126 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer, Gen. Ml.,t. 105, A ; Hook. Ml. 



Exot., t. 42, 29 ; Moore Ind. Ml., p, 2, B ; J. Sm. 



Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 29 ; Hook. Syn. Pil., t. 7, 



fig. 60, a. b. 



OBS. At page 68 of the Introduction I have shown that 

 the vernation of ElapJioglossum is apparently intermediate 

 between JEremobrya and Desmobrya, but more in favour of 

 the latter. 



In the "Synopsis Filicum" sixty-five species are described, 

 and nearly as many more names recorded as doubtful ; 

 and in the Appendix thirty-four new species are described. 

 M. Fee enumerates 116 species, of which sixty are repre- 

 sented by figures. On considering the very uniform 

 character of the fronds, as regards circumscription and 

 size, and that the principal differences consist in their 

 being smooth or more or less villose or squamose, to 

 which may be added slight variations in the venation, 

 it becomes difficult to regard them as affording distinct 

 characters for even the smaller estimate of species. As 

 the evidence upon which the species are founded is 

 entirely derived from herbarium specimens, the number 

 consequently depends upon the views of authors. 



The species are widely spread, being found very gene- 

 rally throughout the tropics, and extending to the latitude 

 of Tristan d'Acunha in the southern hemisphere, and to 

 Madeira in the northern, abounding in the West Indies 

 and Tropical America, and in the Islands of the Indian and 

 Malayan Archipelago in the east. 



* Fronds smooth, or nearly so. 

 f Vernation sarmentose. Fronds distant. 



Ex. ft. stigmatolepis (Fee) (v v.) ; Bedd. F. S. Ind., 

 pi. 196 ; B. Funckii (Fee) (v v.) 



