126 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 
Illust. Hook. and Bauer, Gen. Fil., t. 105, A; Hook. Fil. 
Exot., t. 42, 29; Moore Ind. Fil, p. 2, B; J. Sm. 
Ferns, Brit. and For., fig. 29; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 7, 
fig. 60, a. b. 
Oss.—At page 68 of the Introduction I have shown that 
the vernation of Elaphoglossum is apparently intermediate 
between Hremobrya and Desmobrya, but more in favour of 
the latter. 
In the “Synopsis Filicum” sixty-five species are described, 
and nearly as many more names recorded as doubtful; 
and in the Appendix thirty-four new species are described. 
M. Fóe enumerates 116 species, of which sixty are repre- 
sented by figures. On considering the very uniform 
character of the fronds, as regards circumscription and 
size, and that the principal differences consist in their ` 
being smooth or more or less villose or squamose, to 
which may be added slight variations in the venation, 
it becomes difficult to regard them as affording distinct 
characters for even the smaller estimate of species. As 
the evidence upon which the species are founded is - 
entirely derived from herbarium specimens, the number 
consequently depends upon the views of authors. | 
The species are widely spread, being found very gene- 
rally throughout the tropics, and extending to the latitude 
of Tristan d'Acunha in the southern hemisphere, and to 
Madeira in the northern, abounding in the West Indies i 
and Tropical America, and in the Islands of the Indian and 
Malayan Archipelago in the east. ! 
* Fronds smooth, or nearly so. 
t Vernation sarmentose. Fronds distant, 
~ Ez.—EK. stigmatolepis (Fée) (v ei: Bedd. F. T Tod. 
pl. 196 ; E. Funckii (Fée) d v.) 
