130 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 
multipartite, or sub-entire, cuniform, the fertile sub-rotund, 
entire or bilobed. Veins flabellately forked, free. 
Type. Acrostichum peltatum, Sw. 
Illust. Moore Ind. Fil., p. 2, A; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit. and 
For., fig. 33; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 7, fig. 60, k. 1. 
Oss.—The slender sarmentose vernation and stipate 
small flabelliform frond marks the three species known of 
this genus as peculiar, having no direct affinity with any 
form of Acrostichee, their nearest being the following 
genus, Microstaphyla. 
They are natives of the West Indies and Tropical 
America. 
Sp. R. peltata (Sw.) (v v.) ; R. flabellata (H. B. K.); 
R. foeniculacea (Hook.). 
45 .—MICROSTAPHYLA, Presl (1849). 
Polybotrya sp., Moore; Acrostichum sp., Hook. Sp. Fil. 
Vernation uniserial, sarmentum short. Fronds numerous, 
contiguous, 3 to 8 inches high, the sterile linear lanceolate, 
sub-entire, unequally crenate, or laciniately pinnatifid, 
glandulose, segments and lacine cuneiform, entire or bi- 
trilobed. Veins simple or forked. Fertile fronds contracted, 
shorter and less divided than the sterile. 
Type. Acrostichum bifurcatum, Sw. 
Illust. Hook. Secd. Cent. of Ferns, t. 91; Schk. Fil. 
t. 9; J. Sm., Ferns, Brit. and For., fig. 34. 
Oss.—The typical species of this genus is found only in 
the Island of St. Helena. It is a small.growing slender 
Fern, and like other genera of this tribe, distinguished 
more by habit than any technical difference of fructi- 
