338 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



They have a wide geographical range, chiefly tropical, 

 extending to Japan in the north, and New Zealand in the 

 south. With a few exceptions, they present great uni- 

 formity in general character and appearance ; in some 

 instances the same or closely allied species are found in the 

 old and new worlds. They often grow among bushes, and 

 their fronds being indefinite they attain a great length. 

 In the Bellenden Ker range of mountains, Queensland, 

 Gleichenia Hermanni is described as forming an impene- 

 trable jungle among tree Ferns and other trees, attaining 

 the height of 50 or 60 feet, supported by its horizontal 

 pinna3 similar to Lygodium. 



* Sort non-indusiate. 



195. PLATYZOMA, E. Br. (1810). 



Vernation sarmentose. Fronds contiguous, linear, 6 inches 

 to a foot long, pinnatifid, pinnate ; segments numerous, 

 small, sub-orbicular, 1 to 2 lines long, revolute saccate. 

 Veins simple. Sporangia 2 to 4 terminal, included under 

 the revolute margins, immersed in powdery matter. 



Type. Platyzoma microphylla, JR. Br. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer Gen. Fil., t. 41, C. ; Moore Ind. 

 Fil., p. 87, A; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 1, fig. 1. 



OBS. This genus is founded on a solitary species, first 

 found on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and since 

 then in other parts of tropical and sub-tropical Australia. 

 It is scarcely distinct from Gleichenia, except in the fronds 

 being simple ; in habit it resembles Jamesonia, but the 

 divisions of the fronds are even smaller than in the 

 Smallest of that genus. 



Sp. As above. 



