358 CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 



each bearing on its inner side four rows of sessile, oval 

 sporangia, attached by their base and opening vertically. 



Type. Schizcea digitata, Swartz. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer Gen. Ml., t. Ill A. ; J. Sm. 

 Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 147. 



OBS. This genus differs from true Schizcea by the fertile 

 appendices being produced on a digitate cluster, and in the 

 sporangia being produced in two rows on each side of the 

 midrib, the attachment of each of the two rows being on 

 the same line (receptacle). 



Sp. A. digitata, Wall, (v v.) ; A. pennula, Sw. (A. tri- 

 laterales, SM. crypt., t. 136). 



OBS. The first species is widely distributed, being found 

 in Ceylon, India, and the Malay and Polynesian Islands. 

 The second is also widely diffused, being found in the West 

 Indies, Guiana, and Brazil. 



Tribe 27. OSMUNDAE.E (Plate 27). 

 OSMUNDACEJJ, E. Br. 



Sporangia globose, reticulated, short pedicellate, oblique 

 and gibbous at the apex, opening by a vertical slit (sub- 

 bivalved). Ring apical, rudimentary, or absent. 



OBS. The absence or but slight evidence of annulus or 

 stria is the chief technical character that distinguishes this 

 from Schizceacece, they however, differ essentially in habit 

 and general appearance, having leafy, pinnate, or bi-pin- 

 nate fronds. 



Presl enumerates twenty-four species, which may be 

 safely reduced to one-half, indeed, in the " Synopsis Fili- 

 cum " only ten species are described. Several of the species 

 have a very wide geographical range, being common to 



