68 A COtfTEIBUTION TO, ETC. 



of his own. Berkeley has well remarked, that if the articulation 

 of the stipites with the rhizoma be regarded as a good mark for 

 division (as suggested by Smith), some species of Neplirodium and 

 NepTirolepis will be placed in one group, and some in another. 

 Until, therefore, botanists can agree to adopt some better ar- 

 rangement, it seems most judicious to follow the division sug- 

 gested by Hooker, and pay deference to "habit" rather than 

 " technical character." 



When Sir William Hooker was engaged in studying the order 

 now under consideration, he seems to have entertained some 

 doubt as to the propriety of separating Neplirodium and Nepliro- 

 lepis from the old genus Aspidium, because he found some diffi- 

 culty in maintaining under three distinct genera, species which 

 closely resemble each other in the venation, and in the form of 

 the indusium. Sir William, however, followed the views of 

 Eichard in Michaux, Brown, and Desvaux, merely remarking 

 "Entire dependence is not to be placed either on the exact uni- 

 formity of the venation, nor even on the shape of the involucres. 

 These latter do occasionally vary, sometimes orbicular, sometimes 

 cordate on the same species, and sometimes the form and the 

 point of insertion, seem to be intermediate between the two." 

 Dr. E. Mueller, in arranging the species ol the order, places Ne- 

 plirodiuni and Neplirolepis in the genus Aspidiim, as follows : A. 

 melanocaulon, found by Dallachy in Dalrymple's Grap ; A. teneri- 

 caule collected in several parts of Eastern Australia, especially 

 at Clarence Eiver by Mr. Macgillivray ; A. liispidum, occurring 

 near Cape Otway ; A. aculeatum, common in many parts of Aus- 

 tralia ; A. aristatum, a plant resembling the preceding, and grow- 

 ing at the Hastings, Illawarra, and Eockingham Bay ; A. coria- 

 ceum, apparently somewhat rare, from Cape Howe to Hopkins's 

 Eiver; A. molle (Neplirodium), having a very wide range; A. 

 unitum (Neplirodiwri) , collected at Clarence Eiver by Mr. Mac- 

 gillivray &c., &c ; A. extensum (NepJirodiuni) discovered by Mr. 

 C. Moore at Duck Creek, Eichmond Eiver; A. obliteratum (Ne- 

 plirolepis) , collected at Illawarra by Sir William Macarthur, at 

 Berrima by Mr. C. Moore, at the Macleay by Dr. Beckler, at 

 the Eichmond by Mr. C. Moore, and at Eockingham Bay by Mr. 

 Dallachy. A. exaltatwni (Nephrolepis) gathered at Dunk Island 

 by Mr. Macgillivray, at Teviot Eiver by Erazer, &c., &c; A 



