72 
developed a considerable area of uncut lamina^ wlietlior by tlie sliorteniiig 
of the siniises between lobes, or otherwise, there has been a tendenoj 
toward an anastomosis of the veins. The illustrations of this are very 
numerous, as in the evolution of Goniopteris and Aspidiunt from Las- 
trcva; of CalUpiens from Diphaiam; of the Nidus gToup in Asplenlinn; 
of Pteris h'laurita from J\ quadrianriia; of Gonioplilehium and Vhyma- 
todes from Ev poly podium. In Frosaptia, the least divided species, with 
broadest segments, P. Toppingly has usually some anastomosing veins. 
From the Grammttis section has been derived Loxogramme, characterized 
by the anastomosing veins of the usually ample but simple and entire 
fronds, and also by the total loss of articulate stipes. These two char- 
acters together, in a group certainly independent of Pliymatodes, amply 
warrant the recognition of Loxograinme as a distinct genus. Its most 
Grammitis-like species is X. paraUela; at the other extreme, it contains 
one species with dimorphous fronds, L. conferta. 
It is more than possible that Blume was correct in treating An- 
trophyiun and Loxogramme as relatives; I know of no other likely origin 
for the YiUancm, and the resemblance of these two genera is certainly 
strong. If this be the origin of the tribe, Vittaria is an offshoot of 
Antrophyum and Monogramma is, in any case,- derived through Pleuro- 
gramme from Vittaria. , 
Goniophlehium^'^ and Pliymatodes are independent in .origin from all 
the preceding offshoots of Polypodium and nearly or quite independent 
of each other. The former is a small, compact, uniform, therefore very 
natural group, confined to this part of the world, the union of which 
with the American so-called GoniopMcUa is quite unwarranted. 
Phymatodes,^^ too, is a natural group, but very far from compact and 
uniform, being internally diverse and the parent of numerous highly 
specialized groups commonly treated as genera. In view of their un- 
stable venati6n and evidently broad affinities, it seems probable that 
the oldest representatives of Phymatodcs are small ferns with simple 
fronds, the fertile and sterile alike, and without specialized fertile region 
{Craspedaria, in part). Such fronds are found on young plants of 
various Pliymatodes species, more complicated at maturity. Grammitis 
is the probable source of this group. Within the Craspedaria group, 
specialization has taken place in the dimorphism of the fronds of most 
species, and in the nearly related species, P. accedens, the sbri are 
restricted to tlie specialized apex. I believe that both Hymenolepis and 
Niphoholns have been derived from some ancestor not very unlike F. 
»■ J. Smith's ficheUolcpis is the orifpnal Goniophlehmm of Blume, P. cuspidatum 
being the first species mentioned, and tlie whole snbgenns hoinrr Aljthiyan Flora 
Javae (1828), IT, i;{2. 
*•!£ i-aiKrrt to -onorio rank, it must piolmUy be called Selliffuca. PIcopcUis 
would be an older name; but it {P. angusHim) has certainly ben distinct from 
Phymatodcs much longer than Selliguea has. 
I 
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