182 J. SMITH ON THE GENERA OF FERNS. 



rib; indusium gibberous, its margin involute, usually including 

 about six sporangia in the manner of an invei'ted cup; ring 

 slightly oblique. 



Species. M. pectinata, R. Br. Illust. Wall. PL As. Ear. 

 Ic. t. 16. Hook. Gen, Fil. t. 43. 



Obs. This remarkable and unique fern is a native of 

 Mount Ophir in the peninsula of Malacca, and all that was 

 for many years known concerning it was, from a portion of a 

 frond preserved in the Wallichian Herbarium of the Lin- 

 naean Society of London, from which Mr Brown characterized 

 the genus; but through the indefatigable exertions of H. 

 Cuming, Esq., botanists have now become possessed of noble 

 specimens of this rare fern : it was found by him near the 

 top of Mount Ophir in great plenty. The peculiarity in 

 appearance and structure, in every respect of this fern, ren- 

 ders it difficult satisfactorily to determine its real affinities; 

 in habit it may be compared with Gleichinia, and its relation- 

 ship with that genus is partly borne out by the sporangia of 

 each sorus being definite, and the ring being slightly oblique. 

 The sori being produced on a central point formed on the 

 confluence of from 5 to 10 venules, is analogous to the Phy- 

 tnatodicE section of Drynaria in the tribe Polypodies; but the 

 presence of a peltate central attached indusium induces me 

 to place it in AspidiecB. 



78. Hypoderris, B. Br. 



Veins costaeform ; venules compoundly anastomosing, pro- 

 ducing from their sides variously directed, free sterile vein- 

 lets, which terminate within the areoles; sporangia produced 

 on the angles or points of confluence of numerous veinlets, 

 constituting round sori ; indusium calyciform, membraneous, 

 its margin irregularly laciniated and fimbriate. 



Fronds stipitate, 1 to 2 feet high, simple, entire, auriculated 

 at the base, or 3-lobed, primary veins costceform, parallel, coni' 

 bi7ied by transverse parallel venules, which again ramify and 

 anastomose ; sori irregular, or forming a row on each side oj 

 the primary veins; indusium very obscure. 



