunswick (.Sz¢toz), Owen Sound, Canada (J/rs. Roy), Tennessee. XVIII. CAMPTOSORUS Link. WALKING LEAF. Sori oblong or linear, irregularly scattered on either side of the reticulate veins of the simple frond, those next the midrib single, the outer ones inclined to approximate in pairs, or to become confluent at their ends, thus forming crooked lines. Name from Gr. Kaumros, curved, and owpos, a heap. Includes only two species. I. C. rhizophyllus (L.) Link. Fronds evergreen, tufted, spreading or procumbent, 4’—9’ long, lanceolate from an auricled, heart-shaped or often hastate base, tapering above into a slender prolongation which often roots at the apex. Var. zutermedius Arthur is an interesting form, differing mainly fsom the typical forms in having the base acute, without proper auricles and with a single fibro-vascular bundle in the stipe. (Anfégramma rhizophylla J. Sm., Scolopendrium rhizophyllum Hook., Asple- nium rhizophyllum L.) New England to Wisconsin and south- ward; the variety in Iowa. XIX. PHEGOPTERIS Fee. BEECH-FERN. Sori small, round, naked, borne on the back of the veins below the apex. Stipe continuous with the rootstock. Veins free or reticulate. Name from Gr. @y0S, a beech-tree, and mrepis, afern. Includes 95 species. §$ 1. EUPHEGOPTERIS. Vezus free. * Fronds triangular, bipinnatifid; pinne sesstle, adnate to a winged rachis. I. P. phegopteris (L.) Unde. Stipes 6’—9’ long; fronds longer than broad, 4’—9’ long, 4'—6’ broad, hairy on the veins especially beneath; pinnz linear-lanceolate, the lowest pair de- flexed and standing forward; segments oblong, obtuse, entire, the basal ones decurrent and adnate to the main rachis; sori near margin. (P. polypodiotdes Fee, Polypodium phegopterzs L., P. connecttle Michx.) New England to Virginia and westward. ’ FILICES. 109 2. P. hexagonoptera (Michx.) Fee. Stipes stramineous, naked; fronds as broad as long or nearly so, 7’—12’ long, slightly pubescent, and often finely glandular beneath ; upper pinnze oblong, obtuse, toothed or entire, the very large, lowest pinne elongate and pinnately lobed; sori near the margin or some between the sinus and the midrib. (Polyfodtum hexagon- opterum Michx.) Canada to Illinois, Kentucky, and Florida. ** Fronds oblong-lanceolate, tripinnatifid ; rachis wingless. 3. P. alpestris (Hoppe) Mett. Rootstock short, erect or oblique; stipes 4’—10' long, with a few brown spreading scales near the base; fronds 1°—2° long, pinnze deltoid-lanceolate, the lower ones distant and decreasing moderately ; pinnules oblong- lanceolate, incised and toothed; sori small, rounded, sub- marginal. (Polypodzum alpestre Hoppe, Aspedium alpestre Swz.) California and northward ; Idaho (Sandberg). xx Eyonds ternate, the three divisions petioled , rachts wingless. 4. P. dryopteris(L.) Fee. (OAK-FERN.) Rootstock slender, creeping; fronds broadly triangular, 4’—8’ wide; the three primary divisions 1—2-pinnate ; segments oblong, obtuse, entire or toothed ; sori near the margin. (Polypodium dryopters L., Nephrodium dryopter’s Michx.) Northeastern United States to Virginia, and westward to Oregon and Alaska. Var. Robertianum (Hoffm.) Dav. Stipes 6’—10’ long, stramineous, glandular; fronds 6’—8' long, 5’—7’ wide, deltoid- ovate in outline, bipinnate, lowest pair of pinne far the largest, pinnatifid or again pinnate; upper pinnz: smaller, pinnatifid, lobed, or entire ; sori copious, forming submarginal rows around the segments. (7. calcarea Fee.) Minnesota (Cathcart), Deco- rah, Iowa (/folway), Northeast Territory (JZacoun), Idaho. § 2. GONIOPTERIS Presl. Vezus pinnate, the lower veintets of contiguous groups uniting. 5. P. tetragona (Swz.) Fee. Rootstock creeping ; stipes 6’—18' long, naked or slightly villose; fronds 1°—2° long, 6’—12' broad ; pinnz numerous, spreading 3'—6' long, the lowest narrowed at the base and sometimes stalked, deeply pinnatifid ; texture thinly herbaceous; rachis and under surface finely pubescent; sori in rows near the midrib. Marion County, Florida (Reynolds). a — IIO0 OUR NA TIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 6. P. reptans (Swz.) Eaton. Rootstock short, creeping; stipes 3’/—I0' long, clustered, gray-stamineous, slender, naked; fronds 4'—12' long, membranous, softly hairy with branched or stellate hairs, oblong-lanceolate, pinnate with nearly or quite sessile, oblong, crenately pinnatifid pinnae, the apex pinnatifid, often elongate and rooting; veins pinnate, simple, the basal veinlets often anastomosing ; sori on the middle of the veinlets, rather small, sometimes with a minute rudimentary indusium. (Polypodium reptans Swz., Aspidium reptans Mett.) On cal- careous rocks, on Jeft bank of Withlacoochee River, 15 miles N.E. from Brooksville, Florida (7. Donnell Smith). XX. DRYOPTERIS Adans. SHIELD-FERN. Sori round, borne on the back or rarely at the apex of the veins. Indusium flat or flattish, orbicular and peltate at the centre, or cordato-reniform and fixed either centrally or at the sinus. Stipe continuous with the rootstock. Name from Gr. dvs, oak, and zrepis,a fern. (AsfAidium Swz. and former editions.) A cosmopolitan genus containing 350 species. §1. ASPIDIUM. Vezns anastomosing copiously. I. D. trifoliata (L.) Ktze. Stipes tufted, 1° or more long, brownish, scaly at base; fronds 12’—18' long, 6’—12’ broad, with a large ovate-acuminate terminal pinna narrowed or forked at the base, and one or two lateral ones on each side, the lowest mostly forked; primary veins distinct to the margin; areolz fine, copious, with free included veinlets ; sori in rows near the main veins; indusia orbicular, peltate. Florida, Western Texas. § 2. CyrTromiuM Presl. Jnduscum peltate,; fronds simply pinnate with broad pinne ,; vetnlets usually uniting slightly near the margin. 2. D. juglandifolia (HBK) Ktze. Stipes tufted, clothed be- low with large scales; fronds 6—-2° long, coriaceous; pinnz 2—12 pairs, short-stalked, ovate-oblong or broadly lanceolate, the terminal one distinct, and in small fronds the largest, appressed- serrulate, smooth on both surfaces; veins pinnate, the veinlets few, free or uniting near the margin; sori scattered in several irregular rows. Western Texas, Arizona. $3. POLYSTICHUM Roth. J/udustum rrb/cular and enttre, BILTCES. Lita peltate, fixed by the depressed centre; pinne and pinnules usually auricled on the upper stde at base, mucronately serrate ; vetns free. * Fronds stmply pinnate. + Fronds long-stalked, lanceolate. 3. D. acrostichoides (Michx.) Ktze. (CHRISTMAS-FERN.) Stipes 6’—8’ long, clothed below with pale-brown lanceolate scales ; fronds 4°—2° high, 3'—5' broad; pinnz linear-lanceolate, somewhat falcate, half-halberd-shaped at the base, serrulate with appressed bristly teeth; the fertile ones contracted and smaller, bearing contiguous sori near the middle, soon covering the entire surface. A form with cut-lobed, often strongly fal- cate pinnz, set obliquely to the rachis, and with the tips of nearly all bearing sori, is the var. zuczsum Gray. (Nephrodium acrostichotdes Michx.) New England to Florida, Mississippi, and northward. 