238 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



Europe inhabiting only Alpine situations. One species is 

 found in South America and another has been discovered 

 in Southern Africa, and one in Japan. 



As originally characterised, Woodsia comprises only 

 three species, which are not only peculiar in their singular 

 capillary indusium, but in their stipes having a distinct 

 articulation some distance above its base. This latter 

 character is similar to the elevated node of Oleandra, but 

 otherwise the technical characters of the two genera are 

 quite different. 



In the section Physematium, the indusium is so truly 

 calyciform, that, in determining affinities from that organ 

 alone, they (with fronds only a few inches high) would 

 be associated with the arboreous genus Cyathea, and 

 on account of the sori of W. caucasica being apparently 

 marginal, led to its being first described as a species of 

 Dicksonia. 



* Woodsia vera. 



Stipes articulated. Indusium deeply laciniated, fringed with 

 long hairs. 



Sp. W. Ilvensis, K Br. (v v.) ; W. hyperborea, H. Br. 

 (v v.) ; W. glabella, R. Br. 



** Physematium. 



Stipes not articulated. Indusium complete, calyciform. 

 W. polystichoides, Eat., Hook. 2nd Cent. Ferns, t. 2, 

 (v v.) ; W. elongata, Hook. Sp. Fil. 1, t. 21 C. ; W. caucasica, 

 J. Sm. (Hymenocystis, Meyer, Hook, and Bauer. Gen. Fil., t. o) ; 

 W. mollis, /. 8m. (Physematium, Kze., Anal, t. 27) (v v.) ; 

 W. obtusa (Sw.) (Polypodium, Schk. Fil., t.2l; W. Perriniana, 

 Hook, and Grev. Ic. Fil., t. 68) (v v.) ; W. guatemalensis, 



