1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns, — III 9 



affixed to the receptacle by a well defined sinus. Here we have by 

 far the largest group of Aspidiums and our New England species 

 exactly represent true Nephrodium as proposed by Richard in Mich- 

 aux's Flora Bor.-Am. ii. 1803, the type being Nephrodium marginak. 

 It is true that Richard named two other species in their order first, 

 but as both belonged to other genera already established they nat- 

 urally lapsed in favor of N. marginal* which thus became the type 

 species. As this species is characterized by having cordate-reniform 

 indusia and free veins, it is clear that species with united veins can- 

 not properly be considered as belonging to Richard's genus by any- 

 one attaching importance to the system of venation ; yet many authors 

 have persisted in treating Nephrodium as if it had been founded on 

 species with united veins. 



The genus, even as here recognized, is made up of two well char- 

 acterized sections, one consisting of the marginale and spinulosum 

 group with evergreen, or nearly evergreen fronds, fascicled stout 

 rootstocks forming crowns, and with several roundish fibro-vascular 

 bundles in the stipe ; and the other with softly herbaceous fronds, 

 long slender creeping rootstocks, and two flattish bundles in the stipe. 



This whole matter is discussed more fully in my Fern MSS. where 

 I have made the characters last mentioned the basis for a divisional 

 arrangement of our New England Ferns. 



The following brief synopsis will show the arrangement adopted 

 here for our New England Aspidiums : — 



Tribe Aspidieae — J. Smith. Sporophyte (plant-body) large, with 

 fascicled rootstocks forming crowns, or creeping rhizomes ; fronds 

 variously compounded, evergreen or herbaceous; sporophylls (fruit- 

 bearers) with the sori covered by peltate (attached at the centre), or 

 cordate-reniform indusia, the latter being attached at the sinus ; ven- 

 ation free or anastomose. 



I. Aspidium (from ao-irCs— meaning buckler or shield) Swartz, 

 as emended. — Sori orbicular, indusium peltate, veins anastomose. 

 Not represented in New England. 



II. Polystichum (from 7toAv? — many, (tti'^os — order) Roth. — 

 Sori orbicular, indusium peltate, veins free. The members of this 

 genus are further distinguished by the irregular auricled pinnae, cori- 

 aceous texture and spiny toothed lobes. The genus is represented 

 in New England by two ferns : 



