308 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



Type. Brainea insignis, Hook. 



Illust. Moore, Ind. Fil., p. 34 A. ; J. Sm., Ferns, Brit, 

 and For., fig. 103 ; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 6, fig. 53. 



OBS. A solitary species constitutes this genus, the 

 affinity to which is difficult to determine. The stout 

 Zamia-like caudex, squamose vernation, and pinnate, rigid 

 fronds indicate a relationship in natural affinity with 

 Lomaria Boryana and Sadleria cyatheoides, but its being 

 destitute of an indusium and the anastomose venation of 

 its sterile fronds, distinguishes it from these genera. In 

 the " Species Filicum " it is placed next to Gymnogramme, 

 which includes species with both free and anastomose 

 venation, and if the lines of sporangia of Brainea are 

 viewed as simple sori, it has therefore as good a claim to 

 be placed in Gymnogramme as many other species placed in 

 that genus, as characterised in the " Species Filicum." 



On taking all points into consideration, and the circum- 

 stance of a cultivated plant of Brainea at Kew having 

 produced a bipinnatifid or almost bipinnate frond, proves 

 that the more usual simple pinnate state is not the normal 

 condition of development, and such gives it more of an 

 affinity with Sadleria It is found in two localities, namely, 

 Hong Kong, Khasya in Eastern Bengal. 



Sp. B. insignis (Hook.) (v v.), Hook. Fil. Exot., t. 38. 



174. DOODIA, E. Br. (1810). 

 Hook. Sp. Fil. 



Vernation fasciculate, erect, acaulose. Fronds lanceolate, 

 pinnatifid or pinnate, the fertile sometimes sub-contracted, 

 segments serrate or spinulose. Veins forked, the lower 

 venules transversely anastomosing and sporangiferous. 

 Receptacles medial, elongated, constituting one, or some- 



