138 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



Type. Acrostichum nicoliance folium, Sw. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer, Gen. Fil., t. 85 ; Moore Tnd. 

 Fil., p. 8, A ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 43. 



OBS. This genus was founded by Bernhardi in 1800, on 

 the Acrostichum quercifolium of Retzius. As a genus it is 

 technically distinguished from the preceding by the more 

 compound venation, which is similar to that of the genera 

 Dryomanes, Dipteris, Cheiropleuria, and Aspidium, which, 

 with Gymnopteris, form a very natural group of Ferns, the 

 several genera being distinguished from each other more 

 by the grouping and position of the sporangia than by any 

 great diversity in mode of growth or general habit of the 

 fronds. 



The genus consists of about sixteen species, natives of 

 the Old and New World. 



* Indian and Malayan region. 



Sp. G. quercifolia (Eetz.) (v v.) ; G. trilobata, /. Sin. ; 

 G. tacca3folia, /. Sm. ; G. Harlandi (Hook ) (G. decur- 

 rens, Hook. Fil. Exot., t. 94) ; G. subrepanda, /. Sm. ; 

 G. semicordata (Bak.) ; G. Presliana (Hook.). 



** Tropical West Africa. 



G. Gaboon ense (Hook.) (v v) ; G. Heudelotii (Hook.) 

 G. salicina (Hook.) 



*** West Indies and Tropical America. 



G. pandurifolia (Hook.) ; G. oligarchica (Bak.) ; G. nico- 

 tianaefolia (Sw.) (v v.) ; G. aliena (Sw.) (v v. ); G. semi- 

 pinnatifida (Fee) ; G. acuminata (Willd.) (v v.) (Plum. 

 Fil., t. 115). 



OBS. Acrostichum variaHle, Hook. Sp. Fil. (Gymnopteris 

 decurrens, Hook. Gard. Ferns, t. 6), is LeptocJiilus decurrens. 



