124 Unperwoop: Our GENERA 
first genus in the present alliance calling special attention to the 
distinctive character of the superior indusium which was perhaps 
the most obvious mark that distinguished the European Aspidieae 
from Polypodium. Not only-was this distinction clearly defined, 
‘but he mentions in addition the type of the genus and refers to 
illustrations that are absolutely unmistakable. He says: 
‘«* DRYOPTERIS: Paquets de fleurs ronds, disposés sur 2 rangs sous chaque divi- 
sion des feuilles. Enveloppe enparasol, Globules environnés d’un anneau élastique.”’ 
Familles des Plantes,2: 20. 1763. 
And on page 551 (index) he adds : 
‘¢ DRUOPTERIS Diosk. 20. 
Filix mas Fuchs, Tour. ¢. 311, 312. 
Fougere male Gall.’’ 
thus citing not only the origin of the name dating back to Dioscor- 
ides, but also the name used by the old herbalists, the authentic 
figures of Tournefort,* and the name then current in France, which 
like our own familiar male-fern is the name which the plant has 
borne for the last three centuries or more in northern central 
Europe, where it is the commonest member of this genus either 
wild or in cultivation. I cannot conceive of a more complete, di- 
rect, and explicit establishment of a generic name than this, and 
yet Mr. Davenport’s only comment on this bit of history is that 
‘‘a genus so ill-defined, with its type standing for one thing and 
its description for another, has no just claim for consideration as 
against the more clearly defined Nephrodium which has been in 
use for nearly a century.’ Surely we have here either an attempt 
to mislead those who do not have access to the original publica- 
tions or a case of negligible ignorance of facts, either of which 
must stand in the same category of constructive error. 
There being a definite genus established for our wood-ferns 
there is no necessity for another, but let us look a little farther 
into .Vephrodium and discover if possible what this ‘‘ more clearly 
defined” genus is. Richard, who edited Michaux’s Flora, say$° 
‘“NepHropium. Fructif. Puncta in disco frondis sparsa seu seriata ; prima 
obtecta membranula reniformi aut lunata, hinc (servato nexu laterali) dehiscente- 
Michaux, Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 266. 1803. 
eee 
* To those who do not have access to Tournefort’s classic /wstitutiones it may be 
said that ¢. 777 gives a clearly drawn figure of the upper third or so of a leaf of a 
male-fern showing the characteristic reniform indusia, and ¢. 372 gives various d 
including a segment greatly enlarged with the same characteristics in stronget relief. 
