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above them on each side. In another example there are five
sterile pinnæ on each side below the fertile ones, and twelve
above them. In one frond the third pinna on one side is
sterile ; while its mate is sterile at the base, but fertile in the
upper part. Another frond has one and a half pairs of pinnæ
fertile; and still another, four and a half pairs fertile. The
fertile pinnæ are as large as the sterile ones in a half-grown
frond, and, like them, rise obliquely from the rachis; but in a
matured frond they are but one-third to one-fourth as long as
the sterile ones, and, when fully ripe, are -deflexed. They are
closely bipinnate, somewhat woolly with brownish contorted
hairs, and densely covered with bivalvular reticulated sporangia,
much like those of 0 . regalis, but of a different and very
characteristie color, being blackish-green, and at length dark
brown.’ The spores are trihedric-spheroid, with three radiating
vittæ and a granulose surface.
‘ “ Wc notice at once in the sporangia the dark, almost black color, which
is in the highest degree characteristic of this species. The ring is 3—4 cells high,
and lO-ii cells broad. From the top of the sporangium there extend to the line
of fissure six small rows of cells, suddenly contracting into from two to four,
which form the borders of the fissure. These bordering cells are always bright-
colored, not longer than the adjoining cells, but full three times as slender. To
the right and left of the ring, and particularly from the upper portion of it, there
extend around to the front of the sporangium the blackish-brown cells from which
it derives its dark appearance; whilst the cells lying directly beneath the ring,
and extending to the pedicel, are bright-brown or yellowish-brown. The whole
cell is pervaded by this dark color, and not merely the cell walls, which are not
specially thicker than in the other species of Osmunda.” — M il d e ; Monogr. Osm.,
p. 107.
This fern was originally described by Linnæus in these
words : “ Osmunda frondibus pinnatis : pinnis pinnatifidis
apice coarcfato-fructicantibusd Swartz uses nearly the same
character, merely adding after "p in n a tis " the words "ferrugi-
neo-tomentosisp and putting a comma before " apice'.' Willdenow
varies the expression a little, but admits that he had
seen only imperfect specimens ; meanwhile describing the same
species well enough under a new name {O. interrupta), which
was adopted by nearly all American botanists, until Dr. Gray,
examining Clayton’s specimens in 1839, ascertained that the
O. Claytoniana of Linnæus and the O. interrupta of Willdenow
were one and the same species, but that Clayton’s specimens
were immature, and might readily be supposed to have
terminal fructification. This observation I have since been
able to repeat, and am perfectly satisfied of its correctness. But
Wallich has named a plant from JCumaon Osmunda vestita,
which Milde says is a form of the present species with truly
terminal fructification. The only Himalayan specimens of
O. Claytoniana which I have seen have, however, the sub-
medial fructification of the ordinary form.
Concerning the southern limits of this fern in our country
there is still some doubt. Mr. Curtiss sent it from Virginia
; Mr. Williamson, in his “ Ferns of Kentucky,” says it
“ is found in all our damp, rich woods, but is not so common
about Louisville as the O. r e g a lis ;" Milde refers to specimens
collected by Rugel near Asheville, North Carolina; and
from North-western Arkansas Professor F. L. Harvey sends
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