CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 303 



conniving enclosing the sporangia of both receptacles, 

 ultimately becoming replicate and generally torn. 



Type. Lomaria nuda, Willd. 



Tllust. Hook, and Bauer, Gen. Fil., t. 64, B. ; Moore 

 Ind. Fil., p. 11, A. ; J. Sm. Ferns Brit, and For., fig. 

 103 ; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 3, fig. 33. 



OBS. As already stated, the only character that dis- 

 tinguishes this genus from Bleclmum is in the fertile fronds 

 being contracted. In the " Species Filicum," Sir William 

 Hooker says, " a more careful investigation of several species 

 of Lomaria shows that they gradually depart from their 

 pteroid character, and completely merge into Blechnece." 



The genus consists of between thirty and forty known 

 species, and as in Bleclmum, the synonym of the species is 

 confusing ; they are widely distributed throughout the 

 tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres, extend- 

 ing from the latitude of New Zealand in the South to the 

 limits of Fern life in the North, where the genus is repre- 

 sented by the well-known Lomaria spicunt, better known 

 in this country as Blechnum boreale, of which, of late years, 

 numerous abnormal forms have been discovered, consisting 

 in the fronds being distorted in various ways ; some of these 

 are so unlike the typical form, that without being acquainted 

 with their origin they would by some pterodologists be 

 considered as types of distinct species, thirty-six of these 

 forms are recorded in Mr. Stansfield's Catalogue. 



* Vernation sarmentose, epiphytal. Sterile fronds pinnatifid, 

 sinus generally large, obtuse, round (Lomaridium, Presl, 

 J. Sm.). 



Sp. L. onocleoides, Spr. (v v.) ; L. Plumieri, Desv. ; L. 

 attenuata, Willd. (v v.) ; L. pteropus, Kze. ; L. elongata, Bl. 

 (v v,) ; L. Colensoi, Hook. 



