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132 FERNS OF NORTH AMERICA.
In the most fully-developed form the sterile segment is triangular
in outline, about three inches long, and two and a half inches
wide at the base. There are about five pairs of primary divisions,
the lowest, of course, much the largest, and the others
successively smaller. These lowest divisions are an inch to an
inch and a half long, six to eight lines wide, and are pinnately
divided into four to six pairs of oblong or ovate more or less
toothed obtuse lobes. The next two or three primary divisions
arc also pinnately divided ; but the lobes are smaller, and either
obscurely toothed or entire, and the uppermost primary divisions
are merely toothed lobes. Thus the sterile segment is broadly
triangular and bipinnatifid. The fertile segment is also ample,
and has the lower branches nearly as long as the central portion.
The lobes have a rather faint midvein ; which, however, is
lost in the forking oblique veinlets about the middle of the lobe.
The lowest veinlets separate from the midvein at the very base
of the lobe, or even below it in the rachis. The spores are thickly
sprinkled with roundish warts.
The name B . rutaceuni was applied by Swartz, mainly to a
form of B . temahun, but incidentally to this species also. It
was to remedy the resulting confusion that Professor Braun proposed
for the present plant the new specific appellation of matri-
carioides, referring to the resemblance of the sterile segment to
the leaves of Matricaria Partlieniuni (Linnæus). It was, however,
according to Koch, as long ago as 1678, called Lzmaria ra-
ceniosa minor Matricariee folio by Breyne (Cent., p. 184, t. 94).
In Dutchess County, New York, as Mr. Hoysradt informs us,
FERNS OF NORTH AMERICA. 1 3 3
the matricary grape-fern fruits in the latter part of June or early
in July, and the empty sporangia are shrivelled by the time that
B . lanceolatum is mature. Other persons make a similar report;
so that there can be no doubt that the species now under consideration
is from two weeks to a month earlier in maturing than
the other.
This species is, however, more closely related to B. lanceolatum
than to any other of our grape-ferns : and, indeed, the two
are united as one species by several authors of high reputation;
as, for instance, by Mr. Baker in the “ Species Filicum,” and by
Moore in his various writings. To redeem the promise made
on p. 36 of the present work, the differential characters of the
two species are indicated in parallel columns: —
B. LANCEOLATUM.
Sterile segment sessile, spreading
at a wide angle, deltoid even in
small plants.
Divisions and lobes lanceolate and
sub-acute.
Midvein of lobes continuous nearly
to the apex.
Panicle with a very short stalk.
‘ Bud with the fertile segment recurved
its whole length, and the
B. M A TR ICA R IzDFOLIUM.
Sterile segment petioled, diverging
but little, and embracing the fertile
when young ; oblong, and only
in the largest plants deltoid.
Divisions and lobes oblong or ovate
and obtuse.
Midvein dissipated in the middle
of the lobes.
Panicle with a stalk usually half as
long as the sterile segment, and
sometimes longer than it.
“ Bud with the apex of both segments
turned down, the sterile
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