CxxiT GENEEA OP TEENS : 



on a distinct branch of the frond. Spore-cases erect, sessile 

 free, bi-serial, globose, fleshy-coriaceous, bursting vertically in 

 two equal hemispherical valves. Veins flabellato-dichotomous 

 or dichotomo-furcate, from a central costa ; venules free. 



Fronds herbaceous or sub-carnose, pinnatifid pinnate or ter- 

 nately decompound ; the sterile and fertile branches distinct. 

 Ehizome short, erect, fleshy. 



Ex. : B. Lunaria, Sw. 



B. virginicum, Willd. 

 B. lunarioides, Sw. 

 B. lanuginosum, Watt. 



B. simplex, Hitchcock. 

 B. rutaceum, Sic. 

 B. matricarioides, Willd. 

 B. australe, S. Er. 



(b) Fructifications spicate, the spore-cases in glomerate tufts. 



175. HELMINTHOSTACHYS, Eaulfuss, Enum Fil. 



28, t. 1. 

 BOTBYOPTBBIS, Presl; OPHIALA, Desvaux ; BOTETCHII sp., Auct.; OPHI- 



OaLOBSII Sp., Auct.; OSMUNDS Sp., Auct. 



Fructifications consisting of glomerate verticillate pedicellate 

 tufts of spore-cases, the whorls terminated by a crest-like appen- 

 dage, and arranged in distichous spiked panicles on a distinct 

 branch of the frond. Spore-cases fleshy-coriaceous, globose, ses- 

 sile, inverse, bursting on the outer side, from the base upwards, 

 in two equal or sub-equal hemispherical valves. Veins forked, 

 from a central costa ; venules parallel, free. 



Fronds herbaceous or coriaceous, trifoliately digitato-pedate, 

 the fertile and sterile branches distinct. Ehizome stout, hori- 

 zontal, with coarse roots. 



Ex.: H. zeylanica, Hook. 



(c) Fructifications spicate, the spore-cases in a single marginal 

 series. 



176. OPHIOG-LOSSUM, Linnaus, Gen, Plant. 779. 



OPHIODEEMA, Endlicher; CHEIBOGLOSSA, Presl; EHIZOGLOSSUM, Presl; 

 CASSIOPTEBIS, Karrten MS, (Klotzich.) 



Fructifications in a distichous spike, terminating a distinct 

 branch of the frond, or on distinct fronds. Spore-cases uni- 



