J. SMITH ON THE GENERA OF FERNS. 197 



centric ; petiole articulated wilh the rachis, apex of sterile 

 venules, terminating in a round gland ; sori forming a row 

 parallel with, and near the margin. 



Examp. 1. N. pectinata, {Willd.) 2. N. exaltata, {Sw.) 

 3. N. tuberosa, {Bory.) 4. N. pendula, (Radd.) 5. N. 

 obliterata, {R. Br.) 6. N. ensifolia, {Stv.) 7. N. puiictu- 

 lata, (Sw.) 8. N. acuminata, ( WUld.) 9, N. splendens, 

 [Willd.) 10. N. hirsutula, {Sw.) Illust. Schott. Gen. Fil. 

 t. 3. Hook, et Bauer Gen. Fit. f. 35. 



Obs. Although the habit of this group of species is very 

 distinct from either Lastrea or Polystichum, yet the terminal 

 sori and form of the indusium of Nephrolepis is also common 

 to some species of these two genera ; but the articulated peti- 

 ole of Nephrolepis clearly indicates its being a distinct genus, 

 and evidently forming the transition from Aspidiem to the fol- 

 lowing tribe Dicksoniet^i through the genus Humata. 



96. Oleandra, Cav. 



(Aspidii sp. Siv. and Auth. Ophiopteris, Reiniv. Neuronia> 



DoJi.) 



Veins simple or forked; vemdes direct, parallel, their apices 

 curved upwards, forming a sh"ghtly thickened margin ; spo^ 

 rangia medial ; sori round ; indusium reniform, rarely orbi- 

 cular. 



Rhizoma creeping or fmtescent ; fronds simple, entire, 

 lanceolate, acuminate, smooth, or slightly villous, stipitate ; 

 stipes articulated near to or close to the rhizoma ; sori trans^ 

 versehj uniserial, and costal or irregular, usually produced 

 on the exterior venule. 



Species. 1. O. neriiformis, Cav. (Ophiopteris verticillata, 

 Reinw.) 2. O. Wallichii, J. Sm. (Aspidium, Hook. Neu- 

 ronia asplenioides, Don.) 3. O. nodosa, ( Willd.) 4. O. 

 articulata, {Sw.) 



Illust. Sckk. Crypt, t. 21. Hook. Ex. Jl. t. 5. Hook. Gen. 

 Fil. t. 45. B. 



Obs. The simple fronds with parallel veins terminating in 

 a narrow margin distinguishes this genus from the preceding 