4. D. munita (Kaulf.) Ktze. Stipes 4’—12’ long, chaffy, the rachis with brown scales; fronds growing in a crown, I°—4° long, tapering slightly toward the base; pinnae numerous, linear-acuminate, 3'—4' long, very sharply and often doubly serrate, with appressed needle like points; sori numerous, forming a single row each side of the midrib half-way to the margin. California and northward. tt Fronds scarcely stalked, linear-lanceolate. 5. D. lonchitis (L.) Ktze. (HOLLY-FERN.) Fronds 9’—20’ long, rigid; pinnz 1’ or more long, broadly lanceolate-falcate or the lowest triangular, strongly auricled on the upper side, the lower obliquely truncate, densely spinulose-toothed; sori con- tiguous and near the margin. Canada and Wisconsin to Utah (Jones), Castle Lake, Siskiyou County, California (Przxg/e), Mt. Peddo, Washington (Swksdorf), and northward. ** Fronds bipinnate or nearly so. 6. D. mohrioides (Bory) Ktze. Stipes 2’—6’ long, more or less densely clothed with lanceolate dark-brown scales ; fronds 6’—12' long, 2’—3/ broad, with numerous dense, often imbri- cated, lanceolate pinnz, which are cut below into slightly toothed oblong rhomboidal pinnules; teeth blunt or mucro- nate; texture coriaceous; both surfaces naked; rachis stout IIZ OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. compressed, scaly ; veins close, immersed; sori copious. Cali- fornia to Washington. 7. D. aculeata (L.) Ktze. Rootstock stout; stipes vari- able in length, very chaffy with large and small scales inter- mixed as in the rachis; fronds 1°—2° long, growing in a crown, oblong-lanceolate, pinnate; pinnz closely placed, lanceolate from a broad base, mostly curved upwards, incisely pinnatifid or again pinnate; segments or pinnules of variable shape, oval- rhomboidal, or unequally triangular-ovate and auriculate on the upper side of the slightly stalked base, the teeth aculeate in various degrees; under surface more or less chaffy-fibrillose ; sori in two rows, on the segments nearer the midvein than the edge. California, Mt. Peddo, Washington (Szksdor/). Var. Californica (Eat.) Unde. Fronds elongate, narrow, tapering slightly at the base; pinnz but slightly incised above the middle, more and more deeply cleft toward the rachis, the lower superior segment largest, but scarcely distinct as a pin- nule, and not at all auricled. (4. Californzcum D. C. Eaton.) California. Var. angularis (Willd.) Unde. Fronds lanceolate, scarcely or not at all narrowed at the base, fully bipinnate; pinnules dis- tinctly short-stalked, mostly auricled and slightly incised; the basal one largest and again pinnatifid; under surface chaffy- fibrillose. (4. angulare Willd.) California. Var. Braunii (Spenner) Unde. Fronds lanceolate; pinnz numerous, oblong-lanceolate, the lower gradually reduced in size and obtuse; pinnules ovate or oblong, truncate and almost rectangular at the base, sharply toothed, beset with long soft hairs as well as chaffy ones. (A. LraunzZ Spenner.) Maine to New York and northward. $4. NEPHRODIUM Rich. Jndustum cordato-rentform or orbicular with a narrow sinus ; veins free. * Texture thin-membranous, vetns simple or once forked, Jronds bipinnatifid. * Fronds thin-membranous ; veins simple or once forked. + Lowest pinne gradually reduced to mere lobes. t Fronds in a crown from a stout, creeping rootstock. 8. D. montana (Vogl.) Ktze. Rootstock oblique, scaly; stipes short, scaly below; fronds 14°—2° long, broadly lanceo- late, tapering below, glandular; pinnz 2’—3/ long, deeply pin- FILICES. 113 natifid, the lower slightly more distant; sori medium size, nearly marginal; indusia more or less toothed at the margin, (Polypodium montanum Vogl., P. oreopterés Ehrh.) British Columbia (Macoun), Unalaska (Turner). 9. D. Nevadense (Eat.) Unde. Rootstock creeping, densely covered with the persistent bases of former stalks; stipes short, scaly below ; fronds 13°—3° long, lanceolate, with pinnz: linear-lanceolate from a broad base, and crowied seg- ments slightly hairy on the veins and with minute resinous particles ; sori small, nearer the margin than the vein; indusium minute, furnished with a few dark-colored marginal glands and with jointed hairs on the upper surface. California. tt Rootstocks stout, erect, forming a short caudex ; fronds tu a crown. 10. D. contermina (Desv.) Ktze., var. strigosa (Fee) Unde. Rootstock often extending a foot above the ground; stipes very stout, narrowly wing-margined near the base; fronds 1°—4° long, lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, much narrowed at the base; pinnz sessile, narrowly lanceolate from a broader base, deeply pinnatifid, the under surface dotted with resinous globules; veins simple; sori near the margin with minute glandular somewhat pilose indusia. Fort Meade, Florida. ttt Rootstocks slender, creeping ; fronds scattered, II. D. Noveboracense (L.) Gray. Rootstocks wide creep- ing; fronds 1°—2° long, 4’—6! broad, tapering both ways from the middle; pinnz lanceolate, sessile, ciliate, and finely pubes- cent beneath; veins simple or those of the basal lobes forked ; sori near the margin; indusium minute, gland-bearing. (Poly- podium Noveboracense L., Aspidium thelypterotdes Swz.) North Carolina to Arkansas and northward. ++ Lower pinne little smaller than those cbove. t Veins forked. 12. D. thelypteris (L.) Gray. Rootstock creeping; fronds lanceolate, scarcely narrower at the base, 1°—2° long, 4’—6’ wide, membranous; pinnz lanceolate, with obtuse segments which often appear acute from the strongly revolute margin ; veins regularly once or twice forked; sori crowded, 1o—12 to Il4 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. each segment; indusium slightly glandular or glabrous. (Poly- podium thelypterzs L.) New Brunswick to Manitoba south to Texas and Florida. t} Vezns stmple. 12a. D. simulata Dav. Rootstock slender, brownish ; fronds 8’—20’ long, 2’—7’ wide, oblong-lanceolate, tapering to an acuminate apex; pinnz 12—2o pairs, lanceolate, the segments obtuse, entire, slightly revolute in the fertile frond, finely pubescent, especially near the midribs; sori rather large, some- what distant, 4—Io to each segment; indusia finely glandular at the margins. New Hampshire, Massachusetts. 13. D. patens (Swz.) Ktze. Rootstock stout, bearing sev- eral fronds at the growing end; fronds 2°—3° long, 4’—10' broad, ovate-oblong, softly pubescent beneath; pinnz closely placed, linear-acuminate, lowest pair somewhat deflexed, all cut three fourths of the way to the midrib; segments numerous, acutish, basal ones longest ; veinlets evident, lowest ones of ad- joining segments often uniting; sori near the margin; indusia very pubescent. (A. molle Kunze.) Florida to California. ** Texture firmer or sub-cortaceous, vetns forking freely. + Fronds pinnate; pinne cut into spreading triangular lobes ; sort confluent. 