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UnpDERWoOD: FERNS OF THE PHILIPPINES 667 
derstanding the relations of the fern flora of these islands, at least 
generically, we have prepared the following synopses of the genera 
known to exist in the islands, which include many forms widely 
different either from our own temperate ferns, or even from the 
ferns of the American tropics. The generic sequence here adopted 
will be found to differ widely from the treatment given in Hooker 
and Baker’s Syxopsis Filicum (1874), which unfortunately remains 
the only hand manual of the ferns of all lands and whose treat- 
ment of genera is as irrational as its recognition of specific dis- 
tinctions is defective, generalized and indefinite. The system here 
adopted will accord more nearly with the treatment by Dr. Diels 
in Dre natitrlichen Phanzenfamilien, which in the main is admir- 
able, suffering lapses to the older system mainly in its treatment 
of the Cyatheaceae and the genera included under Polypodium and 
Nephrodium. In the Hymenophyllaceae we have followed in part 
the admirable treatment of Presl * which, in the main, was taken 
-up by Van den Bosch, the only other monographer who has made 
a special study of the group, and which has been as systematically 
neglected by Hooker and Baker and by Sadebeck, who prepared 
this family for Die natiirlichen Pfhlansenfamilien. For convenience, 
references are here made to the Synopsis Filicum and Die natiir- 
Lichen Phlanzenfamilicn, where the treatment differs from either of 
the works named. 
While the fern flora of the Philippines is only partially known, 
it is probable that there will be very few additions to the genera 
as the result of further exploration. With the exception of the 
Isoetales — usually the last pteridophytes to be collected in any 
region —all the orders are represented in the Philippine flora and 
among the Filicales all the families except the rare and unique Ma- 
toniaceae ; from the known distribution of the two diverse species 
of this family it is not improbable that it will ultimately find a 
representative in our domain. Since the present synopsis is in- 
tended chiefly to aid in distinguishing generically the ferns that 
may be collected in the islands, suggestions are given here and 
there relative to special points to be noted in the field, since in 
many genera certain portions of the plant show more important 
“7 resl, C. B Hymenophyllaceae. Eine botanische ‘Abhandlung. 1-70. pi. 
7-12. Prag, 1843. 
