206 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



tinguish it from Aspidium. Setting" aside its simple 

 anastomosed venation, and viewing it in its general aspect 

 only, it appears to be related to Lastrea villosa, than which, 

 however, it assumes a more aboreous character. Its most 

 natural affinity is with Aspidium macrodontum and A. gigan- 

 teum. It is a native of India, Malay, Philippine, Fiji, and 

 other islands. 



Sp. P. Leuzeana, Presl, Bedd. F. Brit. Ind., pi. 134. 



OBS. In the "Species Filicum" four species are placed 

 under the section Pleocnemia of Nephrodium, two of which 

 possess no natural relationship with P. Leuzeana ; and I am 

 inclined to consider the fourth species, N. (Pleocnemia) 

 excellens identical with the original species, though Presl 

 makes a distinct genus of it (Proferea). 



108. NEPHRODIUM, Schott. (1834). 



Aspidium sp., Sw. ; Nephrodium sect. Eunephrodium, Hook. 

 Sp. Fil. 



Vernation fasciculate, decumbent or erect, acaulose or sub- 

 arboroid, or uniserial sarmentose, Fronds 1 to 6 feet high, 

 simple or pinnate ; pinnae entire, sinuoso or pinnatifid. 

 Veins costaeform, pinnate ; the lower pair of venules only, 

 or more, or the whole, angularly anastomosing, producing 

 from their junction an excurrent veinlet, which is either 

 free or anastomose in the angle of the next superior pair. 

 Receptacles medial or sub- terminal. Sori round. Indusium 

 reniform, rarely nearly orbicular. 



Type. Aspidium molle, Swartz. 



Illust. Schott Gen. Fil., t. 22 ; Hook, and Bauer, t. 48, 

 B ; Moore Ind. Fil., p. 70, B ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and 

 For., fig. 65 ; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 5, fig. 44, a, b. 



OBS. This genus as originally characterised embraced 



