(b) Fructifications paniculate on distinct fronds or lateral 



branches, 

 * Veins free. 



181. ANEMIA, S-ivartz, Synops. Fil. 155. 



OBITITHOPTEBIS Bernhwdi; (Oralthopteris, Hook. Gen., ex. err. typj; 

 COPTOPHYLLUM, Gardner; SPATHEPTEBIS, Fred; AITBMIBHIZA, J. Smith ; 

 OSMUND.* sp., Auct. ; MOHBLS sp., J. Smith. 



Fructifications paniculate on the lower (pair of) branches of a 

 three-branched frond, or on distinct fertile fronds; the fertile 

 branches or fronds erect contracted rachiform decompound, the 

 segments unilaterally sporangiferous. Spore-cases oval or sub- 

 globose, having a many-rayed apical ring, sessile, bi-serial on the 

 ultimate segments. Veins flabellately dichotomous, sometimes 

 dimidiately so ; or forked, often repeatedly, from an evident or 

 indistinct costa ; or simple in the narrow ultimate segments ; 

 venules free. 



Fronds pinnate or bi-tri-pinnate ; dimorphous, the fertile and 

 sterile distinct ; or monomorphous, the fertile ones then always 

 ternately branched, the two lateral branches distinct erect stipi- 

 tate fertile, the terminal one spreading sterile. Pinnse sometimes 

 dimidiate. Ehizome short erect, or slowly or caespitosely creep- 

 ing. A genus recognized by the distinct branches of its fronds, 

 which respectively resemble the foliage and inflorescence of a 

 phamogamous plant. It is distinguished from Trochopteris by 

 bearing its fructification on stipitate decompound rachiform 

 fronds or branches of the frond ; and from Anemidictyon by its 

 free venation. We are much inclined to regard the radical 

 fructifications of the Coptophyllum group, and of Khizoglossum 

 among the Ophioglossacece, as deserving of generic distinction ; 

 but the separation of these would involve a similar division of 

 Osmrinda, which we are unwilling to disturb, though the species 

 with distinct fertile fronds have been separated by Presl. Spa- 

 thepteris seems known only from Plunder's figure, which probably 

 represents the barren frond of some Pteris, and the fertile of 

 Gymnogramma trifoliata. Swartz writes the name Anemia, 

 nearly all subsequent authors Aneimia. 



