CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 357 



Sixteen species are described in the " Synopsis Filicum," 

 and are widely distributed throughout the tropics and sub- 

 tropics of both northern and southern hemispheres. In 

 general the species are very local, S. dichotoma is, however, 

 found in the West Indies, Tropical America, New Zealand, 

 Australia, and the Polynesian, Malayan, and Mascarene 

 Islands. 



* Fronds simple, linear. 



Sp. S. australis, Gaud. ; S. pusilla, Pursh. (v v.) ; S. 

 tenella, Kaulf. ; S. fistulosa, Labill. ; S. pectinata, 8m. 



** Fronds forked, linear. 

 S. incurvata, Schk. ; S. bifida, Sw. 



*** Fronds lifid, dichotomously forked or fldbelliform, 

 segments broad. 



S. rupestris, R. Br. (v v.) ; S. fluminensis, Miers. ; 

 S. Sprucei, Hook. MSS. ; S. dichotoma, Sw. S. elegans, 

 Sw. (v v.), Hook. Gard. Ferns, t. 54. 



OBS. The latter species differs in the fronds being more 

 or less divided, becoming entire and fan-shaped, and has 

 been described by Martius as a distinct species under the 

 name of S.flabellum. 



210. ACTINOSTACHTS, Wall. (1828). 

 Schizcea, Hook. Syn. Fil. 



Vernation uniserial, contiguous ; sarmentum short. 

 Fronds linear, simple, stipitiform, compressed, triquetrous 

 at the base, 9 to 18 inches high. Costse prominent, con- 

 tinuous. Fertile appendices terminal, 6 to 12, digitate 

 flabellate, 1 to 1J inch long, cristasform ; segments involute, 



