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lobed ; the lowest pair forked at the base. 

 Texture herbaceous. Rachis and surfaces 

 naked. Main veins distinct almost to the edge, 

 areoles copious with free included veinlets. 

 Sori in two rows between each primary vein. 

 (Plate XII.] Cultivated. 



Distribution : Tropical America from Cuba 

 and Mexico to Brazil and Peru. 



GENUS XXXI. PLEOCNEMIA PRESL. 



(Deriv. Pleos, full ; kneniia, rays in allusion 

 to the venation.) 



As the Aspidium but only the lowest veinlets 

 of the vein anastomosing so as to form a series 

 of areoles near the costa without any free vein- 

 lets within them. All the other veinlets as a 

 rule free. Sori generally at the apex of the free 

 veinlets, sometimes on the netted veins. 



(a) Frond simply pinnate. Stipes covered 

 with persistent black scales. 



i. P. menibranifolia. 



(b) Frond 2-3 pinnate. 



(i) Stipes scaly. Sori not mixed with 

 yellow glandular hairs. 



2. P. membranacea. 



