AY S TT J Rew Pork HState College of Agriculture At Cornell University Dthaca, R. B. Library ue University Library QK 525. mann Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu3 1924000634281 il | mn i) PTERIDOPHYTA .-(4 ROUS er Dana.) > SD) VIFF CARBO? OUT NATIVE FERNS AND HOW TO STUDY THEM WITH Synoptical Descriptions of the North American Species Lucien M. UnpERWoop, Pu. D. Proressorn oF GEOLOGY AND Borany IN THE ILLINOIS WesLEYAN UNIVERSITY & He prayeth best who loveth best All things, both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all. COLERIDGE ILLUSTRATED BLOOMINGTON, ILL. 1881 COPYRIGHT DEC. 1880, By Toucien M. Underwood. Dedication. TO MY SISTER WHOSE WILLING ASSISTANCE AND LOVING SELF-SACRIFICE HAVE BEEN STEPPING-STONES OVER DIFFICULT PLACES, THESE PAGES ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. PREPAC E, DvurincG the past decade a department of botanical study that previously had attracted the attention of specialists only, has rapidly come into prominence among all classes of people. The interest in Ferns has become so great that in spite of peculiar difficulties in the way of study, many have acquired marked pro- ficiency in the subject, and large private collections have been accumulated. When the writer commenced the study of this interesting botanical order six years ago, as a means of recreation, during the later years of a collegiate course of study, the subject was _found to be beset with embarrassments which others have probably met in their own experience. Among the many the following may be noted: 1. The subject of cryptogamic botany is assigned’ a very subordinate position in our best school and college text-books and is often entirely omitted. The more recent text-writers are recognizing this deficiency and beginning to supply the need here indicated. 2. The great majority of teachers do not supplement the text- books by instruction in this important branch of botanical science. Not having been instructed themselves, and finding discouraging elements in the way of self-study, they are necessarily unqualified to instruct others. + 3. The descriptions of many of our native ferns are scattered through various scientific journals and rare books, usually inac- cessible to those who need them most. viii Preface. 4. As in all specialties, works treating exclusively on ferns either structurally or systematically, are rare and expensive. Previous to 1877 no work on the subject of ferns had been pub- lished in America, and to this date no manual available to students has been issued that classifies all our native species or outlines their morphology and mode of life. The design in issuing this little volume is to furnish to those desiring a better understanding of ferns the means of gaining a knowledge of their structure and life, and of readily determining the species growing spontaneously in North America north of the Mexican boundary. If the work succeeds in rendering assist- ance to any already interested in the subject, or in stimulating any to commence a systematic and scientific study of this most attrac- tive botanical order, the writer will feel abundantly repaid. In the preparation of chapters IV. and V.,Sachs’ Lehrbuch has been frequently consulted. The descriptions of our native ferns have been collected from various sources. Hooker’s Synopsis Filicum and the papers by Prof. Eaton in Gray’s Manual, Chap- man’s Flora, and “The Ferns of the Southwest ” have furnished much of the material. In Botrychium the valuable papers by George E. Davenport have furnished many additions, especially respecting the method of vernation. In addition, the original descriptions of various authors and the large private collection of the writer have been freely consulted, with the hope of making the work.in every way a satisfactory manual for identifying species. The grouping of species is in part my own, but in a few cases that of other authors has been adopted. The “ Artificial Synopsis of Genera” has cost much labor, and though in some respects is still unsatisfactory, it may be found useful for distinguishing genera. Synonyms are given only where recent changes in nomenclature have been made. No attempt has been made to popularize the language of the work at the expense of scientific accuracy, the writer fully be- lieving that if this subject or any other department of the natural Preface. ix sciences is ever studied with any satisfaction to the learner, it must be accomplished by severe and unflinching mental effort. It is hoped, however, that the language is sufficiently clear to be readily appreciated by those who are really interested in the subject. That all technical terms may be understood, a copious glossary has been prepared in connection with the index. ‘The illustrations are largely from drawings by the writer. A few have been copied from other authors, as is in each case ac- knowledged. The valuable frontispiece was secured through the kindness of Dr. James D. Dana, from his ‘ Manual of Geology.” The writer would here take occasion to express his gratitude to very many botanical correspondents and friends for material aid in the preparation of this work, either in the loan of books or specimens, or in valuable notes, suggestions and corrections. Were it not invidious to specify, a few might be mentioned to whom he feels under special obligations, L. M. U, ' Bloomington, Ill., Fanuary, 1881, Page 29. Page 49. CINE, Page 51. Page 83. MERRATA.D After Fig 3, for 7vichomjanes read Trichomanes. For Group Il—MuscInE&, read Group III.—Mus- Last line, omit the asterisk. For W. augustifolia, Sm. read W. angustifolia, Sm. ~TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. List-of Authorst« 2-4 aaa a dS a a ae we 13 IntroducttOny is.) Soe ae A AA a ee 15 CHAPTER I. Haunts, Habits and Distribution of Fern,.. 17 CHAPTER II. Morphology of the Growing Ferns, . ... 26 CHAPTER III. Fructificationin Fern, ...... 28 CHAPTER IV. Germination of Fern Spores,....... 37 CHAPTER V. Fern Structure,...........204 41 CHAPTER VI. Classification and Nomenclature of Ferns,. 45 CHAPTER VII. Howto Study Ferns, .......... 53 A Little Fern Literature... ........... 57 OUR NATIVE FERNS— A. Classification of Sub-Orders, Tribes, and Genera, 61 B. Artificial Synopsis of Genera,.......... 65 C. Classified Description of Genera and Species, . 68 List of the North American Pteridophyta, a oe) a ale 103 Glossary of Specific Names,. ......-.----- 005 105 Glossary of Technical Terms and Index,. ......... 109 ABBREVIATIONS. Greek. Latin. . Variety. Feet. . Inches. . Lines. “LIST OF AUTHORS. AIT. . . WicLiam Alton, Scotland, 1731-93. ANGS.. . . .—— ANGSTREM, Germany (?) BAKER, . Joun GILBERT BAKER, England. BERNH. . . . JOHANN JAKOB BERNHARDI, Germany, 1774-1840. ‘ Bory,. . . .JEAN Baptiste Bory DE ST. VINCENT, France, 1780-1846. ‘S A. Br. . . AL. BRAauN, Germany. R. Br. . RoperT Brown, Scotland; 1773-1858. BRONG. . . ADOLPHE BRONGIART, France, 1801-76. Cav. . . . ANTONIO JOSE CAVANILLES, Spain, 1745-1844. CHAPM. . A. W. CHapman, Apalachicola, Florida. Dav. . GEORGE E. Davenport, Medford, Mass. D.C.E. . . DANIEL C. Eaton, New Haven, Conn. DEsv. . . N. A. Desvaux, France. Equreu. . . FREDERICK EHRHART, Switzerland, 1745-95. ENGELM. GEORGE ENGELMANN, Saint Louis, Mo. FEE, . . . ANTOINE LAURENT APOLLINAIRE FEz, France, : 1789-? GRAY. . . AsA Gray, Cambridge, Mass., b. 1810. H.& A.. .Sir W. J. Hooker and G. A. WALKER-ARNOTT, England. H.& G. . ,.Sir W.J. Hooker and RoBert KANE GREVILLE, England, 1794-1866. H.B.K.. . Baron von HumsBovpt, Germany, 1769-1859; AIME BONPLAND, France, 1773-1858: and Kar SIGIs- MUND von KuNTH, Germany, 1788-1850. Hitcu. . . . Epwarp Hitrcucock, America, 1793-1864. Horrm. . . . Gzeorc F. Horrman, Germany. Hook. . . SiR WILLIAM Jackson Hooker, England, 1785- 1865. Hornem. . . JENS WILKEN, HorNEMAN, Denmark, 1770-1841. Hups.. . . . Witt14m Hupson, England, 1730-93. Kr. or KAuLF.GEorG FRIEDRICH KAuLFuss, Germany. KELLoGe. . . A. KELLoGG, San Francisco, Cal. L’HEr. LINK. LINN. F. . Our Native Ferns. . WILHELM DaNI£L Kocu, Germany, 1771-1849. KUHLEWEIN, Germany. . CARL VON LINNE (LinN&us), Sweden, 1707-78. . JEAN BAPTISTE DE MONET DE LAMARCK, France, 1744-1829. . CHARLES Louis L’HERITIER DE BRUTELLE, France, 1746-1800. . HEINRICH FRIEDRICH LINK, Gertnany, 1767-1851. . CARL Linnz&us, Sweden, 1741-83. Mart.& GALE.MARTENS and GALEOTTI. METT..... MIcHxX. ... Nutt... . PLUMIER, PRESL, PuRSH, RIcH..... RoruH, St. HILAIRE. SM... jJ.Sm... SPRENG. Swz. THUNB... . . Joun Torrey, America, 1796-1873. Torr... . WALT. WILLD. . . Dr. G. METTENNIUvS, Germany. ANDRE MicuHavx, France, 1746-1802. Tuomas NUTTALL, England, America, 1786-1859. . CHARLES PLUMIER, France, 1646-1704. . JANs SwaToPLuK PreEsL, Bohemia, 1791-1849. . FREDERICK Pursu, Germany, America, 1774-1820. Louis CLauDE MaRI& RICHARD, France, 1754-1821. . JOHANN RUDOLPH Rotu, Germany, 1815-58. AUGUSTE DE SAINT-HILAIRE, France, 1779-1853. . Str James E. Situ, England, 1759-1828. . Joun Situ, England. . Kurt SPRENGEL, Germany, 1766-1833. . OLAF SwarTZz, Sweden, 1760-1818. CaRL PETER THUNBERG, Sweden, 1743-1828. Tuomas WALTER, England, America, 1740-1800. . Kart Lupwic WILLDENow, Germany, 1765-1812. INTRODUCTION. In the entire vegetable world there are probably no forms of growth that attract more general notice than the Ferns. Delicate 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 decorations. They furnish to botanists a broad and inviting field for investigation, and he who examines their more minute structure with the micro- scope will find deeper and still more mysterious 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 in- tellect in a like degree. In olden time the obscure fructification of the common brake led to many superstitious ideas among, 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.” 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 the ‘loved disciple.’ 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 spe- cifics. Traces of their influence stiil 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- 16 Our Native Ferns. tion. The text-book is only useful 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 position in the animal kingdom we must carefully dissect a large number of specimens and study the development of the individual from its beginning. In like manner, to understand fully a fern we must search where nature has planted it, watch it as it uncoils 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 un- derstood by taking the ferns in hand and studying them in connec- tion with the text. For the first three chapters and the determina- tion 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 compound microscope with its appliances for successful investigation. Let no one imagine that the task 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 en- chanting as he seeks to determine the mysterious processes of fern development and the marvels of fern structure. OUR NATIVE FERNS. CHAPTER I. HAUNTS, HABITS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FERNS. Our outward life requires them not,— Then wherefore had they birth? To minister delight to man, To beautify the earth. —Mary Howirt. 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 flower- ing 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 observer they would scarcely be considered as bearing any resemblance to ferns what- ever. 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 fora diminutive species of sedge. A third from Alabama would, perhaps, be called a moss by the inexperienced, while a fourth, frequently found in New England, has a climbing stem and broad, palmated leaves. When we add to these peculiar forms of our own country those of foreign lands, and include the immense tree-ferns of tropical re- gions, we find our early conception ofa fern inadequate to cover this diversity of forms. Without attempting an accurate definition of a fern, let it be regarded for present purposes 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 tech- nical definition found later in the work. -3 18 Our Native Ferns. z. 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 are tufted, many fronds rising irregularly in a cluster, while still others grow in crowns or circles, the later fronds continually rising within the older ones. In the grape-ferns (Botrychium) 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 (Ozoclea), this is carried so far that the sterile and fertile fronds bear no resemblance to each other, and in one in- stance have been mistaken for different species and so described. 4. Variation—The same species will often present wide dif- ferences in the size of the fronds. This depends to some extent on the character of the soil and the ordinary climatic conditions. For example, the lady-fern (Asplenium filix-femina), which in ordi- nary 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. exile. In like manner the marginal shield-fern ° (Aspidium marginale) usually two or three feet high, is reduced to five inches when growing on rocky cliffs, and yet regularly pro-- duces fruit.* 5. In some cases there is a tendency to variation in size that cannot be referred to soil or climatic influences. The common grape-fern (Botrychium. Virginianum) 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 environ- ment. The other species of the same genus present similar vari- ations, and judging from size and external appearance alone, a regular gradation of forms might be arranged from the most di- minutive undivided forms of 2B. simplex to the largest of B. bir- ginianum, 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 (Scolopendrium) is frequently forked at the summit, * Compare Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, October, 1878. Haunts, Habits, and Distribution. 9 the walking-leaf (Camptosorus) less commonly, while the same tendency is noticed in various compound forms, as Asplenium angustifolium, Cheilanthes vestita, Pelle@a atropurpurea and others. Some of the species of Botrychium show the same tendency, es-, pecially in their fertile segments.* : 7. Time of Fruiting.—The:time of maturing fruit is.different among different species, and also varies with geographical loca- - tion and proximity to tropical climates. In:the Northern States some species produce. their fruit as early as May, and others as late as September, but the greater number are best studied in July and August. In semi-tropical climates, like Southern California and the Gulf States, the time of fruiting is often earlier, some- times occurring in February. or March. Some fronds are killed by the early frosts, while others like the Christmas-fern, are ever- green and may be gathered in midwinter. 8. Local .Distribution.—Ferns are largely dependent for suc- cessful growth on the amount of warmth, moisture and shade to which they are subjected, and we would naturally expect 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 nour- ishment, 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 the lack of 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 provi- sion 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 ! 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 re-' duced to a minimum. g. Ferns may then be sought in any of the following situations, and it will be seen that each situation has its characteristic species, * See also Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, August, 1880. 20 Our Native Ferns. 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 summer drought. E. Exposed rocky cliffs. F. Standing water. G. Growing on other plants. (Epiphytic.) 1o. In the first location mentioned above, we may find the chain-ferns ( Woodwardia), many of the spleenworts (Asplenium), a few ofthe shield-ferns (Aspidium), the flowering-ferns (Osmun- da), as well as the genera, Acrostichum, Onoclea, etc. These in- clude some of our largest and coarsest ferns. 11, In the second we find afew spleenworts, most of the shield-ferns, the beech-ferns (Phegopiteris), most of the grape- ferns (Botrychium), the maidenhair (Adiantum), the Dicksonia, and some others. In this situation we find the finest develop- ment of foliage and the greatest artistic finish among all the ferns.. 12. In uncultivated places, and on rocky hillsides, we often find the common bracken or brake (Pteris aguilina), and the lady- fern (Asplenium filix-foemina), though these are by no means con- fined to these locations, the latter growing quite frequently in moist woods, and even in cold, wet swamps. Many other ferns are found occasionally in openings of the forest or recent clear- ings, where they maintain a sickly existence, sometimes for a series of years. In such locations, ferns often become contracted, and abnormal in growth, and lose their bright green color by expo- sure to the open sunshine. 13. In moist ravines and on rocky banks, the bladder-ferns ( Cystopieris) may be found, with the peculiar walking-leaf ( Camp- tosorus), the rare hart’s-tongue (Scolopendrium),* and many of the smaller spleenworts. The long pendent fronds of Cystopteris bulbifera, add greatly to the beauty of our natural ravines, and often serve to conceal the uncouth rocks, or at least draw the at- tention to that which is more delicate and artistic. On dripping rocks, or where the sides of ravines are kept continually moist by * 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 this formation in Central New York and elsewhere, would show a wider distribution than is at present attributed to this species. Haunts, Habits, and Distribution. ar the spray of waterfalls, such delicate pellucid ferns as the filmy- fern (Zrichomanes) and Pell@a gracilis 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,vety damp ‘situations, and are pellucid and almost membranous. :Cystofieris, in somewhat drier situations is thinly herbaceous, : while Asple- nium Trichomanes and Camptosorus, requiring less moisture, are more firm, and form the transition to the next group which con- tains ferns often leathery in texture. 14. On dry cliffs we may look for the various species of Woodsia, the cloak-ferns (otholena), the lip-ferns (Cheilanthes), and the cliff-brakes (Ped/ea). All these are peculiarly fitted to survive long periods of drought, and in some cases are specially provided with structural appendages for this purpose. 15. Only one of our native species is strictly aquatic, the anomalous Ceratopteris thalictroides found in Southern Florida, though Acrostichum aureum is often found with its rhizoma rising from the water of salt marshes. 16. Among the epiphytic ferns are several species of Folypo- dium, especially P. incanum, P. Scouleri, and P. aureum, the last always being associated with the cabbage-palmetto (Sabal Pal- metto). Vittaria and Nephrolepis are also of this class and are frequently pendent from the same plant, though occasionally found on other tree-trunks. Ophioglossum palmatum, another peculiar tropical fern-like plant, belongs to the same list. 17. These principles of climatic distribution are more or less modified by the geographical range of species, which must be con- sidered in this connection. 18, Geographical Distribution.—Ferns are found in all parts of the world. The number of described species is not cer- tainly known, and the uncertainty is largely-increased for the rea- son that our best systematists do not agree as to what constitutes a species. One of the best authorities describes 2646 species, though several recognized American species are not mentioned, and this is probably true of those of other countries.* From what has been said respecting the climatic conditions of fern growth, we would naturally expect to find them most abun- dant in countries where warmth and moisture predominate. These conditions seem most completely met on tropical islands or in * Synopsis Filicum, or, A Synopsis of All Known Ferns. By Sir W. J. Hooker and J.G@, Baker, Second Edition, London, 1874. . 32 Our Native Ferns. 