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D e s c r i p t io n . — This is aitogether the tiniest of ail our
ferns, and can be compared only with some closely-related
species from tropical regions. The plant grows on the face of
moist sand-rock in great patches, often three or four feet in
extent, and always near running water. The little fronds are
vari.able in shape, but in general are cuneate-obovate, with the
margin wavy, and often somewhat lobed. The texture is finer
and more opaque than that of T. radicans, the cells irregularly
sub-quadrate, and the chlorophyl grains spherical and very distinct.
There is usually a central vein, with several simple or
more often forked veinlets on each side, and, beside them, a
few free disconnected veinlets, the so-called venuhe spuria.
Along the margin, on the younger fronds, are seen a few simple
or usually widely-forking blackish hairs, which also occur
on several foreign species, as T. punctatum, T. reptans, T. pusil-
luni, etc. The solitary involucre terminates the midvein, and is
sunken in the frond : it is funnel-shaped, with a somewhat flaring
and slightly two-lipped mouth. The receptacle, or columella, is
included, or rarely a little exserted.
The sporangia are like those of T. radicans.
Plate X X IV ., Fig. 2. — Trichomanes Petersii : a group of fronds,
the natural size, and one considerably enlarged, showing the involucre,
venation, etc.
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P l a t e X X IV . — F ig . 3.
SCH IZÆ A P U S IL L A , P u r s h .
N e w - J e r s e y S ch izæ a .
S c h i z æ a f u s i l l a ; — Plant tufted ; sterile fronds linear,
flattened and tortuous, very slender, barely one-fourth of a line
wide, and scarcely an inch long ; fertile ones almost as slender,
but straighter, three to four inches high, bearing at the top the
fertile appendage, consisting of about five pairs of close-placed
oblong pinnæ, the lowest not more than two lines long, each
bearing on one face a double row of sessile ovate sporangia
having an apical radiated cap-like ring.
Schizæa pusilla, PuRSH, FI. Am., Sept., ii., p. 657. — H o o k e r & G r e v il l e ,
Ic. Fil., t. xlviii. — P r e s l , Suppl., p. 74. — G r a y , Manual, ed. i,
p. 634; ed. 2, p. 600, t. 13 . — H o o k e r & B a k e r , Syn. Fil., p. 428.
Schizæa tortuosa, M u h l e n b e r g , Catal., p. 102.
H a b . — Central and eastern counties of New Jersey, usually in the
dryer parts of sphagnous swamps, among white cedars. First found
about 18 13 , at Quaker Bridge, by Dr. E d d y . Near Tom’s River, Dr. T o r r
e y , August, 1832. Kettle Creek, Ocean County, Dr. K n ie s k e r n . Since
collected in several places in the same general region by various persons.
Erroneously reported as found in Orleans County, New York, and
in Newfoundland.
D e s c r i p t io n . — The. root-stock is horizontal and creeping,
but very minute. It bears several sterile fronds, and two or
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