CXLIII. FILICES. 465 
rhizome, and a second inner membranous involucre often developed ; and 
1 (2. incisa), to sect. Litobrochia, which has copiously anastomosing veins. 
16. ACTINIOPTERIS, Link. 
Sori and involucre linear and continuous. Frond rigid, like 
the leaf of a fan-palm in miniature.— Hook. and Baker, Syn. 
Fil. p. 246. Blechnum, Pappe and Rawson, p. 16 (in part). 
A single species, common in tropical Africa, extending southward to 
Magalisberg. 
17. LOMARIA, Willd. 
Tnyolucres linear. Sori occupying the whole under surface 
of the narrow linear pinne of a modified frond.—Pappe and 
Rawson, p. 27; Hook. and Baker, Sp. Fil. p. 174. 
4 South African species.— Barren and fertile fronds, in all of them simply 
pinnate, quite distinct from one another. One of the species (L. punctulata) 
passes gradually into a very curious Scolopendrium-like variety (Scolopen- 
drium Krebsii, Kunze). 
TrizE 6. BLECHNER. 
Sori and involucres linear, more or less intramarginal 
3 . . . ? . 5 ? 
parallel with the midrib and edge of the pinne, and conse- 
quently crossing the veins. 
18. BLECHNUM, Linn. 
The only genus, represented by a single species. In general 
habit the genus quite corresponds with Lomaria, the difference 
being, that the involucre arises from a line more or less clearly 
within the edge. 
1 South African pinnate species ; also found in Bourbon and Mada- 
gascar. 
Trizpe 7. ASPLENIES. 
Sori and involucres running down the veins, linear or oblong, 
sometimes 2 placed back to back, sometimes a little curved, 
oblique with regard to the midrib. 
19. ASPLENIUM, Linn. 
The only genus.— Hook. and Baker, Syn. Fil. p. 190. As- 
plenium and Athyrium, Pappe and Rawson, pp. 16 and 17. 
A very large genus, represented by 28 species in South Africa, 21 of 
which belong to sect. Huasplenium, which has free veins and single linear 
sori quite upon the back of the segments; 5 to sect. Darea, in which the 
sori are linear, and the divisions so narrow that the sori are nearly or quite 
marginal, and the veins usually restricted to a single central costa; and 2 
to sect. Athyrium, which approximates to Nephrodium by its much shorter 
sori, often considerably curved ; sect. Diplazium, with free veins and gemi- 
2H 