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 native species, while-Java, little larger than New York; has 460. Brazil furnishes 387, and the Isthmus of Panama 117: Comparing these with colder climates, we find 67 in all Europe, and only 26 within the borders of the arctic zone. ‘ -3 “Our Native Ferns,” as described later in this’ volume, includ- ing the botanical orders, Fittces and OPHIOGLOSSACE#, com- prise 147 species, 15 varieties, and 6 sub-varieties. Some authors recognize more varieties, and others even recognize more species. 19. Divisions of our Fern 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 ani- mals and plants. These limits are by no means sharply defined, for wherever the limit is made some species will pass beyond it; yet the majority found one side are different from the majority of those on the other. North America (excluding Mexico), forms the Nearctic realm or fauna (Regnum Nearcticum), and the same boundaries may be used in the limitation of our fern flora, although some species from tropical regions invade our southern borders. " Mr. J. H. Redfield has given us a distribution of our native species into six geographical divisions or subdivisions of the Ne- arctic realm, from which the following section is copied.* 20. “I, CosMOPOLITAN: widely distributed over the globe in both temperate and tropical regions. II. BoreAc: inhabiting (with a few exceptions) the nofth- ern portion of the United States, extending through Canada and British America, some species even reaching Labrador, Greenland and Alaska, and nearly all represented also in the northern por- tions of the Old World, III. APPALACHIAN: extending throughout the mountain and hilly region of the states east of the Mississippi, often to the coast, and northward into Canada, and in a few instances also in- habiting the Old World. IV. Pactric: extending along the western border of the continent at points from Alaska to California, in a few cases ap- pearing also in the Rocky Mountain region. * Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, January, 1875. Hlaunts, Habits, and Distribution. 23 V. New Mexican: inhabiting the central mountain re- gions of New Mexico and Colorado, many of the species extend- ing thence into Mexico, and some even to South America, and a few of them also occurring in California. VI... Tropicac: inhabiting the border of the Gulf of Mexico, most of the species extending into the West Indies and Tropical America.” 21. The distribution of our species can be seen from the fol- lowing table: . 7 5 ‘Sub- Spectes pecu- Regions. pecies.| Varieties. Varieties (tar toNearc- arieties.| 4. i "| ttc Realm. I. CosMOPOLITAN,.. 2 eS, ee ae ee TI. BOREAL,.......c008] 25 BS |. cetwiberiers 2 IIL. APPALACHIAN, wal 36 3 4 17 IV. PACIFIC, ........0048 26 6 2 18 V. NEW MEXICAN,...| 28 | ceeseeeee | ceeeeeeee II VI. TROPICAL, ........ 30 1 a ere 3 Total, ........ 147 15 6 51 For the distribution of individual ferns, and for the list of spe- cies peculiar to America, the reader is referred to the description of the species later in this work. Future discoveries will be likely to modify to some extent the limits there given. It will be noticed that those parts of our realm separated farthest from other coun- tries contain the greatest number of peculiar species. 22. Local Lists——The number of species found in a single locality is usually limited, yet in certain locations there is a marked diversity. As an instance, in one of the Aaditats of the rare hart’s- tongue,* the writer has collected twenty species illustrating nine genera within the radius of a stone’s throw. Such localities, how- ever, are comparatively rare and must include wide diversity of soil and shade within very narrow limits. The following table will indicate something of the local distri- bution of species. Carefully prepared lists from all parts of the * “Green Pond,” near Jamesville, Onondaga County, N. Y.. &S 24 Our Native Ferns. country would be a valuable addition to our knowledge of geo- graphical distribution : DatE AND PLACE OF No. or No. oF Locauiry. AUTHORITY: PUBLICATION. Srecizs. | VARIETIES. New York. Torrey Bot. Club. |Bulletin, Oct., 1878. 50 4 Illinois. H.N. Patterson. | In litt., May, 1880. 37 1 Kentucky. John Williamson. |“ Ferns of Kentucky.” 40 1 Michigan. Elmore Palmer. | a Plants. of Mich.” 29 Arkansas. F. L. Harvey. In litt., Dec., 1880. 37 3 Vicinity of Syra- . Botanical Index, July, 35. 9 cuse, N. Y. Writer. 1878, : Onondaga Co.,N. Y.'Mrs. M. 0. Rust. é Eilices Onondagenses,” 39 9* oe oe Rich- ‘Mrs, M. P. Haines. eo anel Index, April, bb 2 , Ind. 5 San Diego, Cal. D. Cleveland. Check list. 23 Ee ee tit Bal, Pea 26 2 Jefferson Co., Ind. [John F. Baird. |“ i Figutg ot Jetforson | 54 2 La Salle Co., Til. ,H. L. Boltwood. | In lité., June, 1880. 20 Essex Co, Mass. |John Robinson. Penh De Institute, | 39 4s 23. Geological 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 successive populations that from time to time have held possession of our globe. Plants furnishing the natural food for animals must have preceded ani- mal life, yet, in the earliest geological ages, the remains of ani- mals are far more numerous. The abundance of the deposits of graphite and iron-ore in the earliest or Archzan rocks indicates the existence of extensive plant growth, but the remains are so transformed as to make it impossible to determine the character of this primeval vegetation. In the succeeding Silurian age, the fossil remains indicate the existence of algae or sea weeds in abundance, and a single small * Only the species and varieties recognized in this work are enumerated. Haunts, Habits, and Distribution. 25 species of ground pine attests the existence of some of the higher Cryptogamia; 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 Dr. J. W. Dawson of Montreal. It is in the coal measures, however, that ferns and other Cryp- togamia 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 measures of the United States and Canada (counting from the base of the Catskill), three hundred and eighty-one species of ferns have been described, chiefly by Prof. Leo Lesquereux. The most abundant American genera are Neuropteris 45 species, Pecopteris 50 species, Sphenopieris 31 spe- cies, Pseudopecopteris 25 species, and Rhacophyllum 24 species. The frontispiece gives an ideal representation of the vegeta- tion of the Carboniferous age. The luxuriant tree-ferns, the Lep- idodendrids, ancient representatives of the diminutive club mosses or ground pines, the Calamites, allies of the modern scouring- rushes, and other forms no less wonderful are seen in their pro- fusion. In the later geological 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 approximated to that of the present. Six Cretaceous and twenty-four Tertiary species have been catalogued,* including species in the existing genera Zygo- dium, Pteris, Woodwardia, Aspidium, 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 Onoclea sensibilis becomes established.t In the course of geo- logical history, however, we can trace a gradual approximation to the modern types from the generalized forms of Devonian and Carboniferous times. * Tenth Report, Hayden Geological Survey of the Territories, Washington, 1878. + Prof. Lesquereux writes me: “Though analogous by the nervation, I doubt the identity on account of the coriaceous character of that fossil fern, which I have not seen in any variety of O. sensibilis now living.” —4 26 Our Native Ferns. CHAPTER I]. MORPHOLOGY OF THE GROWING FERN. Pour bien savoir une chose, il faut en savoir les details. —La RocHEFoucaULp. 24. 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 ver- nation is called circinate, 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. 25. Rhizoma.—Ferns usually spring from an underground stem called the riizoma or 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 rhizoma creeps at the surface of the ground and even rises above it, as in the variety of Aspidium con- terminum recently discovered 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. 26. Frond.—The aerial portion consists essentially of a leaf- stalk and blade; the former is technically called the stipe, 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), pubescent (softly hairy), hairy, woolly or scaly. When the scales are small and somewhat appressed, the surface is said to be squamous. Ina few of our native ferns 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 farinaceous. Such is the California gold-fern or “golden back” (Gymnogramme trian- gularis), and several of the cloak-ferns (Votho/ena), and such are the various gold and silver ferns of conservatories, including some of the richest and most beautiful in the world. 27. The frond may be szmf/e when it consists of a single un- divided leaf, or compound when it is divided into segments. The Morphology. 27 exquisite delicacy and the extent to which this dividing is carried in some ferns gives to them their chief esthetic value. The continuation of the stipe through a simple frond is called the midvein,; through a compound frond is called the rachis, and is further distinguished as primary when the frond is much com- pounded. A frond is extire 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 pimzatifid; when these incisions extend fully to the midvein the frond is said to be simply pinnate and the divisions are called fizmze. When the pinne are cut into lobes the frond is dipinnatifid and the lobes are called segments, and when these extend to the secondary midveins it is dzznate and the divisions are called piznules. The secondary midvein then be- comes a secondary rachis. In like manner we may have ferns that are ¢ripinnatifid and tripinnate, guadripinnatifid and quadri-- pinnate. The last lobes are designated u/timate segments and the last complete divisions wtimate pinnules. All these various forms from entire to quadripinnate are abundantly represented among our native ferns, 28. In some pinnate fronds, as in the oak-fern (Phegopteris Dryopteris), the lower pair of pinne 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 ¢erwate. It will be readily seen that this is merely a modified form of the ordinary 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 of structure. 29. Wenation.—The method of veining admits of great vari- ation, often serving to distinguish species and more especially the sections of the various genera. In some ferns, like most shield- ferns (Aspidium), the veins are_/ree, 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 form- ing a series of network or arveole. This may be somewhat irregu- lar as in Oxociea, or forming a single row of areolz next to the midvein and thence free to the margin as in Woodwardia Virginica, or forming many uniform areole by the parallel transverse vein- lets connecting the distinct and parallel primary veins as in Poly- podium Phyllitidis. 28 Our Native Ferns. CHAPTER HI. 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.” 30. Spores and Sporangia. —In the flowering plants (PHa- NEROGAMIA) there is a true sex- ual reproduction, the ovules in the female organs (pistils) being Fig. 1. Enlarged section through a sorus fertilized hy aE pollen PIOr of Polypodium faleatum, Kellogg, showing duced by the stamens, thus giv- the stalked sporangia. (Original.) ° ing rise to the embryoofthe new plant. The CryproGamiA 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 pecu- liar process of germination very unlike that of flowering plants. These spores are collected in little sacs known as sporangia or capsules. 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 sporangia are called sort, and may be naked, as in Polypodium, or provided with a special covering known as the imdusium or in- volucre, as in Aspidium (Fig. 10). The various forms of the sori and indusia serve as the basis for classification into genera and tribes, while each sub-order has its peculiar form of sporangia. 31. Inthe PoLypopIACE# the sporangia are more or less completely surrounded with a joint- ed vertical ring and at maturity burst open trans-' versely and discharge their copious spores (Fig. 2). The clusters of sporangia may be marginal. Fig. 2. Sporanginm intramarginal or dorsal, according as they have of Polypodium v- their position at the margin or more or less re- gare, L. discharging i . its spores, Much en- Mote from it. They may be roundish, oblong or Jarged. (Griginal.) linear in shape, or arranged in variously forking Fructification. 29 lines, or may even be spread ina stratum over the entire under surface of the frond. They may be indusiate or non-indusiate according as they are covered or naked; and the indusia may be inferior (attached below the sorus), as in Woodsia (Fig. 12), or su- perior as in Aspidium (Fig. 11), or of various intermediate meth- ods of attachment. Fic. 8., Fia. 4. Fria. 5. Fig. 3.—Enlarged sessile sporangium of Trichomjanes radicans, Swz. (Original.) Fig. 4—Sporangium of Schizwa pusilla, Pursh, showing the apical ring. Much en- larged. (Original.) Fig. 5.—Sporangium of Osmunda regalis, L., showing the rudimentary ring. Enlarged. (Original.) 32. In the other sub-orders of FILicEs the sporangia are va- riously arranged. In the HyMENOPHYLLACE~ or filmy ferns the flattened sporangia are sessile along a filiform receptacle and are surrounded witha completetransverse ring. At maturity they open vertically, (Fig. 3). In the ScHiz#ace# the sporangia are ovate, surrounded at the apex bya complete ring, and open bya longitud- inal slit. (Fig. 4). In the OsmMUNDACE# or flowering ferns the sporangia are larger, globose and naked, with the mere trace of a transverse ring, and open longitudinally. (Fig. 5). 33. In Order OPHIOGLOSSACE# the spor- angia are not reticulated, possess no trace of a ring, open by a transverse slit, and are various- ly spiked and panicled. (Fig. 6). The various methods of fructification can be best understood by describing the peculiar- ities of the various genera in regular succes- sion and noting the variations occurring in the sections or sub-genera. By this means we will arrive at a better understanding of the princi- ples of fern classification as discussed in a — Fig.6 Enlarged spo- future chapter. As the subject of venation is "2st of Botrychium é : : ., lernatum, Swz. (Orig- closely connected with that of fructification, it jna1) will be treated in the same connection. 30 Our Native Ferns. 34. Acrostichum.—In this genus the sporangia are spread in a stratum over the under surface of the upper pinnz in our soli- tary species, but in some exotics they cover portions of the upper surface as well. There is no indusium. 35. Polypodium.—(Fig.1). This genus contains the largest 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 EupoLyeopivuo the veins are free, yet are occasionally known to unite,* thus indicating a tendency to vary toward the next sec- tion. The sori are generally found at the end of a.free veinlet. In GONIOPHLEBIUM the veins unite near the margin forming large areole, each containing a single free veinlet which bears the sorus at its end. A tendency to variation is seen in P. izcamum in which the veins are free, as well as in P. Californicum in which they are often partly free. In PHLEBODIUM the veins form ample areole in a row next the midvein and frequently in one or more secondary rows, each bear- ing a single sorus at the junction of two or more veinlets. 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. In CAMPYLONEURON the areole each usually bearing two sori, are found between the parallel primary veins which extend from the midrib to the margin. 36. Gymnogramme.—In this genus the sori follow the course of the veins and consequently vary with the venation, being sim- ple, forked, pinnated or anastomose with each other. The sori are non-indusiate. 37. Notholzna,—In the cloak-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 Cheilanthes on the other. From the latter it is scarcely separable and the two are likely to be confounded by beginners. 38. Vittaria.—This peculiar genus occupies a somewhat inter- mediate position between the indusiate and non-indusiate genera, and while usually associated with the latter has considerable claim to be ranked with the former. The fronds are narrow and grass- like, bearing the sporangia in an intramarginal groove, often more *Catalogne of the Davenport Herbarium, p. 8. Pructification. 31 or less covered by the inrolled edge of the frond. The venation is very obscure. 39. Adiantum.—The maidenhairs have a peculiarly smooth foliage and usually possess no midvein. The veins are usually flabellate, and after forking once or more times bear the sori at their extremities. The margin of the frond is reflexed thus form- ing an indusium which bears the sporangia on its under surface. 40. Pteris.—(Fig. 7). In this genus, which includes the common brake, the otherwise free veins are § united by a filiform receptacle | which bears the sporangia. This continuous marginal line of fructi- fication is covered by a membra- ; : eae a s; segment of pinna showing the vein-like nous indusium formed of the mar- receptacle under the marginal indusium. gin of the frond. (Original.) 41. Cheilanthes.—The lip-ferns found within our limits are unequally divided among four sections, all agreeing in bearing the sori at or near the ends of the veins covered by an indusium formed of the margin of the frond. In ADIANTOPSIS the indusia are distinct and confined to a single veinlet. Our species varies from the typical species of this section and has even been assigned to a separate genus. _ IID U, Fig. 7. Pteris longifolia, L. Enlarged In EUCHEILANTHES the indusia are more or less confluent but not continuous, usually extending over the apices of several vein- lets. In PHysaAPTERIs the ultimate segments are bead-like, and the indusium is continuous all round the margin. ALEURITOPTERIS has the fronds farinose below, and includes a single species somewhat doubtfully assigned to our limits. 42. Cryptogramme has dimorphous fronds, the margins of the fertile being closely rolled toward the midvein thus covering the confluent sori. At maturity these open flat in order to discharge the spores. 43- Pellea has representatives of three sections within our limits all agreeing in possessing intramarginal sori which finally become confluent and form a marginal line covered by an indu- sium formed of the margin of the frond. CHEILOPLECTON includes herbaceous species with visible veins and broad indusia. 32 Our Native Ferns. ALLosorus includes coriaceous species having wide indusia, while PLATYLomMaA includes species similar in texture but with ex- tremely narrow indusia and broad segments. 44. Ceratopteris is an anomalous genus having a few sori arranged on two or three veins parallel to the midvein and cov- ered by the broadly reflexed margin of the frond. 45. Lomaria (Fig. 8) stands inter- mediate between those genera in which there is an indusium formed of the revo- lute margin of the frond and those in which the indusium is remote from the margin. Our single species has dimor- phous fronds, free veins and the fructifi- cation in a broad band next the midvein, covered by a continuous and distinctly Fig. 8. Lomaria spicant, intramarginal indusium. This genus Desv. Enlarged section of the closely resembles the next in general contracted fertile pinna show- c a ian 2 = 5 ing intramarginal indusium. habit and is sometimes united with it. (Original.) * 46. 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, bursting at its inner margin when the sporangia are mature. A single representative is found within our limits. 47. Woodwardia.—Three species of chain-ferns occur within our limits, 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 bursting at their inner margins, and arranged in chain-like rows near the midvein thus giving the popular name to the genus. Euwoopwarpi1a 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 LorrnsErrIA has dimorphous fronds and the veins everywhere uniting to form areola, as in the sensi- tive-fern (Oxoclea sensibilis). 48. Asplenium.—The numerous species of spleenworts are closely related to each other in their methods of fructification but differ widelyin 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 the same shape attached by its edge to the fruiting vein and opening toward Fructification, 33 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. 