14. D. unita (L.) Ktze., var. glabra (Mett.) Unde. Stipes 11° long, brownish, naked ; fronds 1$° or more long, 5'—8’ broad ; pinnz narrow, cut from one third to half-way down into sharp, pointed lobes; lower pinnze not reduced; veins pinnate in the broad lobes with 6—8 veinlets on each side, the lower ones of contiguous groups united; sori near the ends of the veins prin- cipally in the lobes. Florida. tt Fronds bipinnatifid or bipinnate; industa rather large ; segments not spinulose. t Fronds small, narrowly lanceolate. 15. D. fragrans (L.) Schott. Fronds 4'—12’ high, glandu- lar-aromatic; pinnz linear-oblong, pinnately parted; segments toothed or nearly entire, nearly covered beneath with the very large thin imbricate indusia, which are orbicular with a narrow sinus, the margin ragged and sparingly glanduliferous, (/Ve- FILICES. 115 phrodium fragrans Rich.) New England, New York to Wis- consin, and northward. tt Fronds larger, mostly 2°—4° high. A. Fronds btpinnatifid or nearly twice pinnate; industa large, thinnish and flat, 16. D. Floridana (Hook.) Ktze. Stipes 6’—10' long, spar- ingly clothed with ovate scales; fronds lanceolate, 18 —20’ long, 5’—8’ broad; fertile pinnz confined to the upper half of the frond, narrowly lanceolate, cut down to the narrowly winged secondary rachises into oblong, distinct pinnules; the sterile pinnz broader, shorter, and sub-deltoid below, less deeply cut. (Aspidéum Floridanum D. C. Eaton, Nephro- dium Floridanum Hook.) Florida. 17. D. cristata (L.) Gray. Fronds linear or lanceolate in outline, 1°—2° long; pinne short, 2’—3' long, triangular-ob- long or the lowest nearly triangular, deeply pinnatifid; seg- ments 6—1Io pairs, finely serrate or cut-toothed; sori as near the midvein as the margin; indusia smooth, naked. (4. Lan- castriense Spreng., Nephrodium cristatum Michx., Lastrea crés- tata Presl.) Canada to Arkansas. Var. Clintoniana (Eat.) Unde. Fronds much larger, 2$°—4 iong; pinnz oblong-lanceolate, broadest at base, 4’—6’ long, 1'—2' broad, deeply pinnatifid; segments 8—16 pairs, crowded or distant, linear-oblong, obscurely serrate; veins pinnately forking, bearing the sori near the midvein. New England, New York, and westward. 18. D. Goldieana (Hook.) Gray. Fronds broad, 2°—4° long; pinnz 6’—g’ long, broadest in the middle, pinnately parted ; the segments about 20 pairs, oblong-linear, sub-falcate, serrate with appressed teeth; veins bearing the sori very near the midvein ; indusia very large, orbicular with a narrow sinus. (Nephrodium Goldteanum Wook., Lastrea Goldzeana J. Sm.) Canada to Kentucky. B. Fronds mostly bipinnate ; industa convex, without mar- ginal glands. 19. D. filix-mas (L.) Schott. (MALE-FERN.) Rootstock stout; fronds in a crown, 1°—3° high, broadly oblong lanceo- late, slightly narrowed toward the base, bipinnatifid or bipin- ° 116 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. nate; pinnules oblong, smooth, polished beneath, the larger ones pinnately incised; sori large, near the midvein, commonly on the lower half or two thirds of the segment; indusia firm, smooth; rachis more or less chaffy. (Nephrodium filix-mas Rich., Lastrea filix-mas Presl.) | Canada to Colorado, Arizona, California, and Oregon. 20. D. marginalis (L.) Gray. Fronds nearly coriaceous in texture, 6'—2° long, ovate-oblong ; pinnz lanceolate, broadest just above the base; pinnules oblong or oblong-falcate, entire or crenately toothed; sori close to the margin. (Polypodium marg tnale L., Nephrodium marginale Michx., Lastrea margt- nalis J. Sm.) Northern United States and Canada. ttt Fronds bipinnate or tripinnatifid ; segments spinutlose toothed. 21. D. rigida (Hoffm.) Unde., var. arguta (Kaulf.) Unde. Rootstock short, stout ; fronds in a crown on chaffy stalks, half- evergreen, smooth above, paler and more or less glandular, be- neath, 1°—3° high, ovate-lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, bipinnate; pinnz broadly oblong-lanceolate, the lowest ones broadest, scarcely shorter than the middle ones; pinnules ob- long, incised or doubly serrate with spinulose teeth; indusia firm, convex, the edge bearing short-stalked glands. (A. argu- tum Kaulf.) California, Oregon, British Columbia. 22. D. spinulosa (L.) Ktze. Stipes with a few, pale, de- ciduous scales; fronds ovate-lanceolate, bipinnate, the pinnz oblique to the rachis, elongate-triangular, the lower pairs broadly triangular; pinnules oblique to the midrib, connected by a very narrow wing, oblong, incised, or pinnatifid with lobes spinulose toothed; indusia smooth without marginal glands. (Nephrodium spinulosum Desv., Lastrea spinulosa Presl.) Canada and Northern United States. Var. intermedia (Willd.) Unde. Scales of the stipes brown with a darker centre; fronds oblong-ovate, bi—tripinnate ; pinnz: spreading, oblong-lanceolate, the lowest unequally tri- angular-ovate; pinnules crowded, pinnately divided; margin of indusium denticulate and beset with stalked glands. (A. zx- termedium Willd., A. Americanum Dav.) Canada to Tennes- see. Var, dilatata (Hoffm.) Unde, Scales of stipes large, FILICES. 117 brown with a darker centre; fronds broadly ovate or triangular- ovate, oftenest tripinnate; pinnules lance-oblong, the lowest often much elongated; indusia smooth and naked. (A. dzla- tatum Swz., A. campylopterum Kunze., Nephrodium adilatatum Desv., Lastrea dzlatata J. Sm.) A dwarf form is var. dume- forum. Canada and New England to Oregon. 23. D. Boottii (Tuck.) Unde. Scales of stipes pale brown; fronds elongate oblong or elongate lanceolate in outline; pin- nules broadly oblong, very obtuse, the lower pinnatifid, the upper and smaller merely serrate; indusia minutely glandular. (A. spinulosum, var. Boottéz Gray.) New England, New York, and northward. 24. D. patula (Swz.) Unde. Stipes 8’—12’ long, stra- mineous, scaly at base; fronds pale green, 1°—2° long, 6’—12’ broad, ovate-lanceolate; pinnz lanceolate or the lower sub- deltoid ; rachis and both surfaces naked ; sori in rows midway between edge and midrib; indusium conspicuous, naked. (/Ve- phrodium patulum Baker, N. Mexicanum Hook. Distributed by Lemmon as A. Karwinskyanum.) Huachuca Mountains, Arizona (Lemmon). XXI. NEPHROLEPIS Schott. Sori round, arising from the apex of the upper branch of a vein, usually near the margin. Indusia reniform or roundish. Veins all free, the fronds simply pinnate, the pinne articulated at the base, and bearing white cretaceous dots on the upper surface, Name from Gr. ve@pws, a kidney, and Aez7s, a scale. A tropical and sub-tropical genus containing seven species. I. N. exaltata (L.) Schott. Stipes 4’—6' long, naked or slightly scaly; fronds 1°—6° long, 3'--6' broad; pinne close, lanceolate, the edge entire or slightly crenate, the upper side auricled at the base, the lower rounded; rachis nearly naked ; sori sub-marginal; indusia firm, distinctly reniform. Florida; frequent in cultivation. 