Subgenus 1. EudryOptcris c. Chr., Biolog. Arbejder tilegnede Eug. Warming. 



p. 76. 1911. 



The typical species of this subgenus is our common D. filix mas, and most 

 species of Drgopteris from the northern temperate region also belong hereto. In tro- 

 pical America Ihe subgenus is fairly well represented in Mexico, where a series of 

 decompound forms occur, while South America is poor in species. As I have spe- 

 cimens of all but one known from tropical America, 1 give here a short review of 

 all species of this subgenus, although I intended to include in the present work the 

 pinnatifid-bipinnatifid species only*). 



Eudryopteris is a very natural group, or, I firmly believe, a distinct, well de- 

 limited genus, Dryopteris sens, strict. It is well characterized by venation, struc- 

 ture of scales and the total absence of common hairs. The venation is the best 

 character. The veins are free and generally forked; costules (of II. — III. or IV. 

 order) run out from the costa under very acute angles, at first nearly parallel to 

 the costa. By this character the subgenus agrees with Cystopteris and I shall in 

 connection herewith call attention to the fact, that certain Mexican forms, which 

 no doubt belong to Dryopteris, not rarely have perfectly cystopteroid indusia. Also 

 in pubescence Eudryopteris agrees very closely with Cystopteris. The scales are 

 thin, entire or fimbriate, consisting of long, narrow often very irregular cells with 

 small lumina and flexuose cell-walls, their margins often glandulose (paleae cystop- 

 teroideae). The scales of the costæ and veins, if present, are generally very nar- 

 row and hairlike, but they consist of 2 — 3 rows of cells and are therefore scales, 

 not hairs. The leaf of several species is glandulose by short-stalked, capitate glands; 

 the hairs of D. Karivinskyana are a peculiar kind of such glands. All species have 

 a short oblique rhizome, which like the fasciculated stipites below is clothed with 

 a dense mass of large, thin, mostly ovale scales. It will be seen from the above 

 that Eudryopteris in most characters agrees with Cystopteris; the main difference 

 between the two is found in the position and shape of the indusium, but even 

 here we find intermediate forms, as already mentioned above. To me it is pro- 

 bable that Eudryopteris and Cystopteris are closely allied to each other and that it 

 is unnatural to place them in two difi'erent tribes. 



^) A short extract of the review I publislied in American Fern Journal. 1: 93—97. 1911. 



