116 Key to the System of 



571. Fruit-cover absent. 



Ferntrees of palm-like aspect, seldom trunkless plants ; 

 fruit-masses on the under side of the frond, roundish, 

 emanating from a prominent receptacle, devoid, of any 

 cover, but often surrounded by a rudimentary fringy 

 membrane ; spore-caselets sessile or provided with rather 

 short stalklets, longitudinally almost surrounded by an 

 often somewhat imperfect ringlet. Figure 138. 



Alsophila. 2141 

 Fruit-cover present ... ... ... ... ... 572 



572. Fruit-masses on the under side of the frond. 



Ferntrees of palm -like aspect, rarely almost trunkless 

 plants ; fruit-cover usually cup-shaped, entire or at the 

 summit lacerated ; fruit-masses roundish, emanating from 

 a prominent receptacle ; spore-caselets longitudinally 

 almost surrounded by an often somewhat imperfect ring- 

 let. Figure 135. Cyathea. 2142 



Fruit-masses at the margin of the frond. 



Ferntrees of palm-like aspect ; fruit-cover deeply bilobed, 

 opening from its summit downward ; spore-caselets longi- 

 tudinally almost surrounded by an often somewhat im- 

 perfect ringlet. Figure 139. Dicksonia. 2145 



573. Fronds usually untransparent... ... ... ... 574 



i 

 Fronds usually transparent ... ... 586 



574. Fruit-cover absent ... ... ... ... ... 575 



Fruit-cover present ... ... ... ... ... 577 



575. Fruit-masses at the margin of the frond below. (Also 



Asplenium partly. ) 



Ferns, seldom tall ; fruit-masses minute, often confluent ; 

 a spurious cover sometimes imperfectly formed by the 

 recurved margin of the frond ; spore-caselets longi- 

 tudinally almost surrounded by an often somewhat 

 imperfect ringlet. Figures 143 and 144. 



(Notochlaena.) Cheilanthes. 2144 



Fruit-masses on the under side of the frond away 

 from the margin ... ... ... ... ... 576 



