Nephrolepis.] FILICES. 579 
with minute ee Fale cyatheoid, ovate, 1!/2—3 ft. long, 1!/4—21/e ft. 
broad, decompoundly nnate, ee , ending in a ange apex 
the rhachides ere eines r naked. Primary pinnae, 4—6 stipi itabe 
ones on a side, distant, iin ascending, the lowest on stalks of 
3—12”, ovate or deltoid, not much uneven-sided, 10—16‘ long. Lowest 
secondary pinnae lanceolate, 4—9‘ X 1'/2—3', shortly stipitate, deeply 
cut near the base into broadly re or decurrent oblong-obtuse segments, 
4—5“ broad, which are subentire r the apex and base but notched 
about the middle into deltoid pe ie lobes. Veinlets distinct, single, 
forking or subpinnate. Sori subapical, generally one to each simple veinlet 
> . ’ 
rarely reniform, very large, flat or convex and stiff, crenulate, reddish 
when dry. Sporangia large, with 21—24 joints. Spores smooth subglobose. 
Four fib. vas. fascicles. — Only 1 pair of pinnae anadromous. — Nephrodium 
latifrons, Hook. Sp. Fil. IV, 188. — Synops. Fil. p. 282. 
At heights of 2000—3000 ft. on ait islands, but not common. Not known from elsewhere. 
11. NEPHROLEPIS, Schott. 
Sori round, at the apex of the first anterior branches of the veins, 
generally near the edge. Involucre reniform or orbicular-incised. Veins 
free, ending inside the margin with a punctiform apex which secretes a 
careous scalelet on the upper surface. Frond simply pinnate, with in- 
definite growth, the pinnae articulate at the base and deciduous in the 
dried plant. Spores ovoid, with a — dorsal line. 
Tropical and subtropical ferns; about 7 
1. N. exaltata, Schott. — Hook. ss Fil. IV, 152. — Rhizome creeping, 
covered with linear ferruginous scales. Stip. tufted, 2—6‘ long, stra 
colored or light brown, sparingly fibrillose or naked. Frond pale, chaiti: 
ceous, glabrous, linear-lanceolate, 1—3 ft. long, 2—6‘ broad, narrowing 
below. Pinnae close, horizontal, 25—60 on each side, the lowest often 
dwarfed, oblongand obtuse or somewhat acutely lanceolate falcate, 1/4—* Py 
broad, subsessile, entire or crenate, the base truncate on both sides in the 
lower pinnae, but sharply auricled above and rounded below in the upper 
Pinnae. Veins hidden, close, simple or once or several times forking, 
the upper basal one pinnate. Sori in a line near the margin. Invol. 
firm, cordate or orbicular-incised. Fib. vas. fascicles 3. — Synops. Fil. 
P. 301, — N. cultrifolia, Presl, Epimel. p. 44. — Polypodium exaltatum, 
Forst. — Nephrodium exaltatum, Gaud. 
mmon on trunks of trees. Nat. names: «<Okupukupu», «Pamoho». — Occ 
Most tropical countries. — Ihave two forms; one small and narrow, with fibrillose shee 
and oblong obtuse pinnae, the lowest raaecins dwarfing; the o we larger and br 
With naked rhachis, the frond almost truncate at the base or only preity Ps narro 
