SOME REMARKS ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF FERNS. 257 
rather than to the increase of genera, that, in the face, I believe, of all 
living pteridographers, I would, without hesitation, merge both Ne- 
phrolepis and Oleandra in Aspidium. As to the first group, there is 
absolutely nothing to separate it, except habit, the articulated pinne, 
and the presence of white scale-like dots near their edges. But similar 
dots exist on those of A. albo-punctatum, Bory, and a few others ; and 
in 4. (Cyclopeltis) semicordatum, Sw., and its allies, the pinne are 
equally articulated, and the habit is similar, the orbicular not reniform 
indusium being the only distinguishing mark. My A. (Cyclopeltis) 
Kingii, from the Hogoleu Islands, a portion of the Caroline group, was 
indeed maintained by Sir William Hooker (in litt.) to be identical 
with Nephrolepis obliterata, Hook., an opinion the groundlessness of 
which I have elsewhere endeavoured to demonstrate. Moreover a pre- 
cise analogue of Nephrolepis is found among Lindsee, in the rare 
Malayan L. lanuginosa, Wall., which has articulated pinne, similar in 
shape, and provided with intramarginal white dots. Surely, logical 
consistency should lead the upholders of Nephrolepis to accord generic 
rank to this singular and distinct species,—a course, however, which 
no one, so far as I am aware, has pursued. The few Adianta with 
articulated pinnules, such as A. Parishii, Hook., and 4. fragile, Sw., 
are retained by common consent in that genus. 
The claims of Oleandra to generic distinction repose on its habit, 
the disposition of its sori, and its articulated stipes. But, so far as 
regards the two first characters, it is in no wise more different from the 
pinnate or decompound Aspidia, than Asplenium serratum, Sw., the 
species of the Zhamnopteris section, or 4. lanceum, Thbg., from those 
with divided fronds, ór than many Polypodia inter se ; and Asplenium 
albo-punctatum, Bory, has similarly articulated stipes, a peculiarity to 
which an undue importance seems to be attached by some botanists. 
I should add that the late Professor Kunze held identical views as to 
the insufficiency of these characters to warrant the separation of 
Oleandra. The length from the caudex to the articulation of the stipes, 
the distance of the sori from the costa, the different position of the in- 
dusium-sinus with regard to it, the breadth, outline, and greater or less 
downiness of the frond, varied so much in the copious specimens of my 
O. Chinensis found last year by Mr. Simpson, as to satisfy me that it is 
inseparable from O. neriiformis, Cav.; and I am, indeed, strongly in- 
clined to believe that there is after all but one variable species known 
VOL. Iv. [Aucusr 1, 1866.] s 
