130 CHARACTERS OF TEIBES AND GENERA. 



multipartite, or sub-entire, cuniform, the fertile sub-rotund, 

 entire or bilobed. Veins flabellately forked, free. 



Type. Acrostichum peltatum, Sw. 



Illust. Moore Ind. Fil., p. 2, A ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and 

 For., fig. 33 ; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 7, fig. 60, k. 1. 



OBS. The slender sarmentose vernation and stipate 

 small flabelliform frond marks the three species known of 

 this genus as peculiar, having no direct affinity with any 

 form of AcrostichecBy their nearest being the following 

 genus, Microstaphyla. 



They are natives of the West Indies and Tropical 

 America. 



Sp. R. peltata (Sw.) (v v.) ; B. flabellata (JET. , 1C); 

 E/. fbeniculacea (Hook.). 



45. MICROSTAPHYLA, Presl (1849). 

 Polybotrya sp,, Moore ; Acrostichum sp., Hook. Sp. Fil. 



Vernation uniserial, sarmentum short. Fronds numerous, 

 contiguous, 3 to 8 inches high, the sterile linear lanceolate, 

 sub-entire, unequally crenate, or laciniately pinnatifid, 

 glandulose, segments and Iacina3 cuneiform, entire or bi- 

 trilobed. Veins simple or forked. Fertile fronds contracted, 

 shorter and less divided than the sterile. 



Type. Acrostichum bifurcatum, Sw. 



Illust. Hook. Seed. Cent, of Ferns, t. 91 ; Schk. Fil., 

 t. 2 ; J. Sm., Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 3i. 



OBS. The typical species of this genus is found only in 

 the Island of St. Helena. It is a small-growing slender 

 Fern, and like other genera of this tribe, distinguished 

 more by habit than any technical difference of fructi- 

 fication. 



