CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 299. 
Oss.—These three, with their numerous intermediate 
forms, many of which are described as species by different 
authors, may be viewed as the most abundant of Ferns on 
the earth, being found in all temperate and tropical regions, 
and occupying vast tracts of plane and mountain slope. 
** Sarmentum epigeous, paleaceous, sub-scandent, 
A. glutinosa, J. Sm. (Pteris glutinosa, Wiles. Herb.; P. 
scalaris Moritz., Herb. Hook. Sp. Fil.; P. viscosa, Hook. 
Syn, Fil. ; Poesia viscosa, St. Hil, according to Moore). 
Oss.—Specimens of this Fern came into my possession 
about forty years ago, which had been collected in Jamaica 
by James Wiles, about the beginning of the present cen- 
tury, and named by him Pteris glutinosa. It is also a native 
of Venezuela and Peru. 
O. scaberula ( Rich.) (P. microphylla, A. Cunn.) 
Native of New Zealand. 
The sarmentose vernation of this species agrees with the 
preceding, but it has no trace of an interior indusium ; the 
fertile segments are very small, with the opposite sori 
confluent, similar to Onychium. 
O. rugulosa, Lab. Sert. New Caledonia, t. 8. 
Tribe 22,—BLECHNEA. (Plate 22). 
Vernation sarmentose, fasciculate, acaulose, or rarely sub- 
arborescent. Fertile fronds plane or contracted, rachiform. - 
Sori transverse, oblong or linear, continuous, medial or 
costal. Indusium lateral exteriorly attached, inwardly 
| inflexed, plane or vaulted (absent in Brainea). 
..— Oss,—In the “Species Filicum " 107 species are described 
as belonging to this Tribe, the greater number being 
contained in the genera Blechnum and Lomaria, In the 
