F E R N S;
BRITISH AND EXOTIC,
OSMUNDE/E.
C om po s e d of Osmunda an d Todea, th e la tte r genus o f which
will be reserved for th e A p p en d ix at th e close of this volume.
Two small families of in te re stin g and handsome F erns.
GENUS I.
O SM U N D A . L ix x /Eus.
F r o n d s pinn a te or b ip in n a te , with fo rk ed free veins. F e rtile
portion contracted, an d forming simple or compound sporangiferous
panicles. I n some species th e b a rre n and fertile fronds are
different, one set of fronds be in g ste rile and th e other fe rtile ;
in other species, wh e re fertile and ste rile on th e same fro n d , the
u p p e r in some cases, an d th e middle in others only is fertile.
L en g th of fronds from two to twelve feet.
A genus of plants d e lig h tin g to grow in damp situations,
usua lly on th e banks of a riv e r or brook.
VOL, VIII. B