2. N. acuta (Swz.) Presl. Stipes 4’—8' long, naked or slightly scaly; fronds 2°—4° long, 8’—12' broad; pinnz 4’—8’ long, $’—1' broad, acute, entire or slightly crenate, the upper side auricled, the lower rounded at base; rachis and both sides nearly naked; sori submarginal; indusia suborbicular, subpel- 118. OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES tate. South bank of Miami River, Florida. March, 1887 (Holden). XXII. CYSTOPTERIS Bernh. BLADDER-FERN. Sori roundish, borne on the back of the veins. Indusium delicate, hood-like, or arched, attached by a broad base on the inner side partly under the sorus, early opening, free at the other side, and thrown back or withering away. Veins free. Name from Gr. kvoris, a bladder, and zrepis, a fern, alluding to the in- flated indusia. Found in the temperate zones of both hemis- pheres ; contains five species. * Fronds ovate-lanceolate, bt—tripinnate. 1. C. bulbifera (L.) Bernh. Stipes 4’—6' long; fronds lan- ceolate, elongate, 1°—2° long, bi—tripinnatifid, pinnae lanceo- late-oblong; ;innules crowded, toothed or pinnatifid; rachis wingless, often bearing bulblets underneath; indusia short, truncate on the free side. (Aspidium bulbiferum Swz., Ne- phrodium bulbiferum Michx.) New England to Virginia and North Carolina. 2. C. fragilis (L.) Bernh. Fronds oblong-lanceolate, 4’/—8' long, 1’—24’ broad, bi—tripinnate; pinnz and pinnules lanceo- late or ovate in outline, decurrent along the margined or winged rachis ; indusia tapering or acute at the free end. Narrower, less divided specimens, barely bipinnate with obtuse and bluntly toothed pinnules form the var. dentata Hook. Like many other so-called varieties it passes insensibly into the typical form. (Aspzdéum tenue Swz.) New England to Arizona, Cali- fornia, and northward. ** Fronds deltotd-ovate, trt—quadripinnate. 3. C. montana (Lam.) Bernh. Rootstock slender, creeping ; stipes 6’—9’ long, slender; fronds about 6’ each way; lowest pinne deltoid-lanceolate, much larger than those above, their inferior pinnules 1’—1}’ long; segments cut to the rachis into oblong lobes, deeply and sharply toothed; sori numerous. Colorado (&randegee), north shore of Lake Superior, Labrader (Butler), Mt. Albert, Gaspe, Quebec, and northward to Alaska. FILICES. 119 XXIII. ONOCLEA L. Sori round, borne on the back of the veins of the contracted fertile frond, and quite concealed by their revolute margins. Indusium very thin membranous, hemispheric or hood-like, fixed at the inferior side of the sorus. Fronds conspicuously dimorphous. Name from Gr. ovos,a vessel, and «1evezr, to close, alluding to the fertile fronds. A cold temperate genus contain- ing three species. $1. EvONOCLEA. Vezns of sterile frond copiously anasto- MOSiNg. 1. O.sensibilis L. (SENSITIVE-FERN.) Fertile fronds bi- pinnate, much contracted ; pinnules short, usually rolled up and converted into berry-shaped closed involucres, and forming a one-sided panicle; sterile fronds broadly triangular, deeply pin- natifid into lanceolate-oblong pinnz, which are entire, undulate, or the lowest pair sinuate pinnatifid; veins copiously anasto- mosing. In var. obtusélobata Torr. the sterile fronds are again pinnatifid, more or less contracted and revolute, and bear a few sori. New England to Florida and Kansas. § 2. STRUTHIOPTERIS Willd. Vezns all free. 2. O. struthiopteris (L.) Hoffm. (OSTRICH FERN.) Fertile fronds 1°—14° long, simply pinnate with necklace-shaped pinnz formed of the strongly revolute margins; sterile fronds 2°—6° long, growing in a crown, broadly lanceolate, bipinnatifid, the lowest pinnze gradually much shorter; veins pinnate, free and simple; sori crowded and confluent. Sterile fronds are some- times partially contracted and bear sori analogous to var. obtustlobata above. (O. Germanica Willd., O. nodulosa Michx., Struthiopterts Pennsylvanica Willd., S. Germanica Willd., Osmunda struthiopterzs L.) New England to Illinois. XXIV. WOODSIA R. Br. Sori round, borne on the back of simply forked free veins. Indusium inferior, thin and often evanescent, either small and open, or early bursting at the top into irregular pieces or lobes. Named for Yoseph Woods, an English botanist. A genus of high temperate or boreal latitudes including 15 species. §1. Euwoopsia. J/udustum minute or evanescent, open and 120 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. fiat from an early stage, concealed under the sorus, tts margin cleft into slender hatrs or cilia. * Stipes obscurely jointed near the base; cilia of the indusium long, infiexed over the sporangia. + Fronds thickly clothed underneath with rusty bristle-like C. haf. I. W. Ilvensis (L.). R. Br. Fronds broadly lanceolate, smoothish above, pinnate; pinnz crowded, sessile, pinnately- parted, the crowded segments oblong, obscurely crenate; sori near the margin, somewhat confluent when old. (W. rufidula Beck., Acrostichum Ilvense L., Polypodium TIlvense Swz., Ne- phrodium rufidulum Michx., Aspidium rufidulum Willd.) Vir- ginia to Kentucky, westward and northward. tt Fronds glabrous or nearly so. 2. W. alpina (Bolt.) S. F. Gray. Stipes and rachis often slightly hairy; fronds linear-lanceolate, pinnate; pinnze corda- to-ovate, pinnatifid with few (5—7) broadly obovate entire lobes. Vermont, New York, and northwestward. (W. hyferborea R.Br.) 3. W. glabella R. Br. Smooth and naked throughout; fronds linear, tapering slightly below, 2'—5' high, pinnate; pinne deltoid or ovate, the lower rather remote, cut into 3—7 rounded or subcuneate entire lobes. Vermont, New York, and northward. ** Stipes not jointed ; cilia of the tndustum very short, hid- den by the sporangia. 4. W. scopulina D. C. Eaton. Rootstock short, creep- ing, very chaffy ; stipes 2’—4' long, puberulent like the rachis and under surface of the frond with minute flattened hairs and stalked glands; fronds lanceolate, 4’—8' long, pinnate; pinnz numerous, oblong-ovate, pinnatifid with 1o—16 short ovate or oblong toothed divisions; indusia very delicate, deeply cleft into laciniz which terminate in short hairs. Colorado, Ari- zona, California, Oregon, and northward. 5. W. Oregana D.C. Eaton. Stipes and fronds smooth; fertile fronds taller than the sterile ones; pinnee triangular-ob- long, pinnatifid ; segments oblong or ovate, toothed or crenate; teeth often reflexed and covering the submarginal sori; indusia HILICES. 121 very minute, divided almost to the centre into a few beaded hairs. Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, and northward. 