5G. VITTAIUA, EUVITTAKIA, TJENIOPSIS. 395 



GEN. 56. VITTARIA, Sin. (See page 517.) 



Sori in continuous marginal or slightly intramarginal lines. A small genus, 

 almost entirely tropical, with free veins and grass-like fronds of subcoriaceous 

 texture. It has considerable claim to be placed in the Involucrate series near Lind- 

 saya. The species are very difficult of discrimination, and we have admitted here 

 considerably fewer than M. Fee, who has published an elaborate illustrated mono- 

 graph of the genus, in which he relies to a large extent upon microscopic characters 

 (the shape of the spores and abortive capsules} to characterize them. TAB. VI. 

 fig. 56. 



Euvittaria. Sori sunk in a two-lipped marginal groove. Sp. 1. Fig. 56. a. 



1. V. elongata, Sw. ; fr. 6-18 in. ]., - in. br., the point acute or bluntish, the 

 lower part narrowed very gradually to the base ; texture subcoriaceous ; midrib 

 faint or distinct ; veins simple, oblique, immersed, parallel, connected by an 

 intramarginal veinlet ; sori quite sunk in a marginal groove with two nearly 

 equal lips which open outwards. 



Hah. Himalayas and Benin to Sandwich Isles, New South Wales, and Ceylon ; Mas- 

 caren Isles, Seychelles, and Guinea Coast. We cannot separate from this clearly V. zos- 

 tercB/olia, bisulcala, isoetifolia, owariensis, rigida, ensiformis, intermedia, plantayinea, and 

 anodontolepis of authors. The two first are said to have a distinct midrib, the others 

 none. See Luerssen's recent monograph, Filices Graffeanse, p. 90. 



Taeniopsis, J. Sm. Sori in a slightly intramarginal line, with the unaltered 

 edge of the frond produced beyond and often rolled over it. Sp. 2-9. Fig. 56. b. c. 



2. V. (Tseniop.) scabrida, Klotzsch ; fr. 2 in. 1., 1 lin. br., the point blunt, the 

 lower half tapering gradually to the base ; texture fleshy, when dry wrinkled ; 

 midrib lost in the upper half ; sori sunk in an intramarginal groove, with the 

 flattened thick edge of the frond produced beyond it. Hk. Sp. 5. p. 182. 



Hab. Mexico and Brazil. 



3. V. (Tseniop.) falcata, Kunze ; fr. 4-5 in. 1., \ in. br., the point blunt, the 

 lower part narrowed gradually to the base ; texture leathery and very thick ; a 

 distinct raised midrib attaining the apex in the barren fronds, but lost in the 

 fertile ones ; veins short, oblique, parallel, immersed ; sori quite sunk in slightly 

 intramarginal grooves. Hk. Sp., 5. p. 182. 



Hab. Malaccas.-r-The Malayan and Philippine V. minor, Fe*e, is like this, but smaller 

 in size, with the habit of Polyp, australe and gramineum. 



4. V. (Tseniop.) Gardneriana, Fe'e ; fr. 1 ft. or more 1., i in. br., the point 

 acute, the lower part narrowed gradually to the base or a short slender stem ; 

 texture thin, the young fronds translucent ; a slender immersed midrib extending 

 from the base to the apex ; veins fine, distant, oblique ; sori in a broad superficial 

 slightly intramarginal line, with the edge produced beyond, but not wrapped 

 over it. Hk. Sp. 6. p. 178. (in part). V. costata, Kze. 



Hab. Organ Mountains, Brazil, Gardner, 147. 



5. V. (Tseniop.) stipitata, Kunze ; fr. If -2 ft. 1., 3-4 lin. br.; tapering gradually 

 below into a long slender stem ; texture firm ; midrib indistinct, except towards 

 the base ; veins distant, fine, oblique, immersed ; sori sunk in a groove within 

 the margin, with the flattened thickened edge of the frond produced beyond it. 

 Ilk. Sp. 5. p. 179. 



Hub. Columbia to Peru. V, Morilziana, Mett., is said to have the sori less distinctly 



