CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 147 



OBS. A. dbliquum of Blume is founded on simple fronds, 

 which may be considered as an abnormal state. 



Tribe 7. MENISCEA (Plate 7.) 



Fronds pinnate, rarely simple. Veins anastomosing, 

 evident. Sori linear, arcuate transverse or reticulated, 

 often confluent. 



OBS. This tribe consists of about a dozen species, the 

 principal number being comprehended under the genus 

 Meniscium. 



Hitherto I have associated Meniscium with Dictyopteris 

 and Goniopteris, and there is no doubt that it forms a 

 natural connection between Poecilopteris and these genera ; 

 but on viewing what I have stated under P<ecilopteris, I 

 now consider it to have more relationship with that genus 

 than with its former allies, I therefore rank it as a transition 

 tribe between Acrostichew and Phegopterideoe, of which 

 Meniscium simplex is an example, and, as already stated 

 at page 62, cultivated plants become truly acrostichoid, 

 but as the venation of the sterile frond is more in character 

 with that of Meniscium than with Poecilopteris, I therefore 

 retain it under the former. 



62. MENISCIUM, Schreb. (1791). 



' Vernation decumbent, subfasciculate. Fronds contiguous, 

 pinnate, rarely simple, 1 to 8 feet high. Primary veins 

 eostaeform, pinnate, each opposite pair of venules angularly 

 or arcuately anastomosing, and sporangiferous, producing 

 from their junction an excurrent, free, sterile veinlet. 

 Receptacles linear, continued across the junction of the 

 venules, forming arcuate transverse sori. Sporangia in 

 some species pilose. 



