p la c e in o u r flo ra , h a v in g b e e n c o lle c t e d w i th in o u r t e r r ito r ia l
l im i t s b u t o n c e , a n d th a t s i x t y y e a r s a g o b y th e d i s t in g u i s h e d
n a t u r a l i s t a n d p o e t, A d e l b e r t v o n C h a m i s s o .
The plant is commonly of smaller stature than the other
species figured on Plate V . ; and the common stalk is long for
the size of the plant, so that the sterile and the fertile portions of
the frond are borne near each other, as in B . Imiceolahim and B.
matricaricefolium. The sterile segment is closely sessile, broadly
ovate or somewhat triangular in shape, but subcordate at the
base. The divisions are broad and foliaceous, and placed so
closely that they are often imbricating or overlapping. The lowest
divisions are nearly as broad as they are long, and are in'
shape rhomboid-ovate, with rounded contours. They are cleft
nearly half-way to the base into a few lobes which are rounded at
the ends. The succeeding divisions are similar in shape, but are
gradually smaller and less lobed; the terminal portion scarcely
acute, and about three-lobed. The length of the sterile segment
is an inch or a little less in several specimens from Dovrefjeld
and Westrobothnia, and the breadth at the base is about four-
fifths of the length. The vascular bundle is already separated
into two or three veins when it enters the base of the lateral
divisions, and these veins are repeatedly forked, so as to be flabellately
dichotomous. Milde says, Nervatio cyclopteridis!'
The fruiting segment is borne on a stalk rising from the
base of the sterile segment, and about equal to it in length: the
panicle itself is rather scanty in my specimens, but more generous
in some of those figured by Milde ; and the sporangia are so dense
as to be fairly contiguous. Dr. Milde figures some specimens
d e c i d e d l y larger, and with more numerous lobes than those I have
seen ; and in several instances the sterile segment is represented
as producing a few sporangia.
The thickish fleshy frond, and the flabellate venation of the
broader and more rounded pinnæ, will serve to distinguish this
fern from B . lanceolatum, if it should be found again in North
America; while the whole shape and details of the sterile segment
will prevent any confounding of it with the commoner
moonwort.
Mr. George E. Davenport has recently been making a
special study of the smaller species of Botrychium, and informs
me that he finds some good specific distinctions in the character
of the buds. His contributions to the literature of this genus
will be read with great interest. Dr. Milde only notices the
peculiarity in the bud of B . Virginiaiiutn referred to in a preceding
page, and uses the character of “ buds pilose ” and “ buds
never pilose” to some extent in separating the remaining species.
Plate V., Fig. 3, represents a plant of medium size: the specimen
drawn is from Sweden, and is preserved in the collection of Mr. Davenport.
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