558 Evans: HepaTicAE OF PUERTO RICO 
Hooker,* who pointed out its possible affinity to the two Euro- 
pean species, /. dilatata and J. Tamarisci. Raddi expressed this 
relationship more positively by referring /. filicina to his recently 
established genus /rudlania, which he had based upon /. dilatata 
and /. Tamarisci. He also included in the same genus a plant 
which he described as new and figured under the name F. dichot- 
oma but which is now considered identical with Swartz’s /. diffusa.{ 
The name Bryopteris first appears in the writings of Nees von 
Esenbeck, who applied it to a subgenus under Frullania.t 1n this 
subgenus he included three species, /. filicina, F. diffusa, and F. 
spathulistipa, the last being the earlier /ungermannia spathulistipa 
R. Bl. & N., of Java. When Lindenberg, in the Synopsis He- 
paticarum, raised Bryopteris to generic rank, he excluded the third 
of these species, transferring it to the genus 7hysananthus, which 
he proposed in the same volume. || Under Bryopteris he included 
not only 4. filcina and B. diffusa but also five other species, 
most of which were described as new. JB. /filicina, being the first 
species described, may be considered the type of the genus. 
Lindenberg apparently recognized the fact that Bryopteris was 
related to the Lejeuneae rather more closely than to Frullama, 
because he placed it at the beginning of the subtribe /wuleae, 
Frullania being placed at the end and Lejeunea, with its immediate 
allies, occupying an intermediate position. Spruce emphasized the 
relationship to the Lejeuneae still more strongly by reducing Bry- 
opterts toa subgenus under Leyeunea, giving it the name Bryo- 
Leeunea to conform with his other subgeneric names.§_ Its generic 
rank, however, was soon restored to it by Schiffner, and it is noW 
again known by its original name Lryopteris.** 
The genus is confined to the tropics, and at the present time 
about nine species are recognized. These seem to flourish equally 
well both on trees and on rocks and frequently grow in exposed 
localities. All of the species are American except B. Gaudichandit 
le 
*Musc. Exot. f/. 7g2. 18109. 
+ Mem. Soc. Ital. Modena Fis. 19: 35. 1823; 20: p/. ra. 1829. 
{ Naturg. Europ. Leberm. 3: 211 (footnote). 1838. 
4 Nova Acta Acad. Caes, Leop.-Carol. 12: 212. 1824. 
‘| Hep. Amaz. et. And. 111. 1884. ° 
** Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam, 1°: 130. 1895. 