49. Scolopendrium (Fig. 9), 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 indusium covering asingle sorus. The veins extend nearly at right-angles to the mid- vein, are free and usually forked. 50. Camptosorus. The walk- s f Fig. 9. Scolopendrium vulgare, ing-leaf has oblong or linear in- Sm. Section of frond showing vena- dusiate sori, which are irregularly tion and fructification. (Original) scattered and’ borne partly on veins parallel to the midvein, and partly on those that are oblique. Those near the midvein are sin- gle, those toward the margin are often approximate in pairs and often form crooked lines. The veins are everywhere copiously reticulated. 51. Phegopteris.—In this genus the sori are round and naked as in Polypodium with which this genus is sometimes united. The sporangia spring from the back of the veins instead of the apex as in the latter genus and the veins are free. ZS, Cgie LES, SD 52. Aspidium is largely represented in our limits by two well marked sections which are sometimes regarded as distinct genera, and a third section with characters less distinct containing a sin- gle species. In all the sori are roundish and borne on the back of the veins or rarely at their apex. In NepHropium the indu sium is cordato-reniform or orbicular with a narrow sinus. This at first covers the sorus and is attached by its margin, but later busts away at the margin but remains attached at the sinus. In some species in this section the indusium becomes shriveled be- fore the fruit matures and in this condition might be mistaken for a non-indusiate species (Fig. 10). In PotysticHum the indusium is orbicular and peltate being fixed by the centre; the veins are free as in NEPHRODIUM (Fig. 11). —5 34 Our Native Ferns. In Cyrtomium the indusium is the same as in POLYSTICHUM, but the veins tend to unite near the margin. Fig. 10. Aspidium (Nephrodium) Fig. 11. Aspidium (Polystichum) rigidum, Swz., var. argutum; D. C. munitum, Kf. Enlarged section E. Enlarged segment showing showing indusia. (Original.) indusia. (Original.) 53. 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. 54. Cystopteris.—The bladder-ferns take their popular 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 Aspidium, but are usually more delicate in texture. 55. 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 margins of the contracted fertile frond being strongly revolute and con- cealing the fruit. O. Struthiopteris has necklace-shaped pinnae, crowded confluent sori, and free and simple veins. O. sensibilis has panicled berry-shaped pinnules and copiously anastomosing veins. 56. Woodsia (Fig. 12) has round- ish sori borne on the back of the veins with the indusia attached beneath the sporangia and flat and open or early bursting at the top into irregular la- cinize or lobes. In Euwoonsta the in- dusia are flat and open from an early stage with their cleft and ciliate mar- Fig. 12. Woodsia obtusa, Torr. Enlarged section of pinnule show- a . ing venation and inferior indusia. gins concealed under the sori. In Hy- (Original.) POPELTIS the indusium is more con- spicuous and encloses the sporangium at first but soon bursts at the top forming several jagged lobes. Fructification. 35 57. Dicksonia.—In this genus the small globular sorus is borne in an elevated, globular receptacle and enclosed in an inferior, membranous, cup-shaped indusium. The veins are always free. 58. Trichomanes (Fig. 13) 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. 59. Lygodium.—In our species of climbing-fern the fructification is Fig. 18. Trichomanes radicans, Swz. Enlarged section showing borne on contracted, forked pinnules method of fructification. (Original.) occupying the upper portion of the frond. The ovoid sporangia are solitary or occa- sionally in pairs and are borne in the axils of the large, imbricated, scale-like indusia which are fixed by their bases to short, oblique veinlets. 60. Aneimia.—In this genus the two lowest branches of the frond bear panicles of fruit at the end of very long stalks. The ovate sporangia are sessile in two rows along the branchlets of the panicle without special covering of any kind. In the section represented by our species the veins are free. 61. Schizea.—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 pinnze form a distichous spike. (Fig. 14). 62. Osmunda has the large globose sporangia, short-stalked and borne on the contracted fertile portions of the frond. In the cinnamon-fern (0. cinnamomea) the fertile fronds are entirely dis- tinct from the sterile, yet manifesting a tendency to variation in the var. frondosa, In the interrupted flowering-fern (O. Claytoniana), the fructification is confined to a few of the middle pinne of the frond. In the royal flowering-fern (O. regadis) the fructification is borne at the apex of the fronds. 63. Ophioglossum.—In the adder-tongues the sporangia are large and cohere in two ranks along h Fig. 14. Schizea pusilla, Pursh. En- tire plant natural the margins of a single spike, opening by a trans- size. (Original.) 36 Our Native Ferns. verse slit to discharge their copious sulphur-yellow spores. The veins of the sterile portion of the plant copiously anastomose. 64. Botrychium.—In the grape-ferns the sporangia are glob- ular and arranged in double rows along the narrow segments, more or less in panicles. The veins are free in all the species, yet in the smaller, fleshy ones this may not be readily perceived. 65. Spores.—The spores of ferns constitute the fruit proper. A spore consists of two distinct closed sacs and the cell contents, all of which differ from each other in chemical composition. The outer layer (exospore) consists chiefly of cellulose; the inner layer (endospore) contains some albuminous matter in addi- tion, while the cell contents consist chiefly of a thin, colorless, jelly-like substance known as protoplasm, with grains of chloro- phyll (the green 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 microscopic and many are of such a shape that they do not appear uniform, owing to the various directions from which we view them. (Fig. 15-22). Fig. 15-22. Spores, highly magnified. Cryplogramme acrostichoides, R. Br., Lygo- dium palmatum, Swz., Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh., Schizea pusilla, Pursh, Acrostichum aureum, L., Polypodium Californicum, Kt., Gymnogramme triangu- laris, Kf., Notholena candida, Hook. (Original.) as 66. The number of spores produced by a single fern is in- credible. Lindley calculated that a single frond of Scolopendrium produced about 80 sori, with an average of 4500 sporangia in each sorus, and each sporangium containing 50 spores, making a total of 18,099,000 spores. The copious green spores of Osmunda cin- namomea or the pale yellow, powdery spores of a well developed specimen of Botrychium Virginianum must far exceed this com- putation. Germination. 37. CHAPTER IV. GERMINATION OF FERN SPORES. Alle Glieder bilden sich aus nach ew’gen Gesetzen, Und die seltenste Form bewabrt im Geheimniss das Urbild. — GOETHE. 67. 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. 68. The Sexual Generation ( Oophore ),—In germination the exospore splits along the side and the protruding endo- spore, sometimes with its divi- sions already formed by septa or partitions, forms, not a fern, but a thalloid structure resem- bling a lichen or marchantia, called the prothallium. Differ- ent ferns vary in the method of forming this prothallium, some producing it immediately 5, 93 4. prothallium of Pteris serrulata, at the spore and others after tinn. f, showing two stages of growth. the formation of a thread-like (After Moore). growth known as the pro-embryo. The: prothallium is entirely composed of cellular tissue, and in the true ferns (POLYPODIACE#) is broadly cordate or reniform in shape, and bears large numbers of root-hairs from the under part of its posterior portion, (Fig. 23-4.) The prothallium seldom exceeds one-tenth of an inch in length. On the under surface of the prothallium two sorts of organs are produced analogous to the stamens and pistils of the PHANEROGAMIA, respectively known as antheridia and arche- gonia. The position of these organs on the prothallium varies in different sub-orders. 69. 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 absorption of 38 Our Native Ferns. water and finally bursts its wall, dis- charging these coiled filaments which possess the power of locomotion, and for this reason are called antherozoids. These antherozoids often drag with them a little vesicle which seems to play no part in the process of repro- duction. (Fig. 25). 7o. Archegonia.— The archego- nium (sometimes called pistillidium), is also a rounded mass of tissue usu- ally less prominent than the anthe- ridia, consisting of an external layer Fig. 25. Antheridium of of cells and a large central cell which Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, $00n divides into two. The lower por- L., showing the escaping tion, at first the larger, develops into antherozoids. (After Sachs.) a roundish cell, which is analogous to XK : the ovule of flowering plants and is called the oosphere. The upper por- tion of the central cell develops be- tween 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 and retaining the anthe- Fig. 26. Young archegonium TOz0ids at the neck of the arche- of Pleris serrulata, Linn.f.,show- gonium. The oosphere is thus left ex- ing oosphere, neck and canal-cell posed. (Fig. 26). (After Sachs.) 7t. 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 oosphere and dis- appearing within its substance. There is thus a true sexual gene- ration among ferns, and the formerly appropriate term, Crypto- gamia (hidden marriage) loses its application under the untiring scrutiny of the microscopist. After fertilization the neck of the archegonium closes and the fertilized oosphere, now called the oospore, increases in size and finally develops into a true fern. Germination. 39 72. The Asexual (Generation (Sporo- . phore.)—A fter the oosphere has been fertil- ized it commences its growth by the ordi- nary processes of cell multiplication and for a time remains within the walls of the arche- gonium, which continue to grow, until finally the interior growth breaks through the walls, differentiated into its first root and leaf. The young fern draws its nourishment from the prothallium for a time but soon develops rogt-hairs which, extending into the soil, maintain thereby an existence independent of the prothallium. The latter growth having accomplished its work withers away. (Fig. 27.) The first parts of the root, stem, and Fig. 27. Adiantum Ca- z ‘ pillus- Veneris, L. Prothal- frond are very small and comparatively sim- ium and young fern seen ple in structure, but those formed later are from below: pp, prothul- successively larger, and not only bear a_ lium; b, first leaf; h, root- hairs of prothallium; w, closer resemblance to the mature form of 4, fitwtand second. roots: the species, but also develop increased com- (After Sachs). plexity of structure. “The fern continues to gain strength, not by subsequent increase of size of the embryonic structures, but by each successive part attaining a more considerable size and de- velopment than the preceding ones, until at length a kind of sta- tionary condition is arrived at in which the newly formed organs are nearly similar to the preceding ones.” 73. The complete 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 ma- ture 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 sexual organs. 74. Recapitulation.—To review the life history of a fern we find the following processes: 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. (SEXUAL GENERATION. OoPHORE). C, Production of sexual organs, archegonia (female) and antheridia (male), on the under surface of the prothallium, 4o Our Native Ferns. D. Fecundation of the oosphere developed in the arche- gonium by the antherozoids developed in the antheridium. (FER- TILIZATION). E. Growth of the mature fern in successive stages from the oospore. (ASEXUAL GENERATION*. SPOROPHORE). 75. Ophioglossacez.—In this order the prothallia are destitute of chlorophyll, develop under ground and are moncecious, as in the Firtces. 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 somewhat from the true ferns in the method of their development. * The term “generation” in the above sense, although in common use by the best botanical writers is 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 con- sidered as including the entire life history of a fern of which the prothallium and mature fern are successive phases. The terms “sexual” and “asexual” as used in this con- nection are likewise misleading as they might apply as well to the origin as to the pro- ducing power of the so-called “generation.” The prothallium is asexual in origin but develops sexual organs; the mature fern on the other hand produces nu sexual organs, but is itself the product of bisexuality. I suggest the terms Thalloid phase and Pteri- doid phase for sexual and asexual generation. The same criticism applies with equal force to the use of the expression “alternation of generations ” by zoologists. Structure.’ 41 CHAPTER V. FERN STRUCTURE. Be it ours to meditate, to % x * And to the beautiful order of thy works Learn to conform the order of our lives. —BRrYANT. 76. 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 individual cells to their full size, and their multiplication by division. The lowest forms of vegetable life consist of a single cell, either globular or elongated. 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. These specialized cells give rise to the various forms of vegetable tissue. The earliest tendency to differentiation is seen in the ar- rangement 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). “pidermal tissue. (6). Fundamental tissue. (c.) Fascicular or Vascular tissue. (Fig. 28). The first and second are common to both ferns and mosses. The last is first seen in the ferns, where it is a character so constant that it serves as the basis for separating the so-called “vascular” Cryp- TOGAMIA from other flowerless plants. These three forms of tissue may be seen by examining a thin cross section of the stipe ofa living fern with the microscope. 77. Roots.—Roots are constantly produced as the rhizoma 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 the moisture from the earth. The epidermis 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 (81). As the apex continues to grow, the epidermis of the part behind be- comes harder and frequently develops hairs or more frequently irregular scales. —6 42 Our Native Ferns. 78. Stipe.—The stipe is made up of the three forms of tissue, (Fig. 28), and usually contains sev- eral bundles of vascular tissue. In the dried stipe these can be easily examined, by scraping off the ex- ternal covering of thestem. These bundles of fibres give’ stability to the fern and are continued through ie: G8, Chosewection ot atiasat Gye: the rachises and veins thus forming topteris fragilis, Bernh., showing two the framework for the softer por- bundles of vascular tissue. (Original.) tions of the frond. The stipes are sometimes smooth and polished, sometimes hairy or beset with stalked glands, and sometimes densely clothed, especially near the base, with chaffy scales. 79. Frond.—In the HyYMENOPHYLLACEZ, the frond consists of a single layer of cells. This condition is also found in the leaves developed along the axis of growth among the mosses to which this sub-order is related in some of its forms. In all other ferns there are several layers of cells variously compacted together and forming all the varieties of texture, membranous, herbaceous, coriaceous and fleshy. The epidermis is usually easily separable from the underlying tissue, when its peculiar markings can be studied. From the epidermis a great variety of appendages are de- veloped which are all modifications of hairs and are all included under the term ¢-ichomes, however different in appearance or dis- tinct in function. These are not confined to the frond but develop here their greatest variation. They are frequently found on the roots, the rhizoma, and the stipe, under the form of root-hairs or scales of various forms. Scales are especially abundant in certain forms of Aspidium, as well as in Scolopendrium and other genera. 80. Trichomes.—On the fronds the trichomes may be devel- oped 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 Chetlanthes Coopere or the mar- gin of the indusium of Aspidium spinulosum, var. intermedium ,; or they may be developed into scales of intricate cellular struc- ture like those on the under surface of certain forms of Cheilanthes, particularly C. Fendleri and-C. Clevelandti. Among the FILIcEs the sporangia are specialized trichomes developed in clusters (sori) along the veins, or spread over the entire surface of the frond, or even arranged in spikes or panicles. The epidermis also Structure. 43 develops an excrescence known as the indusium, which consists of asingle 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. In the OPHIOGLOSSACE& 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 clearly defined serves to Separate these anomalous plants from the order FILICES to which they were formerly appended. 81. 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 stomata or breathing pores, and are merely open- ings to the air chambers of the plant. The two elliptical cells form the mouth of the passage and expand when moist, allowing 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 greater or less ex. tent on all aerial portions of ferns and higher plants as well as on subterranean stems. In many of our species of Chezlanthes and Notholena there is an additional provision against drought in the copious tomentum or chaff which is borne on the under surface of the fronds. 82. Buds and Bulblets.—In a 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 uncommon to see a large number in various stages of growth rising from a single frond. This peculiarity is common among several species of 4s- plenium, especially A. furcatum, Thunb., and will sometimes be found to occur among some of our native species. Bulblets are found in the axils of the upper pinnz of Cystopterits bulbifera which often fall to the ground and develop into new plants after amanner analogous to the development of the axillary buds of the tiger lily. 83. WVernation.—As has been before stated, ferns are rolled in the bud from the apex downward (circinate), distinguishing them from the higher forms of vegetation. Among the OpHio- GLOSSACE4, however, the vernation is either straight, inclined at the apex of one or both segments, or else the fertile segments are folded on the main stalk, making the vernation wholly inclined. 44 Our Native Ferns. Until recently there has been much difficulty in distinguishing the smaller species of Botrychium, and some forms seem to connect the smaller ones with the reduced forms of B. ¢ernatum and B. Vir- ginianum. The publication of a series of distinguishing characters with illustrations by a specialist in this genus,* has added much to our positive knowledge of these intimately related species, and has made their identification a matter of comparatively easy investi- gation. The buds may be found enclosed in the base of the com- mon stalk (except in B. Virginianum where they are placed in an upright cavity at one side) and may be examined with a strong lens. The three divisions are summed up as follows: “TI. Vernation wholly straight. 2. s¢mplea, Hitch. (Fig. 29.) II. Vernation partly inclined in one or both portions. 2. Zu- naria, Swz., (Fig. 30), B. doreale, Milde., 2B. matricariefolium, A. Br., (Fig. 31), and 2. ternatum, Swz. (Fig. 32). III. Vernation wholly inclined, in the fertile frond recurved. B. lanceolatum, Angs., (Fig. 33), and B. Virginianum, Swz.” The special characters of each species will be found under the descriptions of the Botrychza later inthis work. The cuts will be valuable for reference, and will enable even beginners to identify the species of this complicated genus with comparatively little difficulty. * Vernation in Botrychia, by Geo. E. Davenport. Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, Jan., 1878, from which the cuts in this work are copied. See also Bulletin, Nov., 1880. Classification and Noménctlature. 45 CHAPTER VI. CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE OF FERNS. The education of a naturalist now consists chiefly in learning how to compare, q — AGASSIZ. 84. Nomenclature.—Before the time of Linnzus, the method of naming plants and animals was a subject of much embarrass- ment to science and gave rise to endless confusion. This great author, justly called the “Father of Botany,” introduced a new system of nomenclature that gave a new 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 scientific de- scriptions of subsequent naturalists. Healso 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 in a 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 as- signed, thus giving to each organism a double name, the first generic which may be likened to our family name, the other spe- cific corresponding to our baptismal name. Thus the common marginal shield-fern bears the appellation Aspidium marginale given it by the Swedish botanist, Olaf Swartz. The first it bears in common with all the shield-ferns which have a like method of fructification. The latter is peculiar to this particular species which bears its sori near the margin of the segments. 85. Generic Names.—These may be derived from some char- acteristic of growth or structure, in honor of some botanist or distinguished patron of science, or occasionally from some mytho- logical or symbolical character. The derivations of the generic names of our native ferns are given in the glossary at the close of this volume. 86. Specific Names.—These are usually adjective elements either Latin or Latinized and must agree in gender with the gen- eric name according to the rules of Latin syntax. Errors in agree- ment 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 generic names have 46 Our Native Ferns. found their way into accepted text-books of botany.* Specific names frequently indicate something regarding habit or mode of growth or may indicate the locality in which the organism was first discovered. A few take their name from their discoverer, in which case the name is Latinized and takes a genitive ending. The derivation of the specific names of our native species will be found in the glossary. 87. The advantage of this binary nomenclature is at once evi- dent 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. By this means organisms of complex struc- ture can be definitely characterized with comparatively few words and the scientific name once established remains the same among scientists of all nations and languages. 88. There are, however, liabilities to error and confusion in the Linnzan system of nomenclature, as various authors have often assigned the same name to several species. For example, the name Cheilanthes vestita was given by Brackenridge to Eaton’s C. gracillima. Hooker assigned the same name (in part) to Nutt- all’s C. lanuginosa, while Swartz assigned the same to the fern de- scribed in this volume under the name of C vestita. It becomes necessary, therefore, in referring to a species to indicate the author of the specific name usually, if written, by an abbreviation. 89. Synonymy.—It may also be remarked in this connection that different authors have described the same fern under widely different generic and specific names. For example, the delicate Woodsia Ivensis of Brown was described as Acrostichum Lvense by Linnzus, Polypodium Ivense by Swartz, Nephrodium rufidu- lum by Michaux, Aspidium rufidulum by Willdenow and Woodsia rufidula by Beck. Many other species have been as variously classified. From the confusion of the past we are rapidly emerg- ing and our nomenclature is coming to be established on a per- manent and scientific basis. go. Species.—Gcethe tells us that nature knows only individ- uals, and that species exist only in the school-books, From this extreme there has been every grade of opinion respecting species to the direct opposite which regards species as invariable, actual existences, types originally ordained and summoned to ex- istence by the Creator. Linnzeus, for example, defined species in these words: “ Species tot sunt diverse, quot diversas formas ab *Cistopteris for Cystopteris is an example. Classification and Nomenclature. 47 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, in- deed, the existence of various connecting forms between many species distinct under normal conditions, makes the practical definition of the term almost an impossibility. We may, how- ever, for practical purposes, regard as a species an assemblage of individuals not differing essentially from each other, and capable of producing like individuals by the ordinary processes of repro- duction. A recent writer defines species as “the present aspect of a line of organic development, destined to become something else in the future, as it was something else in the past.” This would seem to be in accordance with the now widely 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. gi. 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. There isa tendency on the part of a few authors to multi- ply varieties indefinitely, and of a single species as many as sixty-five varieties have been described. Among the best sys- tematists, however, there is a growing tendency to restrict the number. Inthe present volume a distinction is made between those varieties that are more decided and constant in their characters, and those that are more directly connected with the typical forms. The former are printed in the same full-face type as the species, the latter in small capitals. It would seem that the latter class might as well be dropped from our lists, and possibly some forms now regarded as true varieties will be found to be based on characters that are not constant. 92. 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. 93- 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. * There are as many different species as the Infinite Being created in the beginning. + Dr. A. Winchell in Preadamites, p. 232. 48 Our Native Ferns. 94. Sub-Orders. Tribes are grouped into sub-orders, accord- ing as they agree in the characters of the sporangium, its shape, method of discharging its spores, and the existence, character, or absence of a ring. 95. Orders. Ferns are often classed in a single order, but in accordance with the latest researches of the best structural botan- ists, they are separated into three distinct orders, F1L1ces, Mar- ATTIACE and OPHIOGLOSSACEZ&, which are distinguished prin- cipally by the mode in which the sporangia are developed, and also by other minor characteristics. Two of the orders are well represented in our flora. The MARATTIACEZ are mostly confined to tropical regions. g6. Classification. The true idea of classification is the grouping together of objects according to essential and funda- mental 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 classificatios. That the various systems of classification as applied to ferns, as well as their position in the vegetable kingdom, may be better under- stood, the following outlines from a few of the leading botanists is appended. 97. Position of Ferns in the Vegetable Kingdom. The Cryvp- TOGAMIA or flowerless plants formed class xxiv. of the Linnzan system of classification and contained the following orders : * I. Firices. (Ferns.) IJ. Egurseracea. (Scouring Rushes.) Ill. Lycoroprne#. (Club Mosses.) IV. Muscr. (True Mosses.) V. Hepatic#. (Liverworts.) VI. Atca&. (Sea Weeds.) VII. Licuenes. (Lichens.) VIII Funer. (Mushrooms.) 98. Lindley, in his ‘“ Vegetable Kingdom,” divides the asex- ual or flowerless plants into two classes, THALLOGENS and AcROGENS, the latter containing eleven families, among which are FILICES and OPHIOGLOSSACE. * Linnzus recognized only four orders: Nos. 11., 111, V. and Vir. have been added by later botanists. Classification and Nomencla‘ure. 49 99. Dr. Asa Gray, in the fifth edition of his “Botanical Text Book,” restricted ACROGENS so as to include only such flowerless plants as contain woody tissue and vessels, while the mosses and liverworts are placed ina separate class, ANOPHYTES. This distinction, however, has been modified in the last edition by dividing the class ACROGENS into Cellular and Vascular. 100. Sachs, in his admirable ‘‘Text Book of Botany,” classi- fies the vegetable kingdom as follows: { Class I. AtLca. Group 1—THALLOPHYTES Class II. La anelve Seaweeds.) (Mildew, Mushrooms, Lichens.) { Class III. CHARACE#. (Chara.) { Class IV. HEPATIC. Group Il —MuscINnEx | (Liverworts.) Class V. Muscr. (Mosses.) Class VI. Fittces. (Ferns.) Class VII. EQuiseTACE. (Horsetails.) Class VIII. OPHIOGLOSSACE#. { (Adder-tongues.) | Class IX. RHIZOCARPEA. (Hydropterides. ) Class X. LycopopDIACE&. (Club Mosses.) Class XI. GYMNOSPERM&. (Confers, Cycads.) Class XII. MoNocoTvLEDON2. (Lilies, Grasses, etc.) Class XIII. DicotyLEDoNz. (Roses, etc.) The above classification will serve to show the relative posi- tion of ferns in the vegetable world, yet the arrangement of classes under the Vascular Cryptogams seems hardly satisfactory and the nomenclature is at least unfortunate.* tor. The following classification of the Vascular Cryptogams or PTERIDOPHYTA, may be taken as representing the latest gen- eralizations : Group | -CHARACEE VASCULAR Group IV { CRYPTOGAMIA Group V—PHANEROGAMIA . * The ending, acez, has long been reserved for botanical orders, and for the sake of uniformity all groups of plants receiving ordinal rank, should receive this termination. Selaginellex may thus be more properly written Selaginellacex. In a recent text book the old original name Lycopodiacex is changed to Lycopodiex without obvious reason. Were the term Fifices not so long established it could with profit be changed so as to conform with the terminations of the other Prertpopuyta. A uniform terminology is a desideratum in botanical science. ” —b 50 Our Native Ferns. * [sosporous. Class |.—EQUISETIN. Order 1.—CALAMARIACE&. (Extinct.) Order 2.—EQuiseTACE®. Including Aguisetum, Class V1.—FILIcin&. } Vernation erect or inclined, Order 3.—OPHIOGLOSSACE#. Including Ophioglossum, Botrychium, etc. tt Vernation circinate. Order 4—MaraATTIACE®. Including four genera, mostly tropical. Order 5.—Fitices. Including the many genera of ferns. Class VI1.—LycopopIn&. Order 6.—LEPIDODENDRACE#. (Extinct.) Order 7.—SIGILLARIACE#. (Extinct.) F Order 8.—Lycopopiace®. Including Psilotum, Lycopo- dium, etc. ** Fleterosporous. Class \V.—LAIGULAT. Order 9.—SELAGINELLACE&. Including Se/aginedla. 5 Order 10.—IsoETACE#. Including Jsoetes. Class V.—RHIZOCARPE&. Order 11.—MarsILiace®. Including Marsilia, Azolla, Pi- lularia, etc. * The geological distribution of the Preripopuyra may be seen from the following : 3 bs ae = QUATERNARY. S sa S = ° ° S aoe ce eee ee __ |< j= S alae he a TERTIARY. aa 28 g an a & : iS) pels Bo IR os ae co ie - aan (ORMER”hegions! 0, Diana z & FI bon ° es Se a i q ms a cs, CRETACEOUS s 2 5 2 Ss 4 il ba _<] & ee) -lobed. Upper Missouri to N. Mex. and Ariz. V. ttRachises zigzag and flexuous. to. N.nivea, Desv. Rhizoma short, chaffy with narrow scales; stipes tufted, 4’—6/ long, wiry, black and polished; fronds 3’—6’ long, 13’—2’. broad, pyramidal-ovate, tripinnate; primary pinne mostly opposite the rachises, nearly straight ; pinnules long-stalked with blunt oblong or roundish, entire or more or less lobed seg- ments: upper surfaces green, smooth, lower densely coated with pure white powder; sori brown, often descending the free veins half-way.to the midvein. Ariz., N. Mex., 1880. V. 11, N. Fendleri,* Kunze. Stipes densely tufted, dark- brown, 3’—5/ long; rachis and allits branches zigzag and flexuous ; fronds broadly deltoid-ovate 3’—5’ each way, quadripinnate below, grad- ually simpler above; pinnz alternate; ultimate pinnules oval or elliptical, simple or 3-lobed. Col., N. Mex., Ariz. V. ** Fronds naked below. 12. N. tenera, Gillies. Stipes tufted, brownish, smooth and shining; fronds 3’—4’ long, ovate-pyramidal, bi— tripinnate; pinnz mostly opposite, distant, the lower ones somewhat triangular; ultimate pinnules ovate, often sub-cordate, obtuse, smooth and naked on both surfaces. Southern Utah. V. Vittaria, Adiantum. 73 V. 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 special indusia. Fronds narrow, grass-like. Veins free. @ T/ENIOPSIS, J. Sm. 1. V. lineata, Swz. Fronds 6’—18/ long, 1//—5’ broad, nar- rowed gradually downward to a stout compressed stem, the edge often reflexed. Sori in a broad intramarginal line in a slight fur- row, the edge of the frond at first wrapped over it. Fla. VI. VI. ADIANTUM, L. MarpENHAIR. Sori marginal, short, covered by a reflexed portion of the more or less altered margin of the frond, which bears the sporangia on its under side from the approximated tips of free, forking veins. 4 EUADIANTUM. * Fronds at least bipinnate, pinnules flabellate or cuneate. +Fronds smooth, . 1, A, Capillus-Veneris, L. (VENus’ Harr). 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, crenated, or acutely dentato-serrate, except where the margin is recurved to form the lunulate separated indusia. Va., Ky. and Fla. to Utah and Cal. VI. 2. A.tenerum, Swz. Stipes 1° high, erect, glossy; fronds 1° —3° long, 9’—18’ broad, deltoid, tri--quadripinnate ; pinnules artic- ulated to their petioles, falling off at maturity, cuneate, the upper edge rounded or somewhat angular, broadly often, rather deeply lobed; sOrgnumerous, roundish or transversely oblong. Fla. VI. 3. A. emarginatum,* Hook. Stipes rather stout, nearly black, polished ; fronds ovate or deltoid-pyramidal, bi—tripinnate; pin- nules and upper pinnz ample, smooth or nearly so, rounded or even reniform, upper margin rounded, slightly incised ; sori 2—5 transversely linear-oblong, subcontinuous. (4. Chilense of check lists). Cal. and northward. IV. ttfronds pilose with whitish hairs. 4. A. tricholepis, Fee. Stipes smooth, polished, deep black; fronds oval; pinnules roundish, moderately long petioled; sori few (3—7), of unequal size; indusia very velvety. (4. pilosum of check lists). Western Tex. V. Very rare. -12 74 Our Native Ferns. ** Fronds dichotomously forked, with numerous pinne spring- ing 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 pinnz 6’—9’ long, 1’—2’ broad; pinnules triangular-oblong, short-stalked ; sori roundish or transversely oblong. N. C. to Cal. and northward. III. VU. PTERIS, L. BRAKE. Sori marginal, linear, continuous, occupying a slender filiform receptacle which connects the tips of the free veins. Indusium membranous, formed of the reflexed margin of the frond. 21. EUPTERIS. Veins free, stipes tufted, indusium single. *Lower pinne linear, undivided. 1. 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- brown. Fla. VI. ** Lower 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 pinnze usu- ally in 2—6 opposite sessile pairs, the sterile ones considerably 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. Fla. VI. 3. P.serrulata, Linn. f. Stipes 6’—9’ long, naked, pale or brownish ; fronds 9’—18’ long, 6’—9’ broad, ovate, bipinnatifid, the main rachis margined with a wing which is 1’/’—2’’ broad at the top and grows narrower downwards; pinne in six or more distant 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. Ala. VI. 32. PAESIA, St. Hilaire. Veins free, rhizoma creeping, stipes sub-distant, indusium more or less double. 4. P.aquilina, L. Rhizoma stout, wide-creeping, subterra- nean; stipes 1°—2° high, erect, stramineous or brownish; fronds 2°—4° long, 1°—3° wide, ternate, the three branches each bipin- nate; upper pinnules undivided, the lower more or less pinna- tifid. North America everywhere. I. Var. caudata,* Hook. Pinnules sometimes linear and entire, or with less crowded segments than the type and the terminal lobe linear and entire. N. J., Del., Fla. to Tex. Chetlanthes. 75 Var, lanuginosa,* Hook. Fronds silky-pubescent or tomen- tose, especially on the under surface; otherwise as in the typical form. Utah, Cal. and northward. VII]. 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. @1. ADIANTOPSIS, Fee. Jndusia distinct, roundish, con- Jined to the apex of a single veiniet. 1. C. Californica,* Mett. Rhizoma 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 pinnze largest, triangular; upper ones gradually smaller and simpler; ultimate segments lanceolate, acute, incised or serrate; indusia membranous. Cal. IV. @2. EUCHEILANTHES. Judusia more or less confluent, usually extending over the apices of several veinlets, but not con- tinuous all round the segment; segments mostly flat, not bead-like. *Seoments of the frond smooth. +Pinne few, not more than 5—6 pairs. 2. C. Wrightii,* Hook. Stipes castaneous, slightly chaffy at base, 1’/—2’ high; fronds 2’— 3’ long, ovate-oblong, tripinnatifid, segments more or less incised; indusium sub-continuous or inter- rupted, similar to frond in texture. Western Tex. to Ariz. V. ttPinne numerous. 3. C. microphylla, Swz. Rhizoma creeping, short; stipes dark-brown, glossy, rusty-pubescent on the upper side, 4’—6/ long; fronds 4’/—6/ long, ovate-lanceolate, bi—tripinnate ; pinne lanceolate, the lowest ones usually largest and more deltoid; pin- nules oblong or deltoid-ovate, deeply incised or pinnate ; indusium similar in texture to frond, interrupted or sub-continuous. Fla. Ark., N. Mex. IV. 4. C. Alabamensis,* Kunze. Rhizoma creeping clothed with slender brown scales; stipes black with scanty ferruginous wool; fronds 2’—10’ long, narrowly lanceolate, bipinnate; pinnz close, ovate-lanceolate, the lowest ones not enlarged usually smaller than those above; pinnules mostly acute, often auriculate on the upper side at the base; indusia pale, membranous, interrupted only by the incising of the pinnules. Va., Ala., Tenn. to Tex. VI. ** Seoments of the frond glandular viscid. 76 Our Native Ferns. 5. 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 pinnze; segments toothed, minutely glandular and everywhere viscid; teeth of segments re- curved, forming indusia. Cal. IV. *** Frond somewhat hairy and glandular not tomentose. +Fronds deltoid-ovate ,; stipes stramineous. 6. C.leucopoda, Link. Stipes 3’—4’ long, stout, chaffy at base; fronds 2’—4’ long, deltoid-ovate, quadripinnate at base, gradually simpler above, everywhere glandular-puberulent; lowest pair of pinnze unequally deltoid-ovate, upper ones oblong ; pin- nulesshort-stalked ; ultimate pinnules divided into minute rounded lobules, strongly revolute when fertile. Tex. V. ttfronds ovate-lanceolate,; stipes brownish. 7. C. vestita,* Swz. Stipes tufted, 2”’—4/’ long, wiry, 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. N. Y. to Kan., and south- ward. III. . 8. C. Coopere,* D.C. Eaton. Stipes densely tufted, fragile, hairy with straitish nearly white articulated hairs which are usu- ally tipped with a glandular and viscid enlargement; fronds 3’/— 8’ long, bipinnate, the pinne rather distant, oblong-ovate ; pin- nules roundish-ovate, crenate and incised, the ends of the lobules forming herbaceous indusia. Cal. IV. 23. PHYSAPTERIS. Presl. Ultimate segments minute, bead- “ike; indusium usually continuous all round the margin; fronds (in our species) bi—tripinnate, the lower surface scaly or tomentose or both. * Fronds tomentose beneath, not scaly (except the rachises in No. 12). t Upper surface naked or nearly so. 9. C. gracillima,* D.C. Eaton. (LACE-FERN.) Stipes densely tufted, 2’—6’ long, dark brown; fronds 1’—4/ long, narrowly ovate- lanceolate, bipinnate; pinnze numerous, crowded, pinnately di- vided into about nine oblong-oval pinnules at first slightly webby above, soon smooth, heavily covered beneath with pale-ferrugi- nous matted wool; indusia yellowish-brown, formed of the con- tinuously curved margin. Cal. and northward. IV. Chetlanthes. 