190 38. ASPLENIUM, THAMNOPTERIS. 



broad decurrent wing to the rachis, the two or three lowest pairs free ; sori linear- 

 oblong, in two irregular rows, nearer the midrib than the edge. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 74. 



Hab. Ceylon. Kunze's original Javan plant has the fertile pinnae closer. 

 ** Pinnate in lower half. Sp. 4-5. 



4. D. media, R. Br. ; st. 4-6 in. 1., erect, smooth, usually nearly black ; fr. 

 12-18 in. 1., 1^-4 in. br., lanceolate, with numerous spreading linear pinnae on 

 each side, which are 1-2 in. 1., J-f in. br., acute or bluntish at the point, the 

 margin toothed, the upper ones dilated and connected at the base, those below the 

 middle free and cordate or even auricled on the upper side, the lower ones 

 gradually diminishing ; texture coriaceous or subcoriaceous ; sori short, oblong, 

 distant, in one or two rows, with a considerable space between the inner one 

 and the midrib. HTc. Sp. 3. p. 74. (S, D. connexa, Kunze ; fr. larger, more 

 herbaceous in texture ; pinnae sometimes 3 in. or more 1. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 75. 



Hab. Polynesian Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. 



5. D. caudata, R. Br. ; st. 4-6 in. 1., slender, smooth ; fr. 6-12 in. 1., l|-2 in. br., 

 lanceolate, with numerous spreading linear pinnae on each side, which are often 

 1 in. or more 1., the sterile ones oblong, blunt, sharply serrated, only the 

 uppermost connected at the base, the frond often terminated by a long entire 

 point ; texture subcoriaceous ; rachis slender, often pubescent ; fertile pinnae 

 narrower and shorter. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 75. 



Hab. Australia, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand. " Very closely allied to 

 D. media, and probably a variety of it, but more flaccid, the fronds often prostrate, 

 pinnate nearly to the top, fertile more distinct from the barren and longer." 

 Dr. Hooker, Fl. N. Z. p. 370. A curious form (D. linearis, J. Smith) from New 

 Caledonia and Australia, has a long narrow linear frond, the upper part undivided, only 

 the lower third sinuato-pinnatifid, with short rounded lobes, the lowest of which are 

 distinct. 



TRIBE 8. ASPLENIE^J. 



tSori attached to the veins., oblique with regard to the costa or occasionally sub- 

 parallel with it, linear or oblong. Invol. the same shape as the sorus, when single 

 opening towards the midrib, sometimes double. GEN. 38-40. 







GEN. 38. ASPLENIUM, Linn. 



Sori dorsal or submarginal, linear or oblong. Invol. similar in shape, straight, 

 or occasionally curved, single or double, plane or tumid, bursting along the outer 

 edge. The second in extent of our genera, including plants from all parts of the 

 world where ferns grow, of every variety in size, texture, and cutting. Veins free 

 in a large proportion of the species. Euasplenium 'is connected with Davallieae by 

 Darea and Loxoscaphe, with Aspidieae through Athyrium, with Pteridese through 

 Acropteris and Actiniopteris, and with Grammitidese by Ceterach. TAB. IV. 

 f. 38. 



Thamnopteris, Presl. Veins connected at the apex by a transverse intra- 

 marginal line. Fronds undivided. Sp. 1-3. Neottopteris, J. Sm. 



1. A. (Thamn.) Nidus, L. ; fr. 2-4 ft. 1., 3-8 in. br., lanceolate, acute or 

 acuminate at the apex, tapering gradually below into a short stem, the edge 

 entire, the midrib rounded on the back ; texture coriaceous ; veins fine and 

 parallel, about ^ lin. apart ; sori reaching about halfway towards the margin. 

 Hk. Sp. 3. p. 77. Bot. Mag. t. 3101. /3, A. muscefolium, Mett. ; fr. larger, 

 sometimes 6 ft. 1., 1 ft. br., with sori extending nearly to the edge. Hk. Sp. Fil. 



