P l a t e XX VIII.
OSM UN DA R E G A L IS , L i n n æ u s .
Royal Fem.
O s m u n d a r e g a l i s ; — Root-stock creeping, massive with
imbricated stalk-bases; stalks erect, several inches to two feet
high, rounded on the back, slightly flattened in front, never
chafly; fronds a few inches to several feet long, ovate-oblong
in outline, bi-pinnate; pinnæ mostly opposite, the lower ones
distant ; pinnules sub-coriaceous, commonly smooth, distinct,
short-petioled or sub-sessile, oval, oblong or oblong-lanceolate ;
the base rounded, or obliquely truncate, or sub-cordate, often
somewhat auricled, especially on the lower side, the edges commonly
crenulate-scrrulate, the apex obtuse or sub-acute ; fertile
fronds with several of the uppermost pinnæ contracted and
bi-pinnate, the slender divisions destitute of green leaf-tissue,
and covered with bright-brown bi-valvular sporangia having a
reticulated surface.
Osmunda regalis, L in n æ u s , Sp. Pl., p. 1 5 2 1 - — S w a r t z , Syn. Fil., p. 16 0 .
— S c i ik u h r , Krypt. Gew., p. 1 4 7 . t. 1 4 5 .— ‘W i l ld e n o w , Sp. Pl.,
V., p. 97. — M i c h a u x , FI. Bor. Am., ii., p. 273. — P r e s l , Suppl.,
p. 6 2 . — N ewm a n , Hist. Brit. Ferns, p. 308. — M o o r e , Nat. Pr.
Brit. Ferns, t. 50. — G r a y , Manual, eel. ii., iii., iv., p. 600; ed.
V., p. 670.— E a t o n , in Chapman’s FL, p. 598. — H o o k e r , Brit.
Fcrn.s, t. 45. — M i ld e , in Nov. Act. Acad. Nat. Cur., xxvi., ii.,.
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