77 tt Upper surface decidedly pubescent. tStipes tomentose or smooth. to, C. lanuginosa,* Nutt, Stipes densely tufted, slender, at first clothed with woolly hairs, at length nearly smooth ; fronds 2’—4’ long, ovate-lanceolate, tripinnate or tripinnatifid, rarely bi- pinnate; 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; indusia narrow formed of the unchanged margin. Rocky Mts., Il. and Wis. south-west- ward to Ariz. V. 11. C. tomentosa, Link. Stipes tufted, 4’/—6’ long, rather stout, covered with pale-brown tomentum; fronds 8’—15/ long, oblong- lanceolate, everywhere but especially beneath tomentose with slender brownish-white obscurely articulated hairs, tripinnate ; pinnz and pinnules ovate-oblong: ultimate pinnules 4%/’/—%//’ long, the terminal ones twice as large; indusium pale, membra- nous, continuous, Va., N. C., Tenn., Mo., Tex. III. ttStipe and rachises covered with very narrow pale-ferrugt- nous scales. 12, C. Eatoni,* Baker. Stipes tufted 3’—8’ long, wiry, brown- ish ; fronds 4’—8’ long, oblong-lanceolate, tripinnate ; lower pinnz rather distant, upper crowded, ovate-oblong; ultimate pinnules contiguous 4%” long, rounded, the terminal ones often twice larger; upper surface gray-tomentose, under surface with heavy matted ferruginous tomentum; indusia very narrow hidden by the tomen- tum. Tex., N. Mex., Col., Ariz. V. ** Fronds covered beneath with imbricated scales, not tomentose. 13. C. Fendleri,* Hook. Stipes 2’--5’ long, chaffy with mi- nute slender scales; fronds 3’—4’ long, ovate-lanceolate, tripin- nate; scales of primary rachis like those of stipe, those of sec- ondary and ultimate rachises larger, broadly-ovate, entire or nearly so, usually edged with white, imbricated and overlapping the (%/’/--%”” 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. Tex. and Col. to Cal. V. 14. 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 im- bricated, ciliated scales growing on the ultimate segments as well —13 78 Our Native Ferns. as on the rachises; segments nearly round, %//--34’’ broad, the terminal ones larger, margin narrowly incurved, Cal. IV. *** Under surface both tomentose and scaly. 15. C.myriophylla, Desv. Rhizoma very short, scaly; stipes tufted, 2’—6’ high, castaneous, covered with pale-brown scales and woolly hairs intermixed; fronds 3’/—8’ long, oblong-lanceo- late, tri--quadripinnatifid, smooth or pilose above, beneath mat- ted-tomentose and densely clothed with pale brown narrowly ovate-lanceolate ciliated scales, those of the ultimate segments with long tortuous cilia; pinna: deltoid-ovate, narrower upwards; ultimate segments minute, 4%’ broad, crowded, innumerable, the margin unchanged, much incurved. Ariz., Nev., Cal. IV. 16. C. Lindheimeri;* Hook. Rhizoma long, slender, chaffy ; stipes scattered, 4’—7’ high, blackish-brown, at first covered with scales and woolly hairs; fronds 3’—5/ long, ovate-lanceolate, tri— quadripinnate; ultimate segments %/’ long, crowded; upper sur- face white tomentose, lower surface very chaffy, those of the mid- ribs ciliate at base, those of the segments more and more ciliate passing into entangled tomentum. Western Tex. to Ariz. V. 24. ALEURITOPTERIS, Fee. Jnudusia more or less con- Jiuent; fronds farinose below. 17. C. argentea, Kunze. Stipes derisely tufted, 3’—6’ long castaneous ; fronds 3’—4’ long, 2’ broad, deltoid, bi—tripinnatifid; lower pinnz much the largest cut nearly to the rachis; rachis polished like the stipe ; upper surface naked, lower thickly covered with white powder ; sori numerous, very small. Alaska. II. IX. CRYPTOGRAMME, R.Br. ROCK-BRAKE. Sporangia on the back or near the ends of the free veins, form- ing oblong or roundish sori, which are at length confluent and cover the back of the pinnules. Indusium 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. 1. C. acrostichoides,* R. Br. Stipes densely tufted, stramin- eous; fronds dimorphous, sterile ones on shorter stalks tri—quad- ripinnatifid, with toothed or incised segments; fertile ones long- stalked, less compound, with narrowly elliptical or oblong-linear pod-like segments. Lake Superior, Col. to Cal.and northward. II. Pelle@a, 79 X. PELLZEA, 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. #1. CHEILOPLECTON, Fee, Baker. Texture herbaceous or sub-coriaceous, veins clearly visible, indusium broad, in most of the species rolled over the sorus till maturity. 1. P. Breweri,* D.C. Eaton. Stipes densely tufted, covered with narrow crisped fulvous chaff; fronds 2’—6/ high, simply pin- nate, the pinnze short-stalked, 6--8 pairs, membranous, mostly 2-parted, the upper segment larger; segments obtuse, in the fertile frond narrower; indusium continuous, pale; veins repeatedly forked. Col. to Cal. and southward. IV. : 2. P. gracilis, Hook. Stipes scattered, slender, 2’—3’ long, stramineous or pale brown; fronds 2’—4’ long, 1’—2’ broad, ovate, bi—tripinnatifid; pinnz lanceolate-deltoid, cut to the rachis intd a few broad blunt slightly lobed pinnules; texture thinly herbaceous, flaccid; indusium broad, continuous, membra- nous; veins of the fertile fronds mostly only once forked. Lab- rador to Pa., Ill., Col. and northward. II. 32. ALLOSORUS, Baker. Texture coriaceous, the veins not perceptible; indusium broad, conspicuous. * Pinnules or segments obtuse or barely acute. tFronds pinnate or bipinnate, never tripinnate. 3. P.atropurpurea, 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 pinne 1’—2’ long, %’ broad or less, nearly sessile, smooth ; in- dusium formed of the slightly altered incurved edge of the pin- nules. Ariz., N. Mex., Tex. to Vt. and northward. III. 4. P.aspera,* Baker. Stipes slender, 2’—3/ long, black with scurfy pubescence; fronds 4’—6’ long, oblong-lanceolate. bipin- nate; pinnz and pinnules deltoid-lanceolate or oblong, pinnules next to main rachis often lobed; all of them rough on both sur- faces with short harsh hairs. (Chet/anthes aspera, Hook.) Western Tex. and N. Mex. V. +t Fronds bi—quadripinnate, ultimate segments oval or cordate. 5. P. andromedzfolia, Fee. Stipes scattered, erect, pale brown, 2’—12’ long; fronds 6’—12’ long, 3’—6’ broad, ovate, bi— quadripinnate usually tripinnate ; pinnz rather distant, spreading ; 80 Our Native Ferns. ultimate pinnules 2’’—s/’ long, oval, slightly cordate, coriaceous, the margin of the fertile ones sometimes revolute to the midrib; veins numerous, parallel. Cal. IV. 6. P. pulchella, Fee. Stipes densely tufted, 3’—8’ long, chaffy at base, nearly black; fronds 3’—9’ long, 1’—5/ broad, triangular- ovate, quadripinnate below, gradually simpler above ; lower pinnz deltoid, narrowly triangular above; ultimate pinnules numerous, 1//—3’” long, oval or often cordate-ovate, stalked, coriaceous, smooth, the edges often much reflexed. Western Tex. and N. Mex. V. ** Piynules mucronulate or decidedly acute. +Fronds narrowly linear in outline, usually bipinnate. 7. BP. ternifolia, Link. Stipes tufted, nearly or quite black, 2’-—6’ long, fronds 4’—10’ long, narrowly linear; pinnz usually 9--15 pairs all but the uppermost trifoliate; segments commonly linear, slightly mucronate, coriaceous, sessile or the middle one indistincly stalked, the edges much inflexed in fertile fronds; in- dusium broad. Western Tex. V. 8. P. brachyptera,* Baker. Stipes 2’— 8’ long, stout, purplish- brown; fronds 3’—8/ long, narrow in outline from the ascending secondary rachises, bipinnate; pinnules, crowded, 2’/—5’’ long, oblong-linear, simple or trifoliate, acute or mucronulate ; margins inflexed tothe midrib in fertile fronds. (P. Ornithopus, var. brach- yptera, D. C.E.) Cal. IV. ttFronds broader, lanceolate to ovate, bi--tripinnate. g. 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 pinnz spread- ing or obliquely ascending, linear, bearing 4—16 pairs of trifoliate (varying from simple to 5—7 foliate) mucronulate, pinnules, 14" —2/’ long; margins inflexed to midrib in fertile fronds. Cal. IV. 1o. P. Wrightiana, Hook. Rhizoma short, thick, densely chaffy ; stipes crowded, purplish-brown, 4’—6’ long; fronds 3’—6’ long, 1/—3’ broad, lanceolate to deltoid, bipinnate; pinnze nearly sessile, spreading; pinnules coriaceous, smooth, nearly sessile, at most about six pairs; those of the sterile frond oval 3/’—’’5 long, with a minute cartilaginous point; of the fertile inflexed to the midrib. Tex., Col. N. Mex., Ariz. V. 11, P.densa,* Hook. Rhizoma rather slender, chaffy with blackish scales; stipes densely tufted, wiry, very slender, casta- neous, 3’—-9' long; fronds ovate or triangular-oblong, 1’—3’ long, densely tripinnate; segments 3’’—6” long, linear, nearly sessile, Pellea, Ceratopteris, Lomaria. 81 sharp pointed or mucronate, in the fertile fronds entire, with the margin narrowly recurved, in the rare sterile fronds sharply ser- rated, especially toward the apices. Cal., Ore., Wyoming. IV. @3. PLATYLOMA, J.Sm., Baker. Texture coriaceous, the veins usually hidden, the ultimate segments broad and flat, the in- dusium so narrow as to be soon hidden by the fruit, 12. P. Bridgesii,* Hook. Stipes 2’—6’ long, tufted, castane- ous; fronds 4’—6/ long, 1’ or more broad, simply pinnate; pinnz 5—18 pairs, mainly opposite, nearly sessile, glaucous green, coria- ceous, rounded or cordate at the base; indusium narrow, formed of the whitish margin of the pinna, soon flattened out exposing the broad sorus. Cal! IV. 13. BP. flexuosa, Link. Rhizoma creeping, rather 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 pu- berulent or nearly smooth; pinne mostly alternate ; ultimate pin- nules 5’/—10’’ long, roundish-ovate, or sub-cordate, smooth ; mar- gins at first reflexed soon flattened out. W. Tex. to Cal. V. XI. 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 re- flexed margins of the frond, those of opposite sides meeting at the midrib. 1, C.thalictroides, Brong. Stipes tufted, thick, 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 seg- ments pod-like. Fla. VI. XII. LOMARIA, Willd. Sori in a continuous band next the midrib of the contracted pinne of the fertile frond, covered till mature by an elongated in- dusium, 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 elongated, of two kinds, the sterile foliaceous, the fertile commonly much contracted. 8 EULOMARIA. u4— 82 Our Native Ferns. 1, L. Spicant, Desv. (DEER-FERN.) Rhizoma short, thick, very chaffy; fronds tufted, erect , sterile ones nearly sessile, nar- nowly 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 auri- cles; fertile fronds sometimes three feet high, long-stalked, pin- nate's pinnz somewhat fewer and more distant, longer and much narrower than in the sterile frond; indusia distinctly intramargi:al. Cal., Ore. and northward. IV. XIIT. 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. @° EURBLECHNUM. 1. B. serrulatum, Michx. Stipes 6’—12’ long, stout, erect, nearly naked; fronds: oblong-lanceolate, 1°—134° long, 3’—6/’ broad, with 12—24 pairs of distinct linear-oblong pinnze, the mar- gins finely incised; texture coriaceous; veins very fine and close; fertile pinnz narrower. Fla. VI. XIV. WOODWARDIA, Sm. CHAIN-FERN. Sori oblong or linear, sunk in cavities in the frond, arranged in a chain-iike row parallel to the midribs of the pinne and pinnules and near them. Indusium sub-coriaceous, fixed by its outer mar- gin to the fruitful veinlet and covering the cavity like a lid. Veins more or less reticulated. 21. EUWOODWARDIA. Fronds uniform, the veins ee ing at least one series of areole between the sori and margins. 1. W. radicans, Sm., var. Americana, Hook. Caudex stout, erect, and’ rising a little above the ground; stipes stout, 8’—12’ long; fronds 3°—s° high, sub-coriaceous, pinnate; the pinne 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 areolze next the midvein besides a few oblique empty areole outside the fruiting ones thence free to the margin. Cal. IV. 22. ANCHISTEA, Presl. Fronds uniform, the veins free be- tween the sori and the margins. 2. W. Virginica,* Sm. Stipes stout, 12’—18’ high; fronds oblong-lanceolate, 12’—18’ long, 6’—9’ broad; pinnz linear-lan- ceolate, 4’— 6’ long, 3{’—1’ broad, cut nearly to the rachis into linear-oblong lobes. Canada to Fla. III. Woodwardia, Asplenium 83 @3.. LORINSERIA, Presl. Fronds dimoxphous, veins every- where forming areole. 3. W. augustifolia,* Sm. 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 elongated, castaneous stem ; pinne 3’—4’ long, narrowly linear. Mass. to Fla. near the coast. III. XV. ASPLENIUM, L. SpLEENWORT. Sori oblong or linear, oblique, separate; indusium straight or rarely curved, opening toward the midrib when single, sometimes double. Veins free in all our species. : 21. EUASPLENIUM. Veins free, simple.or branched, tn- dusium 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 rhizoma,:1}°—2}° long, 2’—4’ broad, simple, spatulate or linear-oblanceolate, the margin crenulate or irregularly but finely serrate, sub-coriaceous ; midrib prominent, keeled and often blackish purple beneath; veins closely placed, free, once forked ; sori much elongated, 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. Fla. VI. _ ** Fronds pinnatifid or pinnate below, tapering to a point. 2. A. pinnatifidum,* Nutt. Stipes tufted, 2’—4’ long;. fronds 3/—6/ long, 1’—13’ broad, lanceolate, pinnatifid, or pinnate below, tapering to a slender prolongation above; lobes roundish-ovate, or the lowest pair acuminate; sori numerous. Pa. to Ill., Ky, and Ala. III. 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 shorter; stipes black and polished, as is the lower part of the midrib espe- cially beneath. N. Y., Pa., Ct., Ala., Ky., Ill. II. Rare. *** Frouds once pinnate. tPinne 4/—3! long, mostly blunt. tRachis chestnut-brown or blackish. 4. A. ebeneum, Ait. Stipes tufted, 3’—6’ long, chestnut- brown, nearly naked; fronds 8’—16’ long, linear-lanceolate ; pinnz 20—49, lanceolate, subfalcate, or the lower oblong, {’—1’ long, the dilated base auricled on the upper or both sides; sori often 10o—12 on each side. Canada to Fla., Ky. and northward. ITI. 84 Our Native Ferns. 5. A. parvulum, Mart. & Gale. Fronds tufted, erect, rigid, 4’—10’ long, narrowly linear-lanceolate; stipe and rachis black and shining; pinnz numerous, oblong, obtuse, entire or crenulate, auricled on the upper side, nearly sessile; middle pinnze longest, the lower gradually shorter and deflexed; sori short, abundant. (A. ebeneum, var. minus, Hook.) Va., S.C. and Fla. to Ark. and N. Mex. VI. 6. A. Trichomanes, L, Stipes densely tufted, purple-brown, shining ; fronds 3/— 8’ long, 14’ or more broad, linear; pinnz 15— 30 pairs, nearly opposite, roundish-oblong or oval, the two sides unequal, obliquely wedge-truncate at the base, attached by a nar- row point, the edge slightly crenate, the midvein forking and evanescent; sori 3—6 on each side of the midrib. Eastern U. S. to the Pacific coast. I. Var. incisum, Moore. Fronds larger, often 3{’ or more broad, pinnz more or less deeply incised. Cal., Vt. tRachis green. 7. A. viride, Huds. Stipes densely tufted, 2”’—4’ long, naked, the lower part chestnut-brown ; fronds 2’—6’ long, 14’ broad, with 12—20 pinnz on each side, which are ovate or rhomboidal in out- line, the upper edge narrowed suddenly at the base, the lower obliquely truncate, the outer part deeply crenated; rachis naked; sori copious. Vt., Canada,and N. B. II. 8. A. dentatum, L. Stipes tufted, 2’/—6’ long, naked, ebene- ous below; fertile fronds 2’/—3’ long, 1’ broad, with 6—8 pairs of stalked, oblong-rhomboidal pinnz, the lower side truncate with a curve, the outer edge irregularly crenate; sterile fronds smaller on shorter stipes; rachis naked; sori copious in parallel rows. Fla., S.C. VI. ttPinne only 2—5, linear-cuneate. g. A. septentrionale, Hoffm. Stipes densely tufted, 3’—6’ long, slender, naked, ebeneous toward the base; fronds irregu- larly 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 much elongated, placed near the margin, usually facing each other in pairs, commonly only two or three to each segment. Col., N. Mex. V. ttt Pinne numerous, linear or linear-oblong, acute or acuminate. to, A. angustifolium,* Michx. Stipes 1° or more long, brown- ish, slightly scaly below; fronds 13°—2° long, 4’—6’ broad, lance- olate-oblong, flaccid; pinnze 20—30 pairs, linear-lanceolate, acu- minate, entire or crenulate, those of the fertile frond narrower; Asplenium. 85 texture thinly herbaceous; sori linear 20 —40 each side of the mid- vein. N. Eng. to Ky. and Wis. III. 11, A. firmum, Kunze. Stipes 4’—8’ long, erect, grayish, naked; fronds 6’—12’ long, 3/—4’ broad; pinnz 12—20 pairs, ob- long-lanceolate, the point bluntish, the margin inciso-crenate, the upper one narrowed suddenly at the base, the lower one obliquely truncate; sori short, falling short of both midvein and margin. Fla. VI. 4% Fronds bi—tripinnatifid. } Texture somewhat coriaceous. 12, A. Ruta-muraria, L. Stipes tufted, 2’—4’ long, naked; fronds ovate-deltoid, 1’—2’ long, bi—tripinnate below, simply pin- nate above; the divisions rhombic-wedge-shaped, toothed or in- cised at the apex; veins flabellate; sori few, elongated, soon con- fluent. Vt. to Mich. and Ky. III. 13. A. montanum,* Willd. Stipes tufted, 2’—3’ long, naked; fronds 2’—5’ long, ovate-lanceolate, pinnate; pinnz 3—7 parted below, incised or toothed above; veins obscure; sori short, the basal ones sometimes double. N. Y. to Ky., Ala., and Ark. III. tt Texture thinly herbaceous or membranous. 14. A. Bradleyi,* D.C. Eaton. Stipes tufted, 2’—3’ long, ebeneous, as is also the lower half of the rachis; basal scales brown-black, lanceolate-acuminate; fronds 3’/—7’ long, oblong- lanceolate, bipinnatifid; pinnae 8—r12 pairs, short-stalked or ses- sile, ovate-oblong, the lowest not reduced, the largest pinnatifid with oblong lobes toothed at the tip ; sori short near the midvein. N. Y., E. Tenn., Ky., and Ark. TIL. 15. A. myriophyllum, Presl. Stipes tufted, 2’--6’ long; fronds 3/—10’ high, delicately membranous, lanceolate, narrowed below bi—tripinnate; ultimate segments obovate-oblong, entire or 2—3 lobed; veins single in each segment, bearing below the middle a solitary oblong sorus. Fla. VI. 16. A. cicutarium, Swz. Stipes tufted, 4’--8’ long, greenish, naked; fronds 6’—15’ long, 4’—6’ broad, with 1o—15 horizontal pinnz 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. Fla. VI. 22. ATHYRIUM, Roth. Veins free, sori more or less curved, sometimes horseshoe-shaped, often crossing to the outer or lower side of the fruiting veinlet. 1b— 86 Our Native Ferns. 17. A. thelypteroides, Michx. Stipes long, erect, stramineous; fronds 1°—2° long, 6’—12’ broad, bipinnatifid; pinnz linear-lan- ceolate; segments crowded, oblong, minutely toothed; sori 5---6 pairs to each segment, slightly curved, the lower ones often double. N. Eng. to Ky. and Il. IIL. 18. A. filix-foemina, Bernh. (LADVY-FERN). Stipes tufted, 6’ —12’ long, stramineous or brownish; fronds delicate, 13°—3° long, brvadly oblong-ovate, bipirinate; pinnz 4’—8’ long, lanceolate ; pinnules oblong-lanceolate, pointed, more or less pinnately in- cised or serrate, distinct or confluent on the secondary 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. exile, D. C. Eaton, often fruit- ing when 3’—6’ high. Eastern U.S., Cal., Nev., Utah, Ariz. III. Var. ancustum, D. C. Eaton. Fronds 1°—3° high, rather rigid, narrow in outline, nearly bipinnate; pinnz obliquely ascend- ing or curved upward, narrowly lanceolate; segments crowded, crenate, or serrate; sori usually abundant, straight’ or curved. (Var. Michauxti, Mett). N. Eng. to Ind., Utah, Cal. III. Var. LATIFOLIUM, Hook. Fronds 2?—3° high, oblong-lanceo- late, nearly bipinnate; pinne 3’—4’ long, oblong-linear, with a narrowly winged secondary rachis; pinnules broadly ovate and foliaceous, simply or doubly serrate; sori nearer the midvein than the margin; indusia straight or curved, the basal ones often horse- shoe-shaped. Ore., Pa. III. Var. cycLosorum, Rupr. Fronds very large, often 5° high, and 18’—20’ broad, bipinnate—tripinnatifid; pinnules often 1’ long, oblong-lanceolate, pinnatifidly incised, or nearly again pinnate; sori roundish ; indusium very short. Vt., Ore., and northward. III. XVI. SCOLOPENDRIUM, Sm. Hart’s-TONGUE. Sori linear elongated, 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 the next superior veinlet, thus appearing to have a double indusium opening along the middle. ' 1, S. vulgare, Sm. Stipes 2’/—6/ long, fibrillose below; fronds oblong-lanceolate from an auricled-heart-shaped base, entire or undulate, 7’--18’ long, 1’/—2’ wide, bright green. Central N. Y., Canada and Tenn. Rare and local. II. XVII. CAMPTOSORUS, Link. WaALKING-LEAF. Sori oblong or linear, irregularly scattered on either side of the reticulated veins of the simple frond, those next the midrib single, Camptosorus, Phegopieris. 