2. POLYPODIACE^. 



Veins copiously reticulate, fine and close. Pinnae not 

 articulate, fertile not contracted . . . .26. Acrostiehum. 



1. NEPHRODIUM, Rich. 



(Including Goniopteris.) 



{Lastrea is sometimes included in this genus.) 



Usually robust terrestrial ferns. Petioles not articulate on rhizome. 

 Blade with both sides sub-similar, usually firm, rarely membranous, 

 pinnate, rarely more compound, often more or less hairy. Indusium 

 heart-shaped or kidney-shaped and attached laterally in the sinus, 

 sometimes weakly developed or altogether failing. Venation entirely 

 pinnate with one or more of the lower veinlets uniting with the corre- 

 sponding one of the next group, not forming areoles except by the 

 union of these 1-2 veinlets. 



When the indushim fails the artificial genus Goniopteris results. Some pinnae 

 will show indusia and others not on the same plant. 

 I. Caudex widely creeping with fronds scattered, never 

 dimorphic : — 



A. One-two veins each side of costules uniting : — 



1. Sori medial on the veins : — 



Frond herbaceous. Pinnge lobed half-way down. 



Lower pinnte reduced to auricles, veins 6-12 each 

 side costule . . . . . . . 1. moUe, var. 



Frond coriaceous. Pinn.T close, lobed one-third 

 do\\^l, lower not reduced, veins 4-8 to each 

 costule 2. umtum. 



2. Sori terminal on the veins . . . . .3. pteroides. 



B. Three to six veins each side of costule imite : — 

 Pinnse 3-5" by -3- -5" lobed ^-{ down, 3-5 veins 



unite ......... 4. aridum. 



Frond up to 8-5 ft. Pinna; 6-10" by -7-1", lobed 

 i-i down, 5-6 veins unite . • . . .4. aridum, var. 



II. Caudex 'finahy erect or suberect, ^\^th the fronds tufted 

 at the apex (or both scattered and tufted in prolifera) : — 



A. Fronds all erect, not dimorphic : — 



1. One to fom- veins only uniting, pinnse lobed 4 to 



half-way dovra : — 

 Pinupe 4-6" by • 7- '8", lobes sub-falcate. 1-2 veins 



unite ....... .1. molle. 



Pinnae up to 10" by 1-3", lobes square often crenate, 



2-4 veins vmite .5. truncatum. 



2. Veins 12-20, all but 2-4 uniting, lobes very short 



or . . . . . . . .6. moulmeimnse. 



B. Fronds di- or tri-morphic, barren often of unlimited 



apical gro%\i:h creeping and ending in a flagellum 



with very small pinnse. Veins 6-10 uniting . . 7. proliferum. 



1. N. molle, Desv* Syn. N. parasiticum, C. B. Clarice ; Polypodium 

 parasiticum, L. 

 A tufted fern Avith the oblong-lanceolate fronds 1-3 ft. long, rarely 

 3-5 ft., simply pinnate with the pinnse cut about half-way down 

 or sometimes more deeply into rounded or sub-falcate lobes, variable 

 in indumentum but nearly always more or less pubescent. Stipes 

 and rhachis mostly pale, rather soft and becoming furrowed when 

 dry, without scales except at the extreme base or scales very caducous, 



* Parasiticum is apparently the oldest name, and the one which should be 

 adopted under the international rules. 



118G 



