728 CXLVII. FILICES. [ Pteris. 
with or without a midrib. E linear, postinuons or slightly interrupted 
along the margin of the segments, w fa a continuous narrow membranous 
indusium proceeding from the mar i opening along the inner or 
lower edge. Spore-cases inserted on the frond under the indusium. 
A large yee distributed over the temperate as well as the raid reer regions of the 
globe. Of rs welve p species five have a general distributio as oth the 
New an o Ol id World, four are limited to the Old World, two more to New 
Zealand va the South Pacifie Islands, one only is as far as known defen emic 
Veins oblique on the midrib, forked and free, par almost 
concealed in the thick substance of th e fro 
Fronds 2 to 4 in. € "e broad, $-pattite with deeply 
pinnatifid divisi 1. P. geraniifolia. 
Fronds 6 to 18 in. long; simply | pinnate with distinct 
not decurrent un ROM EE 
Rhachis usually rous, ' Pinnules broad, SER to 21 
in. long, shortly P olat 2. P. paradoxe, 
Rhachis scaly-hirs 
innules lanceolate te, 1 to 2 in. long, sessil 3. P. falcata. 
innules orbicular or badly pg mr obtuse, : 
ito 3in . lon 4. P. rotundifolia. 
Veins transverse on the midrib, simple or forked, free, 
frond. 
apparent on the uid: 
Fronds pinnate. 
Pinne ITOW, jsa ided, 3 to 6 in. long 5. P. longifolia. 
Pinnæ few, narrow long, undivided or with 
few short lateral I ems barren puse short 
, and em ee 6. P. ensiformis. 
Pinnæ w,4 to 6 in. long, : some undivided 
others with fe few lobes 1. P. umbrosa. 
e to 8 in, lng, „deeply pinnatifid with Pe 
rous narrow P. quadriaurita, 
Fronds: nee 2 to 5 gre pinnate, ‘segments 
Segments ae narrow, rather regular. In- 
usium not thickened at the base 9. P. tremula. 
Segments often very unequal, usually hairy | un- 
derneath between the raised midrib an 
the sorus. Indusium from a thickened base . 10. P. aquilina, var. 
[m 
m 
sionally anastomosing. Frond large compound . . 11. P. incisa. 
: f 
witobrochia).  Frond-branches pinna 
deeply pinnatifid. 
Fron a _ Segments of the pinnæ connected by 
winged rhachis 2 to 3 lines broad . 12. P. marginata. 
Frond wi with ao berat branches. bein ts of the pinne 
decurrent on the rhacbis . 18. P. comans. 
1.P, - geraniifolia, Raddi, Filie. Bras.46.— Rhizome tufted. Fronds 
broadly rounded-cordate in outline, 2 to 4 in. long and broad, coriaceous, 
tripartite, the lateral divisions divaricate, all deeply pinnatifid, the 
lower segments again pi nnatifid, the upper ones short and entire; lobes 
all obtusely lan ceolate or ovate, with a black midrib sometimes shortly 
conspicuous, the veins otherwise oblique and forked concealed in the 