87 the outer ones inclined to approximate in pairs, or to become con- fluent at their ends, thus forming crooked lines. 1. C. rhizophyllus,* Link. Fronds evergreen, tufted, spread- ing or procumbent, 4’—9/ long, lanceolate from an auricled, heart- shaped or often hastate base, tapering above into a slender pro- longation which often roots at the apex. N. Eng. to Wis. and southward. III. XVII. PHEGOPTERIS, Fee. BEECH-FERN. Sori small, round, naked, borne on the back of the veins below the apex. Stipe continuous with the rhizoma. Veins free in our species. *Fronds triangular, bipinnatifid; pinne sessile, adnate to a winged rachis. 1, P. polypodioides, Fee. Stipes 6’—9’ long; fronds 4’—9’ long. 4’—6’ broad, hairy on the veins especially beneath; pinne linear-lanceolate, the lowest pair deflexed, and standing forward ; segments oblong, obtuse, entire, the basal ones decurrent and adnate to the main rachis; sori near the margin. N. Eng. to Va. and westward. IT. 2. P.hexagonoptera,* Fee. Stipes 8’—18/’ long, stramineous, naked; fronds 7’—12’ long, nearly as broad, slightly pubescent, and often finely glandular beneath; upper pinnz oblong, obtuse, toothed or entire, the very large lowest pinne elongated and pinnately lobed; sori near the margin or some between the sinus and the midrib. Canada to Ill., Ky., Miss. and Fla. III. ** Fronds oblong-lanceolate, tripinnatifid,; rachis wingless. 3. P.alpestris, Mett. Rhizoma short, thick, erect or oblique ; stipes 4’—10’ long, with a few brown spreading scales near the base; fronds 1°—2° long, pinnz deltoid-lanceolate, the lower ones distant and decreasing moderately; pinnules oblong-lanceolate, incised and toothed; sori small, rounded, sub-marginal. Cal. and northward. LV. **% Fronds ternate, the three divisions petioled; rachis wingless. 4. P. Dryopteris, Fee. (OAK-FERN). Rhizoma slender, creep- ing; fronds broadly triangular. 4”-—8’ wide; the three primary divisions 1—2 pinnate ; segments oblong obtuse, entire or toothed; sori near the margin. Northeastern U.S. to Ore. II. 5. P.calcarea, Fee. Stipes 6’—r10’ long, stramineous when dry, glandular; fronds 6’—8’ long, 5’—7’ wide, deltoid-ovate in outline, bipinnate, lowest pair of pinnz far the largest, pinnatifid 88 Our Native Ferns. or again pinnate; upper pinnz smaller, pinnatifid, lobed, or en- tire; sori copious forming submarginal rows around the segments. Minn. IT. XIX. ASPIDIUM, Swz. SHIELD-FERN, WOOD-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 rhizoma. @1. NEPHRODIUM, Rich. (DRYOPTERIS, Adanson). Zz- dusium cordato-reniform or orbicular with a narrow sinus. * Texture thin membranous, veins simple or once forked, fronds bipinnatifid. tLowest pinne gradually reduced to mere lobes. 1, A. Noveboracense,* Swz. Rhizoma slender, creeping; fronds 1°—2° long, 4’—6’ broad, lanceolate, tapering both ways from the middle; pinnz lanceolate, the lowest two or more pairs gradually shorter and deflexed, those of the barren frond broader ; segments flat, oblong, basal ones often enlarged; veins simple or forked in basal lobes; sori distinct, near the margin; indusium minute, the margin glanduliferous. N.C., Ky., and Northern U.S. IIL. 2. A. conterminum, Willd., var: strigosum, Eaton. Rhizoma stout, erect, often extending a foot above ground, bearing a crown of fronds; stipes very short, narrowly wing-margined at the base; fronds 1°—4° long, lanceolate in outline, caudate-acuminate, much narrowed at the base, somewhat rigid, pinnate ; pinne sessile, nar- rowly lanceolate from a broader base, acuminate, deeply pinna- tifid into oblong obliquely sub-falcate obtuse segments, under surface copiously dotted with resinous globules; veins free, sim- ple; sori near the margin; indusium reniform, minute, glandular, somewhat pilose, evanescent. Fla. 1880. VI. 3. A. Nevadense,* D.C. Eaton. Rhizoma creeping, densely covered with the persistent bases of former stalks; fronds in a crown, 13°—3° high, lanceolate; pinne linear-lanceolate from a broad base, deeply pinnatifid, the lower pairs distant and gradu- ally reduced to mere auricles; segments crowded, oblong, slightly hairy on the veins beneath, and sprinkled with minute resinous particles; veins about seven pairs to-a lobe; sori close to the margin; indusium minute furnished with a few dark colored mar- ginal glands and bearing several straight jointed hairs on the upper surface: Cal. IV. Aspidium. 89 4. A. Oreopteris, Swz. Rhizoma short, erect or decumbent, scaly; stipes short, tufted, scaly below; fronds 13°—2° long, firm membranous, broadly lanceolate, gradually tapering and atten- uated below, glandular; pinnz 2’—3’ long, sessile from a broad base, lanceolate-acuminate, deeply pinnatifid, gradually shorter to the lowest which are more distant, deltoid and less than 17 long; segments flat, nearly entire, oblong; sori quite marginal; indusia delicate membranous, more or less toothed at the margin. Cal.? Unalaska. IV. ttLower pinne little smaller than those above. 5. A. Thelypteris, Swz. (MARSH-FERN). Rhizoma slender; fronds 1°—-2° long, 4’—6/ broad, lanceolate, pinnz mostly horizon- tal, linear-lanceolate; segments oblong, entire, obtuse or appear- ing acute in fruit from the strongly revolute margins ; veins mostly forked, bearing the sori near their middle; indusium minute, smooth and naked. Northern U. S. to Fla. III. 6. A. patens, Swz. Rhizoma rather stout bearing several 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 adjoining seg- ments often uniting; sori near the margin, indusia very pubescent. Fla., S. C., Tex., Cal. VI. ** Texture firmer or sub-coriaceous, veins forking freely. +Fronds pinnate; pinne cut into spreading triangular lobes ; sort confluent. 7. A. unitum, R. Br., var. glabrum, Mett. Stipes 1°—1%4° long, brownish, naked; fronds 144° or more long, 5’—8’ broad; pinnz narrow cut from one-third to half-way down into sharp pointed lobes; lower pinne not reduced; veins pinnate in the broad lobes with 6—8 veinlets on each side, the lower ones of con- tiguous groups united; sori near the ends of the veins principally in the lobes. Fla. VI. ttFronds bipinnatifid or bipinnate ; indusia rather large; seg- ments not spinulose. {Fronds small, narrowly lanceolate. 8. A. fragrans, Swz. Fronds 4’—12’ high, glandular and aro- matic; pinne linear-oblong, pinnately parted: segments toothed or nearly entire, nearly covered beneath with the very large thin imbricated indusia, which are orbicular with a narrow sinus, the margin ragged and sparingly glanduliferous. N. New England to Wis. and northward. II. 17 fore) Our Native Ferns. tt Fronds larger, mostly 2°—g° high. A. Fronds bipinnatifid or nearly twice pinnate; indusia large thinnish and fiat. g. A. Floridanum,* D.C. Eaton. Stipes 6’—10’ long, spar- ingly clothed with ovate scales ; fronds 18’—20’ long, 5’—8’ broad, lanceolate; 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 pinnze broader, shorter and sub-deltoid below, less deeply cut. (4. cvistatum, var. Floridanum, Hook. Fla. to La. VI. 10. A.cristatum, Swz. Fronds linear-oblong or lanceolate in outline, 1°—2° long ; pinne short, 2’--3’ long, triangular-oblong or the lowest nearly triangular, deeply pinnatifid; segments, 6—10 pairs, finely serrate or cut-toothed; sori as near the midvein as the margin; indusium smooth, naked. Northern U. S. III. Var, Clintonianum,* D.C. Eaton. Fronds much larger, 24° —4° long ; 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. N. Eng., N. Y. and west- ward, II. 11, A. Goldianum,* Hook. Fronds broadly ovate, 2°—4° long; pinnz 6’—9’ 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 mid- vein; indusia very large, orbicular with a narrow sinus. N. Eng. to Ky. and northward. III. B. Fronds mostly bipinnate ; indusia convex, without marginal glands. is 12. -A. filix-mas, Swz. (MALE-FERN). Rhizoma short, stout; fronds in a crown, 1°—3° high, broadly oblong-lanceolate, slightly narrowed toward the base, bipinnatifid or bipinnate; pin- nules 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. Canada, L:’Superior to Col., Ore. and north- ward, II. ‘ 13. A. marginale,* Swz. Fronds smooth, 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. Northern U.S. III. Aspidium. gt tttFronds bipinnate or tripinnatifid ; segments spinulose-toothed. 14. A. rigidum, Swz., var. argutum, D. C. Eaton. Rhizoma short, stout; fronds in a crown on chaffy stalks, half-evergreen, smooth above, paler and more or less glandular beneath, 1°—3° high, ovate-lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, bipinnate; pinne broadly oblong-lanceolate, the lowest ones broadest scarcely shorter than the middle ones; pinnules oblong, incised or doubly -- serrate with spinulose teeth; indusia firm, convex, the edge bear- ing short-stalked glands. (A. argutum, Kf.) Cal., Ore. IV. 15. A.spinulosum, Swz. Stipes with a few, pale-brown, de- ciduous scales; fronds ovate-lanceolate, bipirinate, the pinnze ob- lique to the rachis, elongated 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. N. Y. and N. Eng. II. Var, dilatatum, Horneman, Scales of the stipes large, brown with a darker centre; fronds broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, oftenest tripinnate; pinnules lance-oblong the lowest often much elongated; indusium smooth and naked. N. Eng. to Ore. and northward. II. Var. intermedium, D. C. Eaton. Scales of the stipes few, brown with a darker centre; fronds oblong-ovate, bi—tripinnate ; pinnz spreading oblong-lanceolate, the lowest unequally trian- gular-ovate; pinnules crowded, pinnately divided; margin of in- dusium denticulate and beset with stalked glands. Northern U.S. II. 16, A, Boottii, Tuckerman. Scales of the stipes pale brown; fronds elongated oblong or elongated lanceolate in outline; pin- nules broadly oblong, very obtuse, the lower pinnatifid, the upper and smaller merely serrate; indusia minutely glandular. (4. spinulosum, var. Boottit, Gray.) N. Eng., N. Y. and northward. II. 32. POLYSTICHUM, Roth. Jndusium orbicular and entire, peltate, fixed by the depressed centre; pinne and pinnules usually auricled on the upper side at base, mucronately serrate ; veins free. *Fronds simply pinnate. t+Fronds long-stalked, lanceolate. 17. A. acrostichoides,* Swz. (CHRISTMAS-FERN). Stipes 6’ —8’ long, densely clothed below with pale brown lanceolate scales ; fronds %4%°—2° high; 3’—5’ broad; pinnz linear-lanceolate some- what falcate, half-halberd shaped at the base, serrulate with ap- pressed bristly teeth ; the fertile ones contracted and smaller, bear- 92 Our Native Ferns. ing contiguous sori near the middle, soon covering the entire sur- face. A form with cut-lobed, often strongly falcate pinnz, set obliquely to the rachis, and with the tips of nearly all bearing sori, is the var. incisum, Gray. N. Eng. to Fla., Miss. and north- ward. III. 18. A. munitum,* Kf. Stipes 4’—12’ long, chaffy like the rachis with brown scales; fronds growing in a crown, 1°—4° long, tapering slightly toward the base; pinnze numerous, linear-acu- minate, 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. Cal. and north- ward, IV. Var. nupatum, D.C. Eaton. Fronds smaller, the scales al- most entirely lacking; pinnz few, rather remote, short and broad, the teeth closely appressed; sori scanty on the ends of the upper- most pinne. Cal. IV. Var. 1mpricans, D.C. Eaton. Fronds small not narrowed at the base ; pinnz crowded, lanceolate-oblong, pale, ascending and imbricated ; sori nearer the margin than the midvein; stipes with brown scales at the base, otherwise almost naked. Cal. IV. ttFronds scarcely stalked, linear-lanceolate. 1g. A. Lonchitis, Swz. Fronds 9/--20’, rigid; pinne 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 contiguous and near the margin. Canada and Wis. to Utah, and northward. II. ** Fronds bipinnate or nearly so. 20. A. mohrioides, Bory. Stipes tufted, 2/—6/’ long, more or less densely clothed with lanceolate dark-brown scales; fronds 6’--12’ long, 2’--3’ broad, with numerous dense, often imbricated, lanceolate pinnz, which are cut below into slightly toothed ob- long-rhomboidal pinnules; teeth blunt or mucronate; texture coriaceous; both surfaces naked; rachis stout, compressed, scaly ; veins close, immersed ; sori copious. Cal. IV. 21. A. aculeatum, Swz. Rhizoma stout, erect; stipes vari- able in length, very chaffy with large and small scales intermixed 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 un- equally triangular-ovate and auriculate on the upper side of the slightly stalked base, the teeth aculeate in various degrees ; under Aspidium, Nephrolepis, Cystopteris. 93 surface more or less chaffy-fibrillose; sori in two rows on the segments nearer the midvein than the edge. Cal. IV. Var, Californicum, D. C. Eaton. Fronds elongated, narrow, tapering slightly at the base; pinnze but slightly incised above the middle, more and more deeply cleft toward the rachis, the lower superior segment largest, but scarcely distigct as a pinnule, and not at all auricled. (4. Californicum, D.C. E.) Cal. IV. Var, angulare, D.C. Eaton. Fronds oblong-lanceolate, scarcely or not at all narrowed at the base, truly bipinnate; pinnules dis- tinctly short-stalked, mostly auricled and slightly incised; the basal one largest and again pinnatifid; under surface chaffy-fibril- lose. Cal. IV. Var. Braunii, Koch. Fronds oblong-lanceolate; pinnz nu- merous, oblong-lanceolate, the lower gradually reduced in size and obtuse; pinnules ovate or oblong, truncate and almost rect- angular at the base, sharply toothed, beset with long soft hairs as well as chaffy ones. Me. to N. Y. and northward. II. 33. CYRTOMIUM, Presl. Judusium as in 42; fronds simply pinnate with broad pinne ; veinlets usually uniting slightly near the margin. 22. A. juglandifolium, Kunze. Stipes tufted, clothed below with large scales; fronds 6’—-2° long, coriaceous; pinnze 2—12 pairs, short-stalked, ovate-oblong or broadly lanceolate, the ter- minal one distinct, and in small fronds the largest, appressed-ser- rulate, smooth on both surfaces; veins pinnated, the veinlets few, free or uniting near the margin; sori scattered in several irregular rows. Western Tex. V. XX. NEPHROLEPIS, Schott. Sori round, arising from the apex of the upper branch of a vein, usually near the margin. Indusium reniform or roundish. Veins all free, the fronds simply pinnate, the pinnze articulated at the base, and bearing white cretaceous dots on the upper surface. 1. N. exaltata, Schott. Stipes tufted, 4’—6’ long, naked or slightly scaly; fronds 1°—6° long, 3’--6’ broad; pinnz close, lan- ceolate, the edge entire or slightly crenate, the upper side auricled at the base, the Jower rounded; rachis nearly naked; sori sub- marginal; indusium firm, distinctly reniform. Fla. VI. XXI. CYSTOPTERIS, Bernh. BLADDER-FERN. Sori roundish, borne on the back of the veins. Indusium deli- cate, hood-like, or arched, attached by a broad base on the inner 138— 94 Our Native Ferns. side partly under the sorus, early opening, free at the other side, and thrown back or withering away. Veins-free. * Fronds ovate-lanceolate, bi—tripinnate. 1. C. bulbifera,* Bernh. Stipes 4’—6’ long; fronds lanceo- late elongated, 1°--2° long; bi—tripinnatifid, pinnz lanceolate- oblong; pinnules crowded, toothed or pinnatifid ; rachis wingless often bearing bulblets underneath ; indusium short truncate on the free side. N. Eng. to Va. and N.C. TIL. 2. C. fragilis, Bernh. Fronds oblong-lanceolate, 4’—8’ long, 1’—214’ broad, bi—tripinnate; pinnz and pinnules lanceolate or ovate in outline, decurrent along the margined or winged rachis; indusium tapering or acute at the free end. Narrower, less di- vided, 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. N. Eng. to Cal. aad northward. II. ** Fronds deltoid-ovate, tri—quadripinnate. 3. C. montana, Bernh. Rhizoma long, slender, creeping; stipes 6’—9’ long, slender; fronds about 6’ each way; lowest pinnze déltoid-lanceolate, much larger than those above, their in- ferior pinnules 1’—1 4’ long; segments cut to the rachis into ob- long lobes, deeply and sharply toothed; sori numerous. Col., L. Superior and northward. II. XXII. ONOCLEA, L. Sori round, borne on the back of the veins of the contracted fertile frond, and quite concealed by their revolute margins. In- dusium very thin membranous, hemispherical or hood-like fixed at the inferior side of the sorus. Fronds conspicuously dimorphous. @1. EUONOCLEA. Veins of sterile frond copiously anasto- mosing. i. 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 pinnatifid into lanceolate-oblong pinne, which are entire, undulate, or the lowest pair sinuate pinnatifid; veins copiously anastomosing. In var. obtusilobata, Torr., the sterile fronds are again pinnatifid, more or less contracted and revolute, and beara few sori. N. Eng. to Fla. and Kan. III. Onoclea, Woodsia. 95 22. STRUTHIOPTERIS, Willd. Veins all free. 2. O. Struthiopteris, Hoffm. (OsTRICH-FERN.) Fertile fronds 1°—1 4° long, simply pinnate with necklace-shaped pinne formed of the strongly revolute margins; sterile frond, 2s—6s long, grow- ing in a crown, broadly lanceolate, bipinnatifid, the lowest pinnz gradually much shorter; veins pinnate, free, and simple; sori crowded and confluent. Sterile fronds sometimes partially con- tracted and bearing sori analogous to var. obtusilobata above. (Struthiopteris Germanica, Willd.) N. Eng. to Ill. If. XXIII 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. 1. EUWOODSIA. Jndusium minute or evanescent, open and flat from an early stage, concealed under the sorus, its margin cleft into slender hairs or cilia. * Stipes obscurely jointed near the base; cilia of the indusium long, inflexed over the sporangia. Fronds thickly clothed underneath with rusty bristle-like chaff. 1. W. Ilvensis, R. Br. Fronds broadly lanceolate, smoothish: above, pinnate; pinnz crowded, sessile, pinnately-parted, the crowded segments oblong, obscurely crenate; sori near the mar- gin somewhat confluent when old. Va. to Ky. westward and northward. II. ttPronds glabrous or nearly so. 2, W.hyperborea, R. Br. Stipes and rachis sometimes slightly hairy; fronds linear-lanceolate, pinnate; pinnz cordato-ovate, pinnatifid with few (5—7) broadly obovate entire lobes. Vt., N. Y., and northwestward. II. 3. W. glabella, R. Br. Smooth and naked throughout; fronds linear, tapering slightly below, 2’—5/ high, pinnate; pinnz deltoid or ovate, the lower rather remote, cut into 3—7 rounded or sub- cuneate entire lobes. Vt., N. Y. and northward. II. ** Stipes not jointed, cilia of the indusium very short, hidden by the sporangia. 4. W. scopulina,* D.C. Eaton. Rhizoma short, creeping 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; piunze numerous, oblong- ovate, pinnatifid with 1o—16 short ovate or oblong toothed divi- 96 Our Native Ferns. sions; indusium very delicate, deeply cleft into lacinize which ter-- minate in short hairs. Col., Ariz., Cal., Ore., and northward. IV. 5. W. Oregana,* D.C. Eaton. Stalks and fronds smooth; fertile fronds taller than the sterile ones; pinnz triangular-oblong, pinnatifid; segments oblong or ovate, toothed or crenate; teeth often reflexed and covering the submarginal sori; indusium very minute, divided almost to the centre into a few beaded hairs. Ariz., Utah, Col., Ore, and northward. IJ. 22. HYPOPELTIS, Torr. Jndusium conspicuous, at first en- closing the sporangia, but early opening at the top, and splitting into several spreading jagged lobes. 6. W. obtusa, Torr. Stipes not jointed, 3’/—6’ long; fronds broadly lanceolate, minutely glandular-hairy, 6’—12’ high, nearly bipinnate; pinnze rather remote, triangular-ovate or oblong, pin- nately parted; segments oblong, obtuse, crenately toothed, the lower ones pinnatifid; veins forked. N. Eng. to Ky. and west- ward. III. XXIV. 