FILI 
(5) The P. rupesire, apparently possessing affinity with 
P.itellatum of Swartz. 
“Vv. ASPIDIACER. (Ptate CCLIV. Fig. 15.) 
This tribe was originally included in the genus Poly- 
podium of Linnwus, but since the more accurate ex- 
amination of the genera n by Sir James Edward 
Smith, and continued by Swartz and Bernhardi, the 
poly jum has been aes into Bs foaled ape hurt § 
istinct genera, whose grou capsules, tig 
separate, aud in round Son wacomeed with an invo- 
lucrum, which in some of them is umbilicated and 
reniform, fixed at the centre, opening all around ; and, 
in others, attached by one, and opening on the opposite 
side of the involucrum. Without, therefore, implicit- 
ly following Roth, there seems to be a certain seins 
of propriety in adopting his principle of separati ese 
ough he erred in confounding them with the 
Cyathea of Smith, which belongs to a very distinct tribe. 
But since the publication of ana J work, a genus 
totally .distinct has been discovered by Humboldt and 
Bonpland in Mexico, : 
GENERA. 
(1.) Pleopeliis. (Willd. 1961. Humboldt.and Bonpland.) 
Capsules in round scattered , With numerous 
peltate involucra to each of hes, Pn 
P. angusta. The stipes of this small fern is smooth, 
and about an inch in length: the frond, which is deep- 
ly pinnatifid, wedge-shaped at the base, and decurrent, 
is two or three inches long, covered thinly with brown 
scales. The are about the size of mustard seed, 
and to each of there are about twenty of the 
brown peltate involucra. These distinct involucra se- 
parate this genus from the two following, but their form 
rank it with this tribe in affinity. 
2.) Aspidium. (Sprengel, Anleit. Gen, Aspidii, Willd. 
So Sp. PL 1962). oi 
Capsules in scattered round groups, invested with a 
round or reniform involucrum Ged in the centre, and 
opening all around. 
Swartz and Willdenow (Sp. Pi. 5,) have united this 
genus with Athyrium, (Polystichum, Roth and Lamarck) ; 
but to us, the reasoning of for keeping them 
separ Lp ny a caging cnr or, if the form and 
of the involucra be, as it is at present, the 
characteristic principle of the generic ee 
ought, in consistency, 
founded be discovered. The Aspidium, then, includes 
such genera as have their involucrum fixed in the mid« 
die, and emit their capsules all around. — - 
A the British species, are, 1. The A. filix mas, 
which a a decided of this genus, so as, 
even without the help of glasses, the kidney-shaped 
shields may be easily perceived opening around the 
and discharging the brown capsules. This spe- 
cies, (whose elegant b fronds, from upwards of 
twenty inches to two feet long when in.a proper soil, 
, to adhere to it, until a better ° 
336 CES. 
Fiiees with linear entire lanceolate ash-coloured be~ ought to become more frequ an ornament of the 
—— neath, with the groups sometimes confluent, anda scaly _shrubbery,) possesses es rounded at the extremi- 
creeping stem. (2.) P. attenuatum, likewise with linear wy finely serrated, bearing in the end of summer’ 
lanceolate fronds, attenuated at the base, and a ah po gh tg taal age ge 
ingstem. (S.) P. membrdnifoliwm, with a pinnatifid and near the middle rib; the sti beset with Prare 
reticulated frond, and minute scattered mh chaffy scales, and the stem, | short and neat CCLI 
sules. (4.) P. diversifolium, the sterile sessile, the surface, is hid by the remains of ses newer Fig. 7. 
ovate, and siniated ; the fertile ones pinnated with lan- and generally confounded, even by botanists, with . 
ceolate, ensiform, crenate, and subpetiolated fronds. the roots, from which, however, it distinct ; 
for the roots are fibrous, sHooting at hee fro 
stem. It is sin that this species should be so ge- 
nerally diffused. It is a native not only of biped iM 
of E , but of the woods of Asia and the North of 
a specimen of a variety from the island of 
St Phomasin the West luis. ‘Tis variety iin length 
the same as the common European species, but th 
ev respect 
Germnatit, There is arsdher euall varity fousd 1 
mountainous situations, 9 ©” * sath ar erie ES 
= 
des 
4. A. dilatatum, (Willd, 
Brit, ; Schkubr, C 
fronds are more rigid and shining. — 
and the pinnules more e : 
figured in Eng, Bot. 1460. . p07 MiB ul 
5. A. lonchitis. Fronds pinnate, wi 
fronds are about a span Jong, erect, te, and nar» 
row. Pinne nearly sessile, alternate, declining, acute, 
and spinulous: at the margin groups of fre«. 
quently confluent. 6 ide te al yee ae 
6. A. oreopteris. The frond is with the» 
"has added four new ferns, under the designation of 
Nephrodium, (Mich. Flor. bor. Amer.) 1. N. oblitera) 
ium. 2. N. unitum. 3. N. decompositum. 4. N. tenue. 
The Nephrodium seems to possess entirely the character * 
of Aspidium. (Prodr. Nov, Holl.) Bane ee” | 
kul Bae eee 
eh nn Farolan an: aa 
ti wel veges 
Capsules in small round groitps dispersed on the whole 
of the lower eartans of the frond; covered with an invo- » 
lucram attached by one, ‘commonly the inner side, and — 
echih y utabew tent 
1. The Athyrium ( Aspiditm Wilk o 
whore rt figured fr Pate COLLV. Big 1, tons 
dium, A. thel has fronds nea 4 
innee somewhat crenate and distinct at the » 
es, ial Beanieedl The are confluent. The + 
frond is erect, a foot and of a bright ~ 