6. W. Mexicana Fee. Stipes 2’—3' long, smoothish or with a few scattered scales; fronds 3'—9g' long, lanceolate ; pinnz sub-opposite, triangular-lanceolate, pinnately divided into finely-toothed segments, the teeth in young fronds ending in delicate, semi-transparent, ciliated tips; sori near the mar- gin, broad, confluent ; receptacles dot-like, scales of indusium four, laciniate, narrow, dividing at the end into articulated hairs; sporangia nearly sessile. Arizona, New Mexico. $2. HYPOPELTIS Torr. J/udustum conspicuous, at first en- closing the sporangtum, but early opening at the top and splitting into several spreading jagged lobes. 7. W. obtusa (Spreng.) Torr, Stipes 3'—6' long; fronds broadly lanceolate, minutely glandular-hairy, 6'—12’ high, nearly bipinnate; pinne rather remote, triangular-ovate or ob- long, pinnately parted; segments oblong, obtuse, crenately toothed, the lower ones pinnatifid ; veins forked. (W. Perrzn- zana H. & G., Asfidium obtusum Willd., Checlanthes crenata Kunze, Hypopeltzs obtusa Torr.) Smaller and more glandular forms are var. glandulosa Eaton (W. Plunmere Lemmon). New England to Kentucky, Kansas, and Arizona. XXV. DICKSONIA L’Her. Sori small, globular, marginal or intra-marginal. Sporangia borne in an elevated, globular receptacle, enclosed in a mem- branous, cup-shaped indusium, which is open at the top, and on the outer side partly adherent to a reflexed toothlet of the frond. Named for Fames Dickson, an English botanist, 1738- 1822. Includes about 50 species, more than half of which are arborescent. § SITOLOBIUM J. Sm. I. D. punctilobula (Michx.) Gray. Rootstock slender, creeping, naked; stipes stout, chaffless; fronds 1°—2}° long, 5'—9’' broad, ovate-lanceolate and pointed, usually tripinnatifid ; pinnz lanceolate, pointed ; pinnules cut into oblong and ob- tuse cut-toothed lobes; rachis and under surface minutely glandular and hairy; sori minute, each on a recurved toothlet, usually one at the upper margin of each lobe. (D. punctéloba 122 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. Hook., D. pilostuscula Willd. Nephrodium punctilobulum Michx., Aspzdzum punctilobulum Torr.) Canada to Tennessee. XXVI. TRICHOMANES Sm. FILMyY-FERN. Sori marginal, terminating a vein, more or less sunken in the frond. Sporangia sessile on the lower part of a cylindrical, filiform, often elongated receptacle. Indusia tubular or funnel- shaped, entire or two-lipped at the mouth. Fronds delicate, pellucid. Name from Gr. rpzyouaves, the name of some fern, from tpzx, hair, and “atvouar, producing frenzy, aliuding to some supposed property. A tropical and temperate genus con- taining nearly 100 species. § EUTRICHOMANES. I. T. Petersii Gray. Stipes 1’—2" long; fronds 3'"—10" long, 1'—2" broad, oblong-lanceolate or obovate, entire or vari- ously pinnatifid, the younger ones with a few black hairs along the margins; indusium solitary, terminal, funnel-shaped, the mouth expanded and slightly two-lipped, the receptacle in- cluded. Winston County, Alabama (Peers). 2. T. radicans Swz. Rootstock wiry, tomentose; stipes ascending, 1'—3' long, naked or nearly so, usually broadly winged; fronds 2’—8' long, 1’—1}' wide, lanceolate or ovate- lanceolate, bipinnatifid ; pinnae ovate, obtuse, the upper side of the base parallel and appressed to the winged rachis, the lower side cuneate ; divisions toothed or divided into linear lobes; indusia terminal on short lobes, tubular or funnel-shaped, the mouth slightly two-lipped; receptacle exserted little or very much, (7. sfecéosum Willd.) Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky. XXVII. LYGODIUM Swz. CLIMBING-FERN. Sporangia ovoid, solitary or occasionally in pairs, in the axils of large imbricated scale-like indusia, which are fixed by their broad bases to short oblique veinlets. Fronds scandent, twining, bearing stalked and variously lobed divisions in pairs. Veins mostly free. Name from Gr. Avy #dys, flexible, alluding to the scandent stems. Includes 16 species. § EULYGODIUM. I. L. palmatum (Bernh.) Swz. Stipes slender, twin- ing; fronds 1°—3° long, the short alternate branches or peti- FILICES. 123 oles 2-forked, each fork bearing a round-cordate palmately 4—7 lobed pinnule; fertile pinnules above, contracted, several times forked, forming a terminal panicle ; surfaces naked ; text- ure thinly herbaceous. (Aydroglossum palmatum Willd.) Mas- sachusetts and New York to Kentucky and Florida. XXVIII. ANEMIA Swz. Sporangia ovate, sessile, placed in two rows on the back of the very narrow branchlets of the two long-stalked, panicled, iower branches of a pinnately divided frond, the fertile branches in a few species entirely distinct from the sterile frond. Veins free or anastomosing. Name from Gr. @evéuorv, naked. A small genus chiefly from tropical America, containing 27 species. § EUANEMIA. I. A. adiantifolia (L.) Swz. Rootstock creeping; stipes 14° long, firm, naked; fronds sparingly pubescent, the two lower branches elongate, pinnately decompound, fertile; ster- ile portion deltoid-ovate, bi—tripinnate ; ultimate segments ob- ovate or cuneate, entire or lobed, striate above with numerous flabellate veins. Florida. 2. A. Mexicana Klotzsch. Rootstock creeping, covered with narrow blackish chaff; stipes slender, scattered, 6’—12' long ; the two lower branches of the frond fertile, long-stalked, glandular, bipinnate with densely clustered fructification; the rest of the frond like the sterile ones, deltoid-ovate, simply pin- nate; pinne about six pairs and a rather large terminal one, short-stalked, ovate-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, smooth and somewhat glossy; midrib distinct, veins free, oblique, parallel, closely placed, once or twice forked. Western Texas. XXIX. SCHIZAA Sm. Sporangia large, ovoid, striate rayed at the apex, naked, ver- tically sessile in a double row along the single vein of the nar- row divisions of the fertile appendages to the slender and sim- piy linear, fan-shaped, or dichotomously many-cleft fronds. Name from Gr. ox£ezv, to split, alluding to the forked sterile fronds of foreign species. Includes 16 species. §$ EUSCHIZA. I. S. pusilla Pursh. Sterile fronds linear, very slender, flattened and tortuous; fertile ones equally slender, 3’—4' high, 124 OUR NA TIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. and bearing at top the fertile appendage consisting of about hve pairs of crowded pinnz, forming a distichous spike. New Jer- sey; Grand Lake, Nova Scotia (A/¢ss Kuzght); Newfoundiand (De la Pylaze). XXX. OSMUNDA L. FLOWERING-FERN. Fertile fronds or fertile portions very much contracted, bearing short-pedicelled, naked sporangia on the margin of the rachis-like. divisions. Sporangia large, globular, opening bya longitudinal cleft into two halves, bearing near the apex a few parallel striz, the rudiment of a transverse ring. Spores green. Named for Osmunder, a Saxon name for the divinity Thor. A genus containing six species mostly north temperate. * Fronds bipinnate, fertile at the apex. I. O. regalis L. Stipes tufted, 1’—1}° long, erect, naked ; fronds 2°—4° long, 1° or more broad ; sterile pinnae 6’—12’ long, 2—4' broad ; pinnules oblong-ovate to lance-oblong, sessile or slightly stalked ; the fertile pinnules cylindrical, panicled ; tex- ture subcoriaceous; rachis and both sides naked. (O. sfecta- bil’s Willd., O. glaucescens Link.) Canada to Florida and Mis- SISSIppi. ** Stertle fronds bipennatefid. 