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. 2 SITOLOBIUM, J. Sm. ' 1. D. punctilobula,* Kunze. Rhizoma slender, extensively creeping, naked; stipes stout, chaffless ; fronds 1°—2}4° long, 5’— 9’ broad, ovate-lanceolate and pointed, usually tripinnatifid; pinnz lanceolate, pointed; pinnules cut into oblong and obtuse cut- toothed lobes; rachis and under surface minutely glandular and hairy ; sori minute, each ona recurved toothlet, usually one at the upper margin of each lobe. Can. to Tenn. III. XXV. TRICHOMANES, Sm. FILMY-FERN. Sori marginal, terminating a vein more or less sunken in the frond. Sporangia sessile on the lower part of a cylindrical, fili- form, often elongated receptacle. Indusia tubular or funnel- shaped, entire or two-lipped at the mouth. Fronds delicate, pellucid. 4 EUTRICHOMANES. ; 1. T. Petersii,* Gray. Stipes 1/’—2’’ long; fronds 3/’—10’” long, 1’’—2’’ broad, oblong-lancéolate or obovate, entire or vari- ously pinnatifid, the younger ones with a few black hairs along the Trichomanes, Lygodium, Aneimia. 97 margins; indusium solitary, terminal, funnel-shaped, the mouth expanded and slightly two-lipped, the receptacle included. Ala., Fla. VI. 2. T. radicans, Swz. Rhizoma wiry, tomentose; stipes as- cending, 1’—3’ long, naked or nearly so, usually broadly winged ; fronds 2’—8’ Iong, 1’/—1}4’ wide, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, bipinnatifid; pinnze ovate, obtuse, the upper side of the base par- allel 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. Ala., Tenn., Ky. VI. XXVI. 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. @ EULYGODIUM. i. L, palmatum,* Swz. Stipes slender, flexile and twining ; fronds 1°—3° long, the short alternate branches or petioles 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 ; texture thinly herbaceous. Mass. and N. Y. to Ky. and Fla. III. XXVII. ANEIMIA, Swz. Sporangia ovate, sessile, placed in two rows on the back of the very narrow branchlets of the two long-stalked panicled lower branches of a pinnately divided frond, the fertile branches in a few species entirely distinct from the sterile frond. Veins free or anastomosing. 3 EUANEIMIA. . q. A. adiantifolia, Swz. Rhizoma creeping; stipes 1°—1%° long, firm, naked; fronds sparingly pubescent, the two lower branches elongated, pinnately decompound, fertile; sterile por- tion deltoid-ovate, bi—tripinnate; ultimate segments obovate or cuneate, entire or lobed, striate above with numerous flabellate veins. Fla. VI. 2. A. Mexicana, Klotzsch. Rhizoma creeping, covered with narrow blackish chaff; stipes slender, scattered, 6’/—12’ long; the 19— 98 Our Native Ferns. 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 pinnate; pinnz 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 Tex. V. XXVIII SCHIZAZA, Sm. Sporangia large, ovoid, striate rayed at this apex, naked, verti- cally sessile in a double row along the single vein of the narrow divisions of the fertile appendages to the slender and simply linear, fan-shaped, or dichotomously many cleft fronds. @ EUSCHIZAEA. 1. S. pusilla,* Pursh. Sterile fronds linear, very slender, flat- tened and tortuous; fertile ones equally slender, 3’—4’ high, and bearing at top the fertile appendage consisting of about five pairs .of crowded pinne, forming a distichous spike. N. J., N. S., New- foundland (?). III. XXIX. OSMUNDA, L. FLOWERING-FERN. Fertile fronds or fertile portions very much contracted, bearing short pedicelled, naked sporangia on the margins of the rachis- like divisions. Sporangia globular, large, opening by a longitu- dinal cleft into two halves, bearing near the apex a few parallel striz, the rudiment of a transverse ring. Spores green. *Fronds bipinnate, fertile at the apex. 1. O. regalis, L. Stipes tufted 1°—1%°, erect, naked ; fronds 2°—4° long, 1° or more broad; sterile pinnae 6’—12’ long, 2’—4’ broad; pinnules oblong-oval to lance-oblong, sessile or slightly Stalked; the fertile pinnules cylindrical, panicled; texture ,sub- coriaceous; rachis and both sides naked. Canada to Fla. and Miss. III. *% Sterile fronds bipinnatifid. 2. QO. 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-lanceolate with oblong, obtuse divisions; 2—5 pairs of central pinne fertile; fer- tile pinnules dense, cylindrical; texture herbaceous. Canada to Ky. and northward. III. 3. O. cinnamomea, L. (CINNAMON-FERN.) Stipes densely tufted, 1° or more long, the sterile and fertile fronds distinct ; Ophioglossum, Botrychium. 99 clothed when young with ferruginous tomentum; sterile fronds smooth when mature, the pinne lanceolate, cut into broadly ob- long, obtuse, divisions; fertile fronds contracted, bipinnate, with cinnamon-colored sporangia. In var. frondosa, Gray, some of the fronds are sterile below and sparsely fertile at the summit. N. E. and Wis. to Fla. III. XXX. OPHIOGLOSSUM, L. AppER-TONGUE. Sporangia large, coriaceous, connate, coherent in two ranks on the edges of a simple spike. Veins anastomosing. Spores co- pious, sulphur-yellow. : @1. EUOPHIOGLOSSUM. Fertile spike single arising of the base of the sterile segment. * Sterile portion near the middle of the stalk. 1. O.vulgatum, L. Rhizoma short, oblique; stalk 6’—12’ high, the sterile segment ovate or elliptical-oblong 114’—4’ long, somewhat fleshy, somewhat narrowed at the base, sessile; fertile spike 1’ or more long. Me. to Ky., Tenn., Tex. and Ariz. III. ** Sterile portion near the base of the stalks. 2. O. crotalophoroides, Walt. Rhizoma tuberous, 3//—5’’ thick; stalk 3’—6’ high, the sterile segment %4’—1/ long, ovate, slightly petioled, the veins somewhat indistinct; fertile spike short and thick, 3/’/—6’’ long. (O. dudbosum, Michx.) Fla. to La. VI. 3. O.nudicaule, Linn. f. Rhizoma slightly tuberous; stalk 1’—4’ high, the sterile segment %/’—1}4’ long, ovate or oblong, the veins indistinct; fertile spike linear-acuminate, 6’” long, the peduncle very slender. Fla., Ga. VI. 2. CHEIROGLOSSA, Presl. Fertile spikes several, arising Srom the base of the sterile segment. 4. O. palmatum, Plumier. Rhizoma fleshy, tuberous, covered with fine wool-like chaff; plant fleshy, 6’—2° high, the sterile seg- ment cuneate at the base, 2—6 lobed or rarely entire, the lobes elongated and tapering; fertile spikes 1—8 or more, borne on the sides of the stipe just below the sterile segment or on its margin. Fla. VI. XXXI. BOTRYCHIUM, Swz. GRAPE-FERN. Rhizoma 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 divided or compound. Fertile segment 1—3 pinnate with double rows of sessile, naked sporangia. Veins free. Spores copious, sulphur- yellow. too Our Native Ferns. * Vernation wholly straight. 1. B.simplex, Hitch. Plant 2/—7’ high, fleshy , sterile segment stalked, very nearly approximate to the rhizoma, or even above the middle, ovate, obovate, or oblong, entire, incised, or pinnately parted into 1—3 pairs of roundish or semi-lunate lobes; fertile spike long-stalked, simple or 1—2 pinnate; spores the largest of the genus, closely covered with small points; bud smooth; apex of both sterile and fertile segments erect. (Fig. 29.) Specimens with the sterile segment composed of Fig. 29. Verna- two or three pinnately incised divisions form the HORE elie aaNet Hitchcock. (After var. compositum, Lasch. N. Eng., N. Y. and north- pavenport.) ward, the variety in Wy. T. and Cal. II. ** Vernation partly inclined in one or both portions. +Buds smooth, sterile segments sessile or short-stalked. 2. B. lunaria, Swz. (Moonwort.) Plant 5’—8’ high, fleshy; sterile segment nearly sessile, borne near the middle of the stalk, oblong, simply pinnate with 5—15 lunate or fan-shaped lobes which are crenate, incised, or entire, close and over- lapping, or distant; fertile segment bi—tripin- nate, panicled, 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 perpendicularly. (Fig. 30.) Ct, N. Y., L. Superior, Col. and British Columbia. II. 3. B. boreale, Milde. Plant 214’—7/ high, smooth, fleshy; sterile segment placed above the middle, sessile, cordate, ovate or deltoid, pinnately parted, acute ; lowest segment spread- fie A: Weis ing from a narrower base, ovate or cordate- tion of B. lunaria, ovate, acute, all entire, or here and there fla- swz. (After Daven- bellately incised with acute lobes, or pinnately port.) parted; secondary segments 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 verna- tion; divisions of the sterile segment arranged on an angle. Una- laska. II. Botrychium. 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 seg- ments, the narrow divisions linear; fertile segment t—3 pinnate, panicled, often very much branched; spores thickly covered with large rounded warts. Apex of both seg- ments turned down in vernation; sterile segment clasping the fertile with its apex overlapping the whole. (Fig. 31.) N. Eng. and N. Y. II. tt Buds pilose, sterile segments usually lowg-stalked. 5. B.ternatum, Swz. Frond fleshy, the common stalk very short; sterile segment broadly pentagonal or triangular, ternate; the three primary divisions also stalked, as broad as long, pinnately decompound; ulti- mate divisions varying from round-reniform to triangular-lanceolate, entire or variously toothed and incised; fertile segment long- stalked, bi—quadripinnate. Apex of both segments bent down with a slight curve in- ward in vernation. (Fig. 32.) N. Eng., N. Y., westward to Cal. and British Columbia, and southward to Florida. III. Var. LUNARIOIDES, Milde. Segments _very small uniformly lunate; plant smaller than the typical form. S.C., Ala. III. Var. obliquum, Milde. Larger, 6’—17’ high; the fructification more compound; sterile segment with oblong or lanceolate divisions, either obtuse or oblique at the base, nearly entire, toothed or irregularly pinnatifid. N. England to Wis. and south- ward. III. Var. dissectum, Milde. Divisions of the IOI Fig. 31. Vernation of B matricarizfolium, A. Br. (After Davenport.) Fig. 32. Vernation of B. ternatum, Swz. sterile segment compoundly and laciniately Davenport.) (After 102 Our Native Ferns. cut into narrow small lobes and teeth, otherwise as the last. N. Eng. to Wis. and southward. III. *%* Veynation wholly inclined, in the fertile segment recurved. 6. B.lanceolatum, Angs. Plant 3’—9’ - high, somewhat 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 pinnat- ifid, the divisions lanceolate entire or toothed, all set at an oblique angle; fertile. segment short-stalked, slightly overtopping the sterile, bi—tripinnate. Bud smooth; the . fertile segment recurved its whole length, : the shorter sterile segment reclined upon it. . (Fig. 33.) N. Eng. to Lake Superior and | Cel. III. = 7. B. Virginianum, Swz. (RATTLE- SNAKE-FERN.) Plant from a fewinchesto .. Slits two feet high; sterile segment sessile above Aiea gies ’ B. lanceolatum, Angs. the middle of the stalk, broadly triangular, (After Davenport.): thinly herbaceous, ternate; the short-stalked primary divisions once to twice pinnate, then once’or twice pinnatifid; lobes ob- long, cut-toothed toward the apex ; fertile segment long-stalked, bi—tripinnate. Bud pilose, enclosed in a smooth upright cavity at one side of the lower part of the stalk ; fertile segment recurved _ its whole length, the longer sterile segment reclined upon it. N. Brunswick to Fla. and westward to Cal., Ore. and W: T. III. List of Pteridophyta. 103 LIST OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PTERIDOPHYTA. (Excluding Orders FILICES and OPHIOGLOSSACEZ.) Order Equisetacee. I. EQUISETUM, L. EQUISETUM ARVENSE, L. 8. EQUISETUM FLUVIATILE, L. . EQuiIsETUM TELMATEIA, g. EQUISETUM L&VIGATUM, Ehrh. A. Br. EQUISETUM PRATENSE, Io. EQUISETUM ROBUSTUM, Ehrh. A. Br. EQUISETUM SYLVATICUM, L. | 11. EQUISETUM HIEMALE, L. EQUISETUM PALUSTRE, L. 12, EQUISETUM VARIEGATUM, EQuIseTUM LIMosuM, L. Schleicher. EQUISETUM LITTORALE, 13. EQUISETUM SCIRPOIDES, Kuhl. Michx. Order Lycopodiacez. I. LYCOPODIUM, L., SPRING. LycopPoD1UM LUCIDULUM, 6. LycoPpoDIUM DENDROIDEUM Michx. “Michx. Lycoropium SELAGO, L. 7. Lycopopium CLavatouM, L. LycopoDIUM INUNDATUM,L. ee oor CAROLINIA: Var. PINNATUM, Chapm. AU L 9g. LycoropIUM COMPLANA- YCOPODIUM ALOPECUROI- tum, L. DES, L. to. LyCcopoDIUM CERNUUM, L. LYCOPODIUMANNOTINUM,L. | 11. Lycopoprum ALPINuM, L. II. PSILOTUM, R. Br. PsILOTUM TRIQUETRUM, Swz. Order Selaginellacee. I. SELAGINELLA, Bezauv. SELAGINELLA SELAGINOI- 4. SELAGINELLA OREGANA. DES, Link. D. C. Eaton. SELAGINELLA RUPESTRIS, 5. SELAGINELLA DouGLasil, Spring. Spring. SELAGINELLA TORTIPILA, 6. SELAGINELLA LEPIDOPHYL- A. Br, LA, Spring. 7. SELAGINELLA APUS, Spring, 104 Our Native Ferns. Order Isoetacez. I. ISOETES, L. 1. IsOETES LACUSTRIS, L. 8. ISOETES CALIFORNICA, 2. IsoETES TUCKERMANI, Engelm. A. Br. g. IsoETES ENGELMANNI, 3. IsoETEs BoLANDERI, A. Br. Engelm. Var. GRACILIS, Engelm. ISOETES PYGMZA, Engelm. Var. vALIDA, Engelm, Io. ISOETES MELANOSPORA. 5. ISOETES RIPARIA, Engelm. Engelm. ; 6. ISOETES ECHINOSPORA, 11, ISOETES FLACCIDA, Durieu. Shuttleworth. Var. BRAUNH, Engelm. Var. CHapMantl, Engelm. Var. MURICATA, Engelm. 12, IsoETES BUTLERI, Engelm. Var. Boortu, Engelm. 13. ISOETES MELANOPODA, 7. ISOETES SACCHARATA, J. Gay. Engelm. 14. Isoretes NuTTauuu, A. Br. Order Marsiliacez. I. MARSILIA, L. MARSILIA QUADRIFOLIA, L. | 4. MARSILIA TENUIFOLIA, 2. MarsILia vEsTITA, H.& G. Engelm. MARSILIA MACROPODA, 3. MARSILIA UNCINATA, A. Br. Engelm. Il. PILULARIA, L. PILULARIA AMERICANA, A. Br. Ill. AZOLLA, Lam. AZOLLA CAROLINIANA, Willd. The above list is merely preliminary, and the compiler will be pleased to receive ‘corrections and especially notes on the distribution of species. It is hoped that an authentic account of the distribution of our native PreripopHyTa may be presented to botanists at an early day. Specimens of the rarer species will be thankfully received in exchange for ferns or other plants. Glossary of Specific Names. 105 GLOSSARY OF SPECIFIC NAMES. Of Latin origin unless otherwise specified. A. acrostichoides: Gr. having the appearance of Acrostichum. aculeatum : needle-pointed. adiantifolia ; having leaves like the Maidenhair (Adiantum). Alabamensis: growing in Alabama. alpestris: alpine. Americana—um:; American. andromedefolia: having leaves like Andromeda, a genus of plants in the Ericacex or Heath Family. angulare: having angles or corners. angustifolia—um: narrow-leaved. angustum: narrow. aquilina: eagle like. argutum: sharply serrated. aspera; rough, harsh. atropurpurea: dark purple (stipes). aureum: golden. B. Boottii: named for Dr. Francis Boott. boreale: northern. brachyptera: Gr. short-winged, alluding to the shortened pinne. Bradleyi; named for Prof. F. H. Bradley. Braunii: named for A. Braun. Breweri: named for Prof. Wm. H. Brewer of New Haven, Ct. Bridgesii: named for Thomas Bridges, the discoverer. bulbifera: bulb-bearing. bulbosum: having a bulbous root. Cc. Californica —um: Californian, growing in California. candida: shining white. Capillus-Veneris; Venus’ hair. caudata: tailed, alluding to the elongated pinnules. cicutarium: like Cicuta a genus of the Umbeiliferx. cinnamomea: cinnamon colored (fertile fronds). Claytoniana; in honor of John Clayton, one of our earliest botanists. Clevelandii: named for Daniel Cleveland of San Diego, Cal. Clintonianum: in honor of Hon. G. W. Clinton of Buffalo, N. Y. - compositum: composed of many parts. conterminum: having a border. Cooperee: named for Mrs. Elwood Cooper, Santa Barbara, Cal. Cretica: Cretan, growing in Crete. cristatum: crested. crotalophoroides: Gr. having the form of a rattlesnake’s tail. cyclosorum: Gr, having curved clusters. OD. dealbata: covered with a white substance, powdered. densa: thickly clustered, alluding to the pinnules. dentatum: toothed. dissectum: finely cut. 20— 106 Our Native Ferns. Dryopteris: oak-fern; an old generic name. E. Eatoni: named for Prof. D. C. Eaton of Yale College. ebeneum: like ebony, alluding to the stipe. ebenoides: having the form of dsplenium ebeneum. emarginatum: emarginate, notched at summit. exaltata: raised up; alluding to the habit of growing indefinitely at the apex. exile: small. F. falcatum: scythe-shaped. Fendleri: named for August Fendler. ferruginea: having the appearance of iron rust, alluding to the tomentum. filix-foemina: female-fern, lady-fern. filix-mas: male-fern. firmum: strong, stout. flexuosa: full of windings, tortuous. Floridanum: growing in Florida. fragilis: brittle, easily broken. fragrans: sweet-scented. frondosa: leafy. G. glabella: smooth, without hairs. Goldianum: in honor of Mr. Goldie. - gracilis: graceful, delicate. gracillima: most graceful. Grayi: named for Dr. Asa Gray. H. hexagonoptera: Gr. hexagon-winged. hispida: hairy, shaggy. Hookeri: named for Sir W. J. Hooker. hyperborea: growing in the extreme north. OL Ilvensis: growing in Elba (ancient Ilva) ? imbricans: breaking joints like shingles. incanum: hoary. incisum: cut-toothed. intermedium: intermediate between the type and var, dilatatum. J. juglandifolium: having leaves like the black walnut ( /uglans). L. lanceolatum: lance-shaped. lanuginosa: woolly. latifolium: broad-leaved. Lemmoni: named for Prof. J. G. Lemmon, of Oakland, Cal. leucopoda: Gr. with white feet (stalks). Lindheimeri: named for Mr. F. Lindheimer. lineata: like a line, very narrow. Lonchitis: Gr. resembling a spear. An old Greek name for some kind of fern. longifolia: long-leaved. lunaria: moon-shaped. lunarioides: having the form of B. lunaria. Glossary of Specific Names. 107 M. marginale: having the sori near the margin. matricarizfolium: having the foliage of Wild Chamomile (Matriearia). Mexicana: Mexican, growing in Mexico. microphylla: Gr. small-leaved. mohrioides: having the form of Mohria, a genus of African ferns. montapa—um: growing in the mountains. munitum: fortified, defended. myriophylla - um: Gr. many-leaved. N. Nevadense: growing in the Sierra Nevadas. Newberryi: named for Dr. J. 8. Newberry of Columbia College. nivea: snowy; alluding to the powdered under surface. Noveboracense: growing in New York. nudatum: naked. nudicaule: naked stemmed. oO. obliquum: turned sidewise. obtusa: blunt, alluding to the divisions of the indusia (?), obtusilobata: having blunt lobes. , occidentale: western; literally, toward the setting (sun). Oregana: growing in Oregon. Oreopteris: Gr. mountain-fern. ornithopus: Gr. resembling bird’s feet. P; palmatum: palmate, hand-shaped. Parryi: named for Dr. C. C. Parry of Davenport, Ia. parvulum: very small. patens: open. pectinatum: toothed like a comb. pedatum: shaped like a foot. Petersii: named for Hon. T. M. Peters of Alabama. Phyllitidis: Gr. bearing leaves but no flowers. pinnatifidum: pinnatifid. plumula: a little feather. polypodioides: resembling a Polypodium. pulchella; pretty. punctilobula: with pointed lobes. pusilla: small. R. radicans: rooting. regalis: royal. rhizophyllus: Gr. root-leaved, alluding to the occasional habit of rooting at apex of frond. rigidum: stiff, inflexible. Ruta-muraria: wall rue. Ss. scopulina: growing in rocky places. Scouleri: named for its discoverer. sensibilis: sensitive (to frost). 108 Our Native Ferns. septentrionale: northern; literally, toward the seven-stars (The Great Dipper.) serratum: saw-toothed. serrulatum: slightly saw-toothed. simplex: simple, alluding to the sterile segments. sinuata: curved. spinulusum: spiny at the apex of the lobes. strigosum: beset with sharp-pointed, appressed hairs. Struthiopteris: Gr. ostrich-fern. Ts tenera—um: soft, delicate. ternatum: divided into three main branches. ternifolia: having the leaves in threes. thalictroides: having the form of Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum.) Thelypteris: Gr. female fern; an old generic name. thelypteroides: Gr. resembling Thelypteris. tomentosa: covered with tomentum or wool. triangularis: triangular. tricholepis: Gr. having hair-like scales. Trichomanes: a generic name. e Uz. unitum: united, alluding to the lower veins which anastomose, or possibly to the sori which aye somewhat confluent when mature. Vv. Virginianum: Virginian, growing in Virginia. Virginica: growing in Virginia. viride: green, alluding to the stipes. viscida: sticky. vulgare: common. vulgatum: common, ordinary. Ww. Wrightiana: in honor of Charles Wright. Wrightii: named for Charles Wright. Glossary and Index. 