Cxix. 



Rhizome caudiciform or tufted. The three groups indicated 

 below, differ chiefly in the position of the fertile pinnae. 



Enosmtinda. Panicles terminal, i.e., upper pinnae transformed, sporan- 



giferous. 

 Ex. : O. regalis, Lin. . | 0. gracilis, Link. 



Plenasium. Lateral pinnae transformed, sporangiferous. 

 Ex. : O. javanica, SI. \ O.Claytoniana,iin. (interrupta,afic*J 



Osmundantrum. Fertile and sterile fronds distinct. 

 Ex. : 0. einnamomea, Lin. \ O. imbricata, Kze, 



(b) Fructifications dorsal. 



167. TODEA, Willdenow, Act. Acad. Erford. 1802, 14. 

 LBPIOPTKEIS, Presl; OsstPJfDa sp., Auct. ; ACHOSTICHI sp., Auct. 



Fructifications on the under surface of the pinnules, consisting 

 of oblong or linear simple or forked sori, which are crowded and 

 polycarpous at length confluent, or oligocarpous consisting of 

 scattered spore-cases. Spore-cases obovate-globose, pedicellate, 

 having an incomplete or rudimentary gibbous ring (represented 

 by a few parallel strise) near the apex, and bursting vertically 

 in two equal hemispherical valves. Veins simple in the ultimate 

 (narrow) segments, or simple or forked from a central costa ; 

 venules free, evident in the unaltered fertile portions, either veins 

 or venules, or both being soriferous. 



Fronds monomorphous, coriaceous or pellucid-membranaceous, 

 bi-pinnate ; pinnae articulate with the rachis. Ehizome caudici- 

 form. A well-marked genus, with the spore-cases of Osmunda, 

 but borne on fronds which are either not at all, or not, sensibly 

 contracted. Though strikingly different in appearance, and held 

 to be generically distinct by high authority, we cannot find in the 

 two groups we have referred here, any distinctive marks besides 

 the coriaceous texture and polycarpous sori of the one, and the 

 pellucid-membranaceous texture and less crowded sori of the 

 other differences elsewhere disregarded, and not, as it appears 

 to us, of generic importance. 



Todea. Coriaceous : sori consisting of dense masses of spore-cases. 

 Ex. : T. barbara (africana, Willd.J 



L 2 