2. O. Claytoniana L. Stipes tufted, 1° or more long, clothed with loose woolly tomentum when young, naked when mature; fronds 1°—2° long, 8’—12’ broad; pinnz oblong-lan- ceolate with oblong, obtuse divisions; 2—5 pairs of central pinnz fertile fertile pinnules dense, cylindrical ; texture her- baceous. (O. zuterrupta Michx.) Canada to Kentucky, and northward. 3. O. cinnamomea L. (CINNAMON-FERN.) Stipes dense- ly tufted, 1° or more long, the sterile and fertile fronds dis- tinct, clothed when young with ferruginous tomentum; sterile fronds smooth when mature, the pinnz bearing a tuft of tomen- tum at the base beneath, lanceolate, cut into broadly oblong, obtuse divisions ; fertile fronds contracted, bipinnate, with cin- namon-colored sporangia. In var. frondosa Gray, some of the fronds are sterile below, and sparsely fertile at the summit. (O. Claytoniana Conrad.) New England and Wisconsin to Florida, MARSILEACEA. 125 ORDER II. MARSILEACE R. Br. Perennial plants rooted in mud, with a slender creeping rootstock and either filiform or 4-parted, long-petioled leaves. Fructification consisting of sporocarps borne on peduncles, which rise from the rootstock near the leaf-stalk or consolidated with it and containing both macrospores and microspores. Con- sisting of two genera both found in this country. ai I. Marsilea L. Sporocarps ovoid ; leaves quadrifoliate. II. Pilularia L. Sporocarps globose ; leaves filiform. I. MARSILEA L. Sporocarps ovoid or bean-shaped, composed of two vertical valves having several transverse compartments or sori in each valve, the sori composed of both macrosporangia and micro- sporangia. Sporocarps also provided with a ring which at the opening of the valves swells and tears the sori from their posi- tion. Leaves quadrifoliate on slender petioles ; the sporocarps peduncled and rising from the petiole or from the rootstock at the base of the petiole. Named for A/oyszus Marszl7, an early Italian naturalist. Contains about 40 species, four occurring within our limits. * Shorocarps 2—6 on each peduncle. I. M. quadrifolia L. Plant usually slender, 5—12 cm. high ; leaflets variable, 4—14 mm. wide, 5—15 mm. long, mar- gins entire, smooth, or rarely with scattered hairs when young : sporocarps 2 (rarely 3) on a branching peduncle, which is usu- ally attached to the stipe near its base, but sometimes as much as 2cm. above; young sporocarp with short yellowish-brown hairs, later becoming naked and dark purple; lower tooth ob- tuse, upper small, acute or obtuse; sori, 8 or g in each valve. Bantam Lake, Litchfield County, Connecticut (Dr. 7. F. Allen), from whence it has been cultivated in several localities. 2. M. macropoda Engelm. Plant robust, 10o—25 cm. high ; leaflets large, 2—5 cm. long, 2 cm. wide or less, usually undulate, clothed with white hairs on both sides when young, becoming smoother with age ; sporocarps 2—6, on erect branch- ing peduncles, ascending, densely villose, 6—8 mm. long, 5-6 mm. wide; raphe short, the Jower tooth obtuse, the upper ip- 126 QUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. conspicuous or wanting; sori, 10 in each valve. (J/. macropus A. Br.) Texas, New Mexico. ** Shorocarps 1 (rarely 2) on each peduncle. 3. M. uncinata A. Br. Plant 6—20 cm. high; leaflets nearly smooth, entire, 1o—16 mm. long ; sporocarps 6 mm. wide, 8 mm. long; peduncles 15—30 mm. long, 2—4 times the length of the sporocarps; raphe long, terminating in two approximate teeth, the upper longer and mostly uncinately curved; sori, 13—1I4 in each valve. Western Louisiana (//a/e), Dallas, Texas (Reverchon). 4. M. vestita Hook. & Grev. Plant 3—6 cm. high; leaf- lets entire or slightly toothed ; sporocarps 4—7 mm. long, 3—5 mm. wide; raphe short, lower tooth short and blunt, the upper acute, a little longer, sometimes curved; palee varying from soft, dense and spreading to short and appressed, in mucronata forms, where it is sometimes wanting; sori, 6-—11 in each valve, avery variable species. (Includes J/. mucronata A. Br.) Ar- kansas (Vuftal/), Kansas (Watson), Texas, Arizona (Lemmon), California, Nevada (Watson), Oregon (f/a//), Washington, Mon- tana Watson), Dakota (Vzcollet), Florida (Underwood) Var. tenuifolia (Engelm.) Unde. & Cook. Plant slender, 5—15 cm. high; leaflets narrow (2—4 mm. wide), more or less falcate, the apex often somewhat truncate and unequally toothed, villose with appressed hairs; sporocarps single, 5-—8 mm. long, 4—5 mm. wide, the teeth divergent, subequal ; sori, g—II in each valve. (MZ. fenuzfolia Engelm. and former edition.) Pierdenales, Texas (Lzudhezmer), Western Texas (Wright). il. PILULARIA L. PILLWworT. Sporocarps globose, longitudinally 2—4 celled, dehiscent from the apex; cells with parietal cushions bearing in the upper por- tion microsporangia and below these numerous macrosporangia containing solitary macrospores. Leaves filiform from a slender creeping rootstock, the sporocarps subsessile or peduncled or in the axils of the leaves. Named from Lat. pz/zla, a pellet. Includes six species widely distributed. 1. P. Americana A. Br. Leaves setiform, 1’ long; sporo- carps I’ in diameter, attached by the side to a short, descend- SALVINIACE AE. 127, ing peduncle, 3—4-celled; macrospores 13—17 in each cell, not constricted in the middle. Santa Barbara, California (Urs. Cooper), Arkansas (uttall), Oregon (Lezberg). ORDER Ill. SALVINIACEZ:. Floating plants with a more or less elongate and sometimes branching axis bearing apparently distichous leaves. Sporo- carps soft, thin-walled, two or more on a common stalk, 1-celled, with a central, often branched receptacle which bears macro- sporangia containing a single macrospore, or microsporangia containing numerous microspores. Consists of the two follow- ing genera. I. Salvinia Schreb. Leaves 6’—g" long, with a distinct midrib, II, Azolla Lam. Leaves minute, numerous, closely imbri- cate, deeply lobed. I. SALVINIA Schreb. Floating annuals with slender stems bearing small two- ranked leaves. Sporocarps arranged in clusters, globose, mem- branous, 1—2 of each cluster containing 10 or more macro- sporangia, the others containing numerous smaller microspo- rangia. Named for Sa/vznz,a Florentine professor. Contains thirteen species, one of which is found with us. I. S.natans Hoffm. Leaves oblong, horizontal, rounded or slightly cordate at base, $’—1' long, bright green above, the under surface matted with brown, pellucid hairs; sporocarps 4—8 in a cluster. (Warsz/za natans L.) Bois Brulé Bottoms, Perry County, Missouri (Demefrzo.) Reported by Pursh from Central New York; the exact station unknown, Il AZOLLA Lam. Small, moss-like plants with pinnately branched stems cov- ered with minute, imbricate, 2-lobed leaves, and emitting rootlets beneath. Sporocarps of two kinds, borne in the axils of the leaves. Smaller sporocarps ovoid, containing a single macro- spore at the base. Larger sporocarps globose, producing from the base many pedicelled sporangia, containing several masses 128 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. of microspores. Named from Gr. &éezv, to dry, and oAAvpaz, to destroy. Includes five species. I. A. Caroliniana Willd, Plants 3’/—1’ long, reddish or greenish; cuticle of macrospores finely granulate; masses of mi- crospores with rigid septate processes. New York to Florida, Arizona and Oregon. 