112 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



27. LEPICYSTIS, /. 8m. (1841). 



Marginaria sp. Bory and Presl; Polypodium sp., auct. and 

 HooJc. Sp. Fil. 



Surculum short and rigid ; slender. Fronds pinnatifid, 

 6 to 18 inches high, densely covered with round or 

 elongated fringed scales. Veins pinnately forked, anasto- 

 mosing, lower exterior venules free. Receptacles punctiform, 

 terminal on the free venules in the costal areoles, immersed. 

 Sori protruding through the dense scales, transverse 

 uniserial. 



Type. Polypodium incanum, Linn. 



Illust. J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 6. 



OBS. In venation and position of the sori this genus 

 agrees with Goniophlebium, but differs in the fronds being 

 densely covered with elongated fringed scales, through 

 which the sporangia protrude in a manner analogous to 

 being contained within a calyciform indusium. In general 

 habit the species agree in the squamose nature of the 

 fronds, which indicates its natural affinity to be with 

 Polypodium macrocarpum and P. madrensea. 



Species. L. incana (Sw.) (v v.) ; L. lepidopteris (L. et F.) 

 (v v.) ; L. squamata (Linn.) (v v.) ; L. ragadiolepis (Fee) 

 (vv.) 



Natives of West Indies and Tropical America, extending 

 to south of the United States to South of Brazil. 



28. PLEOPELTIS, H. et B. (1810). 

 Polypodium sp., auct. HooJc. Sp. Fil. 



Surculum elongating ; slender. Fronds simple, sinuose 

 or pinnatifid, 4 to 12 inches long, opaque, squamiferous, 

 rarely smooth. Veins more or less obscure, arcuately anas- 