109 GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS AND INDEX. Derivations from the Latin unless otherwise stafed. An asterisk (*) indicates an illustration at the page thus marked. -A. Acrogen, (Gr. akron, the highest part, and gennan, to produce), a plant whose growth takes place at the summit. 48. Acrosticheas, 52, 61. Acrostichum, (Gr. akron, the highest part, and stichion, a row), a tropical genus containing 172 species. Forms the type of Tribe Acrostichex. 68; also 20, 21, 30, 36*, 61. Aculeate, (aculeus, diminutive of acus, a needle), armed with prickles. Adder-tongue. Vide Ophioglossum. Adiantum. (Gr. a, without, and diainein, to wet; alluding to the smooth foliage.) Contains 82 ferns mostly from tropical America. 78; also 20, 31, 38*, 39%, 62. Adnate, (ad to, nasci, to be born), growing fast to some other portion of the plant. Allosorus. Vide Cryptogramme. Analogy, (Gr. ana, according to, logos, ratio, proportion), asics in function; distinguished from h mology, indicating similarity in structure. Anastomose, (Gr. anastomoun, to open into), forming a net-work ; said of veins which unite with each other. Aneimia, (Gr.anaimia ? without blood), a small genus found chiefly in tropical America; contains 27 species. 97; also 35, 64. Annulus, (Lat. a ring), the ring partly or completely surrounding the spora ngium. Anophyte, (Gr. ano, upward, and phuton, a plant), a group of plants including the mosses and liverworts. 49. Antheridium, (plu. antheridia). (Lat. anthera, an anther, and Gr. eidos. form), the part containing the male element. 37. i Antherozoid, (Lat. anthera, an anther, Gr. zoon, an animal, and eidos, form), the male element of cryptogams. 33*. Archegonium, (plu. archegunia,) (Gr. archa, beginning, and gonos, seed), the part containing the female element. 38*. Arcuate, (arcus, a bow), curved like a bow. Areola, (plu. areole), (Lat. diminutive of area, an open place), a space enclosed by anastomosing veinlets. Asexual Generation, the growth of a Cryptogam produced from the fertilized oosphere. 39. Aspidiez, 51, 63. Aspidium, (Gr. aspidion, a small shield), a cosmopolitan genus containing 344 species. Forms the type of Tribe Aspidiew, 88; also 18, 20, 26, 27, 33, 42, 63. Aspleniez, 51, 63. Asplenium, (Gr a, without, and splen, spleen; alluding to shape of the indusia), a cosmopolitan genus containing 331 speci Type of Aspleniex. 83; also 18, 19, 20, 21, 32, 43, 63. Auriculate, (auricula, diminutive of auris, an ear), furnished with ear-like ap- pendages. , B. Beech-fern. Vide Phegopteris. Bipinnate, (bis, twice, and pinna, a feather), twice pinnate. Bipinnatifid, (bis, twice, pinna, a feather, and jindere, to cleave), pinnate with the pinne again pinnatifid. Bladder-fern. Vide Cystopteris. Blechnee, 51, 62. 21— IIo Our Native Ferns. Blechnum, (Gr. blechnon, an old name for some kind of fern), a tropical und South Temperate genus containing 19 species. 82; also 32, 62, Botrychium, (Gr. botrus, a bunch of grapes, alluding to the clustered sporangia), containing ten species. 99; also 18, 19, 20, 29*, 36, 40, 44, 65. Brake or Bracken. Vide Pteris. Bulblets, 43. Cc. Calamariacez, an extinct order of plants allied to the scouring rushes. 50. Camptosorus, (Gr. kamptos, bent, and soros, a heap, fruit-dot), containing only two species. 86; also 20, 21, 33, 63. Capillary, (capillus, a hair), hair-like. Capsule, (capswia, a little box or case}, a sporangium. Carboniferous Age, number of American species of ferns, 25, Castaneous, (castanea, a chestnut), chestnut colored. Caudate, (cauda, a tail), furnished with a slender tip or append r bling a tail. Caudex, (Lat. a stem), the upright rhizoma forming the trunk of a tree-fern. Cellulose, (cellula, a little cell), the substance composing the wall of cells, contain- ing the elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (C6 H10 05). Ceraceous, (cera, wax), having the nature of wax. Ceratopteris, (Gr. keras, horn, and pferis, a fern), containing a single tropical spe- cies. 81; also 21, 32, 62. P Chartaceous, (charta, a leaf of paper), having the texture of paper er parchment. Cheilanthes, (Gr. cheilos, a lip, and anthos, flewer; alluding to the lip-like indusia), a genus of 63 species of tropical and temperate zones. 75; also 19, 21, 31, 42, 43, 62. Chlorophyll, (Gr. ch: ros, green, an1 phullon, leaf), the green grains forming the coloring matter of plants. Christmas-fern. Vide Aspidium. Ciliate, (cilium, an eye-lash), having on the margin a fringe of hairs resembling the fringing eyelashes. Cinnamon-fern. Vide Osmunda. Circinate, (circinus, a pair of compasses), rolled inward from the apex. Classification, of the Cryptogamia, 48; of Filices, 51; of Pteridophyta, 50; of the Vegetable Kingdom, 49; Principle of, 48. Cliff-brake. Vide Pellza. Climbing-fern. Vide Lygodium. Cloak-fern. Vide Notholena. Confluent, (con, together, and fluere, to flow), blended together. Connate, (con, together, and nasci, to be born), united together from the first. Cordate, (cor, the heart), heart-shaped. Coriaceous, (coriwm, a hide), leathery. Cotton-fern. Vide Notholzna. Crenate, (cren4, a notch), having the margin scalloped with rounded tecth. Crenulate, (crenula, diminutive of crena, a notch), scalloped with small rounded teeth. Cryptogamia, (Gr. kruptos, hidden, gamos, marriage), flowerless plants. Cryptogramme, (Gr. kruptos, concealed, and gramma, line, alluding to the con- cealed fructification), a boreal genus containing two species. 78; also 31, 36*, 62. Cuneate, (cuneus, a wedge), wedge-shaped. Cystopteris, (Gr. kustis, a bladder, and pteris, a fern; named for the inflated in- dusia), inhabiting the temperate zones of both hemispheres; ins 5 species. 93; also 20, 21, 34, 36%, 43, 63. Glossary and Index. III D. Decurrent, (de, down, and currere, to run), prolonged on the rachis. Deer-fern, Vide Lomaria. Deltoid, (Gr. della, the letter D, and eidos, form), triangular like the Greek delta. Dentate, (dens, a tooth), toothed. Denticulate, (denticulus, diminutive of dens, tooth), finely toothed. Devonian Age, Number of American species of ferns, 25. Dichotomous, (Gr. dicha, asunder, and temnein, to cut), two-forked. Dicksonia, (Named for James Dickson, an English Botanist, 1738—1822), a genus of 44 species, nearly half of which are arborescent. 96; also 20, 35, 64. Dicksoniez, 51, 64. Dimorphism, 18. Dimorphous, (Gr. dis, twice, and morphe, shape, form), of two forms; said of ferns whose fertile fronds are unlike the sterile. : Distichous, (Gr. dis, twice, and stichos, a row), disposed in two rows. Distribution of Ferns. Climatic, 22; Geographical, 21; Geological,-24; Local, 19, 23. Dorsal, (dorsum, the back, pertaining to or situated on the back. E. Ebeneous, (ebenus, ebony), black like ebony. Endospore, (Gr. endon, within, and sporos, a seed), the inner wall of the spore. Epidermis, (Gr. epi, upon, and derma, the skin), the external covering of a plant. Epiphytic, (Gr. epi, upon, and phuton, a plant), growing upon another plant, but not nourished by it. : Equisetacez, (equus, horse, and seta, bristle), the scouring rushes, or horse-tails, 50, 103. Exospore, (Gr. exo, outside, and sporos, a seed), the external covering of the spore. F. Falcate, (falz, a sickle), scythe-shaped; slightly curved upward. Farinose, (farina, ground corn), covered with a white or yellowish powder. Ferruginous, (ferrwm, iron), resembling iron rust. Fertilization, 38. : Fibrillose, (fibra, a thread), formed of small fibres. Filices: Characters of, 17, 61; Classification of, 51; Definition of, 17; Distribution of, 11, 21; Fossil, 25; Position in Vegetable Kingdom, 48. Filiform, (filum, a thread, forma, form), thread-like. Flabellate, (flabellum, a fan), fan-shaped; broad and rounded at the summit and narrow at the base. Flaccid, (flaccus, flabby), soft and weak. Floating-fern. Vide Ceratopteris. Flowering-fern. Vide Osmunda. Foliaceous, (foliwm, a leaf), having the nature of a leaf. Fossil-ferns, 25. Frond, (frons, a leafy bough), that which answers to the leaf in ferns. 26, 42. Fruiting, Time of, in ferns, 19. Fulvous, (fulvus, reddish-yellow), tawny. * Genera, 47; Number of, 52. Generic Names, 45. Geographical Distribution of ferns, 21. Geological Distribution of ferns, 24. Germination, 37, 56. 112 Our Native Ferns. Glabrous, (glaber, smooth), smooth. Glanduliferous, (glandula, u little kernel, and ferre, to bear), furnished with glands. Glaucous, (Gr. glaukos, sea-green), covered with a bloom like a plum. Globose, spherical in form or nearly so. Gold-fern. Vide Gymnogramme. Grammitidee, 52, 61. Grape-fern. Vide Botrychium. Gymnogramme, (Gr. gumnos, naked, and gramma, line), contains 97 species mostly tropical. 70; also 26, 30, 36*, 61. 7 H. Hartford-fern. Vide Lygodium. Hart’'s-tongue. Vide Scolopendrium. Hastate, (hasta, a spear), furnished with spreading lobes on each side at the base. Herbaceous, (herba, an herb), having the texture of common herbage. Heterosporous, (Gr. heteros, other, and sporos, a seed), producing two kinds of spores as in Selaginella, etc. Histology, (Gr. histos, web, tissue, and logos, a discourse), the study of the micro- scopic characters of the tissues of plants and animals. 55. Hymenophyllaceez, 29, 42, 64. I. Imbricated, (imbrex, a hollow tile’, breaking joints like slates or shingles. Indusium, plu. indusia) (induere, to clothe’, the membranous covering of the spor- angia in many species of ferns. 28. Inferior, attached below; said of an indusium below the sporangia as in Woodsia. Intramarginal, (intra, within, and margo, a border), near the margin. Involucre, (involvere, to wrap up , the indusium. Isoetacez, (Gr. isoeles, an evergreen plant), the quillworts. 50, 104. Isosporous, (Gr. isos, equal, and sporos, a seed), producing spores of one kind. Lace-fern. Vide Cheilanthes. Lacinia, (plu. laciniz) (Lat. the lappet of a garment), a long narrow lobe. Lady-fern, Vide Asplenium. Lanceolate, (/anceola, a little spear), lance-shaped. Lepidodendracee, an extinct order of plants allied to the club mosses, 50. Life History of a fern, 29. Linear, (linea, a line), long and narrow. Lip-fern. Vide Cheilanthes. Lobule, (Jobulus, diminutive of lobus, a lobe), a small lobe. Lomaria, (Gr. loma, a fringe, and aria, diminutive), allied to Blechnum and found principally in South Temperate zone; contains 45 species. 81; also 32*, 62. Lunate, (/una, the moon), crescent-shaped. Lunulate, (unula, diminutive of una, the moon), smaller than lunate. Lycopodiacez, (Gr. lukos, a wolf, and pous, foot), the ground-pines or club- mosses. 50, 103. Lygodium, (Gr. lugodes, flexible, alluding to the scandent stems), contains 16 spe- cies widely diffused. 97; also 35, 36*, 64. M. Maidenhair, Vide Adiantum. Male-fern, Vide Aspidium. Marattiacez, an order of fern allies, 48, 50. Glossary and Index. 113, ‘ Marsiliacez, (named for Aloysius Marsili, an Italian botanist), the pepperworts, 59, 104. Midvein, the middle or main vein of a frond, pinna, pinnule, or segment, Moneecious, (Gr. monos, single, and oikia, house), bearing the male and female organs on different parts of the same plant. Moonwort. Vide Botrychium. Morphology, (Gr. morphe, form, shape, and logos, a discourse), that department of biology treating of the form of organisms, 26. Mucronate, (mucro, a sharp point), having the midvein prolonged beyond the pin- nule, forming a sharp point. N. Nephrodium Vide Aspidium. Nephrolepis, (Gr. nephros, a kidney, and /epis, a scale), a tropical and sub-tropical genus containing 7 species. 93; also 21, 34, 63. Nomenclature, 45. Notholena, (nothus, spurious, and lena, a cloak, alluding to the rudimentary in- dusia ; Nothoclzna, has the better etymology}, resembling Cheilanthes in habit and dis- tribution ; contains 35 species. 70; also 21, 26, 30, 36%, 43, 61. oO. Oak-fern. Vide Phegopteris. Oblong, from two to four times as long as broad. Obovate, (0b, reversed, and ovum, an egg), inverted ovate. Onoclea, (Gr. onos, a vessel, and kleiein, closed, alluding to the fertile fronds). In- habiting cold temperate regions and containing 3 species. 94; also 18, 20, 27, 34, 63. Oophore, (Gr. oon, an egg, and pherein, to carry), the same as sexual generation, q. v. Oosphere, (Gr. oon, an egg), the female element of Cryptogams. 38. Oospore, (Gr. oon, an egg, and sporos, a seed), the fertilized oosphere. 38. Ophioglossacez, 29, 40, 43, 5. Ophioglossum, (Gr. ophis, aserpent, and glussa, a tongue), containing 10 species. 99; also 21, 35, 65. Orbicular, (orbiculus, diminutive of orbis, a circle), circular. Orders, 48. Osmunda, (from Osmunder, 4 Saxon name for the divinity, Thor.), « genus of 6 species mostly north temperate. 98; also 20, 29%, 35, 64. Osmundacez, 29, 64. Ostrich-fern. Vide Onoclea. Ovate, (ovum, an egg), having the form of the longitudinal plane of an egg with the base downward, Ovoid, (ovum, an egg, and Gr. eidos, form), having the form of an egg. P. Palmate, (palma, the hand), with the divisions spreading from the end of the stall like the fingers of the hand. Panicle, (panicula, a tuft on plants), an open cluster, consisting of more or less branching stems bearing fruit. Papyraceous, (papyrus, paper reed), having the texture of paper. Pedicel, (pediculus, diminutive of pes, foot), the stalk of a sporangium. Pellwa, (Gr. pelos, dusky, alluding to the dark colored stipes), closely allied to Cheilanthes, in habit and distribution; contains 55 species. 79; also 19, 21, 31%, 62. Peltate, (pelta, a small shield), shield-shape ; said of an indusium borne on a stalk attached at its centre. Pentagonal, (Gr. penta, five, and gonia, angle), having five sides. 22— 114 Our Native Ferns. Petiole, (petiolus, diminutive of pes, foot), the stalk of a pinna or pinnule. -Phegopteris, (Gr. phegos, a beech-tree, and pteris, a fern), contains 95 species. 87; also 20, 27, 33, 63. Pilose, (pilus, hair), covered with soft hairs. Pinna, (Lat. a feather), the primary division of a compound frond. Pinnate, (pinna, a feather), having the divisions of the frond arranged on the two sides of a common rachis. 7 Pinnatifid, (pinna, a feather, and findere, to cleave), having the sides of the frond, pinna, or pinnule, cut half way or more to the midvein. Pinnule, (pinnula diminutive of pinna, a feather), the secondary division of a frond twice or more compound. Polypodiacez, 28, 61. Polypodiez, 52, 61. Polypodium, (Gr. polus, many, and pous, foot, alluding to the branching rhizoma), the largest, most cosmopolitan genus of ferns; containing 345 species, 68; also 21, 27, 28%, 30, 36%, 61. Pro-embryo, the thread-like prolongation between the germinating spore and the prothallium. Prothallium, (Gr. pro, previous to, and thallos, 4 young shoot), the sexual genera- tion of a fern, 37. Pteridez, 51, 62. Pteridoid, (Gr. pteris, fern, and eidos, form), fern-like in appearance. Pteridophyta, (Gr, pteris, fern, and phuton, plant), ferns and their allies; a syn- onym of Vascular Cryptogams. Classification of, 50; Geological Distribution of, 50; List of, 103. Pteris, (Gr. pteris, a fern, from pteron, wing, alluding to the prevalence of pinnate fronds), a cosmopolitan genus the type of Pteridex, containing 103 species. 74; also 20, 31, 37*, 38*, 62. Q. Quadripinnate, (quattuor, four, and pinna, feather), four times pinnate. Quadripinnatifid, (quattuor, four, pinna, a feather, and findere, to cleave), four times pinnatifid. Ry Rachis, (Gr. the spine), the continuation of the stipe through a compound frond. Rattlesnake-fern. Vide Botrychium. Receptacle, (recipere, to receive), the part to which the sporangia are attached es- pecially in the HYMENOPHYLLACER. Reniform, (renes, the kidneys), kidney-shaped. Revolute, (revolvere, to roll back), rolled backward; said of the margin of many fronds. Rhizoma, (Gr. rhiza, a root), a rootstock, or underground stem, usually creeping at or below the surface of the earth, 26. Rhomboidal, (Gr. rhombos, a rhomb, and ecidos, form), approaching a rhomb in shape. Rock-brake. Vide Cryptogramme. Roots, 41. Ss. Scandent, (scandere, to climb), climbing. Schizzea, (Gr. schizein, to split, alluding to the forked sterile fronds of foreign spe- cies), contaius 16 species. 98; also 29%, 35%, 36%, 64. Schizzacez, 29, 64. Glossary and Index. 115 Scolopendrium, (Gr. skolopendra, a centipede, alluding to the position of the sori,) contains 5 species. 86; also 18, 20, 33*, 36, 42, 63. Segment, one of the divisions of a pinnatifid frond. Selaginellacee, )diminutive of Selago the ancient name of a club-moss), 50, 103. Sensitive-fern. Vide Onoclea. Serrate, (serra, a saw), having the margin cut into teeth pointing forward. Sessile, (sedere, to sit), without a stalk or petiole. Sexual Generation, the growth of the prothallium from the spore producing the sexual organs, archegonia and antheridia, 37. Shield-fern. Vide Aspidium. Sigillariacez, an extinct order of plants allied to the club-mosses, 50. Sinuate, (sinus, a bending), having the margin alternately bending inward and outward. Sinus, (Lat. a bending), a recess or bay; the re-entering space between two lobes. Sorus, (plu. sori) (Gr. sores, a heap or cluster), the clusters of fruit in the Pory- PODIACER. Spatulate, (spatula, a little spoon), shaped like a spatula. Species, 46. Specific Names, 45. Spinulose, (spina, a thorn), thorny. Spleenwort. Vide Asplenium. Spore, (Gr. sporos, a seed), the fruit of the higher cryptogams, ‘produced asexually, 28; Structure of, 36; Number of, 36. Sporangium, )plu. sporangia) (Gr. sporos, a seed, and aggeion, a vessel), the case or capsule enclosing the spores, 28. Sporophore, (Gr. sporos, seed, and pherein, to carry), the same as asexual genera- tion, q. Vv. Stellate, (stella, a star), star-shaped. Stipe, (stipes, a stock), the stem of a frond, 26, 42. Stoma, (plu. stomata) (Gr. a mouth), the breathing pores of plants, 43. Stramineous, (stramen, straw), straw-colored. Struthiopteris. Vide Onoclea. Sub- (as a prefix), about, nearly, somewhat. Sub-Orders, 48. Superior, higher, applied to indusia that are attached above the sorus as in Aspid- dum. Synonymy, 46. E. Ternate, (ferni, three each), branching into three nearly equal divisions. Thallogen, (Gr. thallos, a young shoot, and gennan, to produce), a group of crypto- gams including the lichens and fungi, 48. Thalloid, (Gr. thallos, a young shoot, and eidns, form), having the form of a thal- logen. Tissues, 41. Tomentose, (tomentum, a stuffing of wool), covered with densely matted woolly hairs. Tomentum, (Lat. a stuffing of wool), the dense matted woolly hair found on some ferns as many species of Cheilanthes. Tribes, 47. Trichomanes, (Gr. trichomanes, the name of some fern, from thria, hair, and mainomai producing frenzy, alluding to some supposed property), tropical or temperate, contains 91 species. 96; alxo 21, 29%, 35*. 116 Our Native Ferns. Trichomes, (Gr. trich ma, a growth of hair), hairs, variously modified as scales, in- dusia, sporangia, etc., produced from the epidermal cells, 42. Tripinnate, (tris, three, and pinna, a feather), three times pinnate. Tripinnatifid, (tris, three, pinna, a feather, and findere, to cleave), three times pinnatifid. Truncate, (truncare, to cut short), cut off abruptly. .Tufted, growing in clusters. U~. Undulate, (undula, a little wave), wavy-margined. Vv. Variation among species, 18. Varieties, 47. Vascular, (vasculum, diminutive of vas, a vessel), containing vessels as ducts, etc. Venation, (vena, a vein), the veining of the frond, 27. Vernation, (ver, spring), the arrangement of the leaves or fronds in the bud, 26, 43. Vittaria, (vitia, a fillet or head-band), a genus of tropical ferns containing 13 spe- cies; the type of Vittariex, 73; also 21, 30, 61. Vittariez, 61. Ww. Walking-leaf. Vide Camptosorus. Wood-fern. Vide Aspidium. Woodsia, (In honor of Joseph Woods, an English botanist), a genus of high tem- perate or boreal ferns, containing 14 species, 95. Woodwardia, (In honor of Thomas J. Woodward, an English botanist), containing 6 species, mostly north temperate. 82; also 20, 27, 63. 5 A SS \ ~~ AO AX AX \\ AX —