2. A. filiculoides Lam, Fronds 1'—2’ long, often erect- crowded ; cuticle of macrospores with large discoid tubercles; masses of microspores with rigid processes without septa. La Honda, California, and possibly widely distributed in that state. ORDER IV. OPHIOGLOSSACEZ: Lindl. Plant-body consisting of stem and leaf, usually from a-fleshy, sometimes bulbous root, straight or inclined in vernation. Sporangia formed of the interior tissue of the frond, spiked or panicled, naked, not reticulated, destitute of a ring, opening by a transverse slit into two valves discharging copious sulphur- colored spores. Prothallium (so far as known) subterranean, not green, monoecious. Contains three genera. I. Ophioglossum L. Sporangia cohering in one or more simple spikes. Veins reticulate. II. Botrychium Swz. Sporangia in pinnate or compound spikes or panicles. Veins free. I. OPHIOGLOSSUM L. Apper-TONGUE. Sporangia large, coriaceous, connate, coherent in two ranks on the edges of a simple spike. Veins anastomosing. Spores copious, sulphur-yellow. Name from Gr. o@us, a serpent, and yAoooa, a tongue. Includes ten species, four in our limits. $1. EUOPHIOGLOSsUM. Fertile spike single, arising from the base of the sterile segment. * Sterile portion near the middle of the stalk. I. O. vulgatum L. Rootstock short, oblique ; stalk 6'—12' high, the sterile segment ovate or elliptical-oblong, 13’—4' long, somewhat fleshy, somewhat narrowed at the base, sessile; fer- tile spike 1’ or more long. (O. Exgelmannz Prantl.) Maine to Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Arizona to Alaska. ** Sterile portion near the base of the stalks. 2, O. crotalophoroides Walt. Rootstock tuberous, 3'"—5" OPHIOGLOSSACE A. 129 thick; stalk 3—6’' high, the sterile segment }'—1’ long, ovate, slightly petioled, the veins somewhat indistinct; fertile spike short and thick, 3'—6" long. (Q. dulbosum Michx., O. vulgatum, var. crotalophorotdes D. C. Eaton.) Florida to Texas. 3. O. nudicaule Linn. f. Rootstock slightly tuberous; stalk 1'—4' high, the sterile segment 4’/—1}' long, ovate or ob- long, the veins indistinct; fertile spike linear-acuminate, 6” long, the peduncle very slender. (O. ellzptzcum H. and G., O. Caléfornicum Prantl, O. vulgatum, var. nudicaule D. C. Eaton.) Georgia and Florida to Southern California. § 2. CHEIROGLOSSA Presl. Jf ertzle spikes several, arising from the base of the sterile segment. 4. O. palmatum Plumier. Rootstock fleshy, tuberous, covered with fine wool-like chaff; plant fleshy, 6—2° high, the sterile segment cuneate at the base, 2—6 lobed or rarely entire, the lobes elongate and tapering; fertile spikes 1—8 or more, borne on the sides of the stipe just below the sterile segment or on its margin. Florida. II. BOTRYCHIUM Swz. GRAPE-FERN. Rootstock very short, erect, with clustered fleshy roots, the bud for the next year’s growth usually imbedded in the base of the stipe. Sterile segment of frond pinnately or ternately di- vided or compound. Fertile segment 1—3 pinnate with double rows of sessile, naked sporangia. Veins free. Spores copious, sulphur-yellow. Name from Gr. forpus, a bunch of grapes, alluding to the clustered sporangia. Contains ten species, of which seven are found in our limits. § 1. EUBOTRYCHIUM. Sud enclosed tn the base of the stalk. * Vernation wholly straight. I. B. simplex Hitch. Plant 2’—7’ high, fleshy ; sterile segment stalked, varying in inser- tion from near the rootstock to two thirds the height of the stem, ovate, obovate or oblong, entire, incised, or pinnately parted into I-—3 pairs of roundish or semi-lunate lobes; fertile spike long-stalked, simple or I-—2 pinnate; | Fic. 31—Verna- spores the largest of the genus, closely cov- ee ae ered with small points; bud smooth; apex of PEN e net) both sterile and fertile segments erect. (Fig. 31.) Specimens 9 130 OUR NA TIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. with the sterile segment composed of two or three pinnately incised divisions form the var. composttum Lasch. New Eng- land, New York and. northward, the variety in Wyoming and. California; Maryland (/. B. Egerton). ** Vernation partly inclined in one or both portions. + Buds smooth ,; stercle segments sesstle or short-stalked; plant small, fructing tn early summer. 2, B. lunaria (L.) Swz, (MooNworr.) Plant 5’—8’ high fleshy ; sterile segment nearly sessile, borne near the middle of the stalk, oblong, simply pinnate with 5—1r5 lunate or fan-shaped lobes which are crenate, incised, or entire, close and overlapping, or distant ; fertile segment bi—tripinnate, pan- icled, about the height of the sterile. Apex only of sterile segment bent over and outside of the nearly straight fertile segment in vernation ; divisions of sterile frond arranged nearly perpen- dicularly. (Fig. 32.) Connecticut, New York, Lake Superior, Colorado, and British Columbia. 3. B. boreale (Fries) Milde. Plant 2}’--7’, smooth, fleshy; sterile segment placed above the ! middle, sessile, cordate, ovate or deltoid, pin- Fic. 32.—Verna- nately parted, acute; lowest segment spreading poet a? trom a marrower base. (ovatel oe cordate-ovate, enport.) acute, all entire, or here and there flabellately incised with acute lobes, or pinnately parted ; secondary seg- ments from a narrowed base, ovate, acute, serrate, the upper spreading, quickly decreasing, finally elliptical, acute; fertile segment bi—tripinnate, panicled. Apex of sterile segment bent over inside of the nearly erect fertile one in vernation; divisions of the sterile segment arranged on an angle. Una- laska. 4. B. matricarizfolium A. Br. Plant 2’—12' high, usually fleshy ; sterile segment placed above the middle, short-stalked or sessile, ovate or oblong, pinnately parted into ovate-oblong, obtuse, rounded, entire, incised, pinnatifid, or pinnately parted segments, the narrow divisions linear; fertile segment 1—3 pin- nate, panicled, often very much branched; spores thickly cov- ered with large rounded warts. Apex of both segments turned OPHIOGLOSSACE#. 131 down in vernation; sterile segment clasping the fertile with its apex overlapping the whole. (Fig. 33.) (B. neglec- tum Wood.) New England, New York, Ohio, and Mt. Peddo, Washington (Swksdor/). tt Buds pilose; stertle segments usually long- stalked; plant larger, fruiting tn autumn. 5. B.ternatum (Thunb.)Swz. Frond fleshy, common stalk very short; sterile segment broadly pentagonal or triangular, ternate; the three primary divisions also stalked, as broad as long, pinnately decompound ; ultimate divi- sions varying from round-reniform to triangu- lar-lanceolate, entire or variously toothed and incised ; fertile segment long-stalked, bi—quad- ripinnate. Apex of both segments bent down, with a slight curve inward in vernation. (Fig. 34.) (B. australe R. Br. B. linardoides Swz., B. fumartoides Willd., 2. decompositum Mart. and Gale., Osmunda ternata Thunb., Lotrypus funartotdes Michx.) Very variable; larger 5, syerna forms (6’—17' high), with more compound fruc- ee ee tification and with divisions of sterile segment ob- (After Davenport.) long or lanceolate and obtuse or oblique at base, are the var. odl7guum Milde; forms with divi- sions of the sterile segment laciniately cut into narrow teeth are var. dzssectum Milde. New England and Canada, westward to California, Washington, British Columbia, and southward to Florida. **k* Vernation wholly tnclined, in the fertile segment recurved. 6. B. lanceolatum (Gmel.) Angs. Plant 3—9 high, fleshy; sterile segment closely sessile at the top of a long common stalk, in the smallest forms three-lobed, in larger ones broadly triangular, twice pinnatifid, the divi- Fic. 34.—Vernation .. i ; CMa Of B tepnaiun Swz, sions lanceolate; entire or toothed, all set at an (After Davenport.) Oblique angle; fertile segment short-stalked, slightly overtopping the sterile, bi—tripinnate. Bud smooth; 132 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. the fertile segment recurved its whole length, the shorter sterile segment reclined upon it. (Fig. 35.) New England to Lake Superior and Colorado to Alaska. § 2. OSMUNDOPTERIS Milde. Bud fPilose, enclosed in a smooth upright cavity at one side of the lower part of the stalk. 7. B. Virginianum (L.) Swz. (RATTLE- SNAKE-FERN.) Plant from a few inches to two feet high; sterile segment sessile above the mid- dle of the stalk, broadly triangular, thinly herba- ceous, ternate; the short-stalked primary divi- sions once to twice pinnate, then once or twice pinnatifid; lobes oblong, cut-toothed toward the apex; fertile segment long-stalked, bi—tri- pinnate. Bud pilose, enclosed in a smooth Fic. 35.—Vernation Upright cavity at one side of the lower part of ee Anam the stalk; fertile segment recurved its whole port.) length, the longer sterile segment reclined upon it. Reduced forms are &. graczle Pursh. (Sotrypus Virginicus Michx., Osmunda Virginzana L.) New Brunswick to Florida, and westward to Arizona and the Pacific Coast. ORDER V. EQUISETACEZ DE: Plant-body rush-like, often branched, with jointed, usually hollow stems rising from subterranean rootstocks, the sterile leaves reduced to sheaths at the joints, the fertile forming a short spike terminating the stem. Prothallium above ground, green, variously lobed, usually dicecious. Represented at pres- ent by only one genus. I EQUISETUM L. HorsE-TAIL. SCOURING-RUSH. Perennial plants with extensively creeping rootstocks. Stems simple or branched, furrowed lengthwise, hollow, and pro- vided with an outer circle of smaller cavities opposite the fur- rows as well as a second and smaller series opposite the ridges, Sporangia adhering to the under side of the shield-shaped scales of the spike, one-celled, opening down the inner side. Spores furnished with two slender filaments attached by the EQUISETACE. 133 middle. Name from Lat. eguus, horse, and seta, a bristle. Contains about 25 species, widely distributed. § 1. EUEQUISETUM. Stems annual, stomata scattered. * Stems of two kinds, the pale or brownzsh fertile stems appearing earlier than the herbaceous stertle ones ; fruiting in spring. + Furtzle stems simple, soon withering. I. E.arvense L. (HORSETAIL.) Sterile stems green, rather slender, 1°—2° high, 6—19 furrowed ; branches numerous, long, mostly simple, 4-angled, minutely roughened, lowest joint commonly longer than the sheath of the stem; fertile stems 4'—10' high, light brown, the loose scarious sheath mostly dis- tant, whitish, ending in about 12 brown acuminate teeth; spike rarely over 1’ long. (£. doreale Bong.) Virginia to California and northward to Greenland. 2. E. telmateia Ehrh. Sterile stems ivory white or greenish, stout, 2°—6° high, 20—4o0 furrowed; branches very numerous, erect-spreading, simple, 4—5 angled, the ridges rough and sul- cate, the lowest joint shorter than the sheath of the stem; fer- tilestems 10 —15' high, white, many-furrowed, the loose brown- ish sheaths elongate, deeply 20—30 toothed. (£. fluviatzle Sm., £. eburneum Schreb., E. maximum Auct. not of Lam.) California, Oregon, and northward. tt Fertzle stems when older producing herbaceous branches, only the naked apex withering. 3. E. pratense Ehrh. Sterile and finally the fertile stems producing straight, simple branches; sheaths of the stem with about I1 short, ovate-lanceolate teeth, those of the branches 3- toothed. (4. umbrosum Willd., E. triguetrum Bory., E. Drum mondzé Hook.) Michigan, Wisconsin, and northward. 4. E. silvaticum-L. Sterile and fertile stems usually 12- furrowed, producing compound branches, the branchlets curved downward ; sheaths loose, those of the stem with 8—14 bluntish teeth, those of the branches with 4—5, and of the branchlets with 3 divergent teeth. Virginia to Michigan, and northward to Labrador. ** Stems- of one kind, herbaceous; branches simple or none; Srutting tn summer. + Sheaths somewhat loose. 134 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 5. E. palustre L. Stems slender, 10-—18' high, very deep- ly 5—9 grooved, the grooves separated by narrow, wing like ridges, roughish; sheaths with about 8 lance-awl-shaped, whit- ish margined teeth; branches few in a whorl, with mostly 5- toothed sheaths. (4. pratense Reichenb.) Western New York and Wisconsin to British Columbia and northward. 6. E. litorale Kuhl. Stems slightly roughened, 6—19 grooved, the carinz convex ; sheaths sensibly dilated above, the uppermost bell-shaped; leaves convex, angled beneath, sepa- rate at the commisural groove; teeth herbaceous, membranous at the margin, narrow, lanceolate; branches of two kinds, the 4-angled hollow, the 3-angled solid, first joint a little longer or shorter than the sheath of the stem; spores abortive, elaters usually wanting. Bay of Quinte, Canada (J/acoun); Vermont (Pringle); Oswego River, New York ( W