t>0 WOOUSIA. 



at length opening at the top, the margin or mouth irregular, 

 lobed or fimbriated. Capsules globose, on short stalks, aris- 

 ing from a small punctiform receptacle. — Small Ferns, mostly 

 of temperate or even cold climates, ccespltose, stijyitate, the 

 stipes sometimes jointed and. separating at the joint. Fronds 

 membranaceous, tender, pinnatedly divided. Veins pinnat- 

 ed, simple or forked. Hook. Gen. Fil. tab. 119 and 3. 



Obs. The genus was established by Mr. Brown in 1813 upon the Poh/- 

 podium hyperhomim and Ilvense of LinuEeiis, in which it must be confessed 

 that the minute inferior cup-shaped or rather pateriform involucre is with 

 difficulty seen, though its marginal fringe of hairs be sufficiently evident. 

 To this genus Dr. Greville and myself had no hesitation in referring the Also- 

 pliila Perriniana, Spr. which has comparatively large involucres, almost cover- 

 ing the sorus, and simply lobed at the margin, tlie lobes spreading. From 

 this structure the passage is but slight to the more globose involucre, lobed 

 at the contracted mouth, of Hymenoajstis, C. A. Mey., and this again cannot 

 naturally be separated from P/iysematium, Kanlf., in which the involucre 

 is at first perfectly globose and entire (see Kunze's excellent ligure in Ana- 

 lecta Pteridographia, t. 27), afterwards it opens at the summit with an irre- 

 gular mouth. These supposed genera of authors will therefore, with me, as 

 with Mr. J. Smith, form but one : — but they may be conveniently divided 

 into subgenera, as follows : — 



Subgen. I. Physematium, Kaulf. Involucre at first globose and 

 probably entire, afterwards bursting at the top ivith an irre- 

 gular contracted opening and persistent. Hymenocystis, C. 

 A. Mey. Hook. Gen. Fil. tab. 3. 



1. W. mollis, J. Sm.; fronds lanceolate pinnate, densely 

 clothed especially beneath with soft articulated hairs, pinnae 

 sessile oblong-ovate obtuse pinnatifid, segments approxi- 

 mate oval subrotund obtuse entire, sori marginal, involucres 

 hairy at first apparently closed {Kunze), afterwards opening 

 with a contracted jagged roundish mouth, rachis and stipes 

 chaffy. Physematium molle, Kunze in Bot. Zeit. i. p. 341 ; et 

 Anal. Pterid.p. A\, t. 27. VVoodsia Mexicana, Br. in Wall. 

 PI. Asiat. Rar.p. 42, {note). 



Hab. Mexico, Scheide j- Deppe. — I have only seen garden specimens of 

 this plant, and it thrives admirably, and fructifies in cultivation. The in- 

 volucres, however, appear to me even in their youngest state to be a little 

 open at the top, although this opening is difficult tobe seen on account of 

 the copious but yet pellucid articulated (and apparently glandular) hairs, 

 which cover the surface of the involucre as well as of the frond: — and Mr. 

 Brown seems to be of the same opinion, judging from his remark in Wal- 

 lich, 1. c. This involucre is very delicate, and more herbaceous, I think, 

 than in any other of the genus. Kunze's figure is very characteristic. Plant 

 from 6 or 8 inches to a foot high. 



2. W. Guatemalensis, Hook. ; fronds lanceolate pinnate 

 glabrous, pinnae sessile ovato-oblong attenuate obtuse deeply 

 pinnatifid, segments rather remote ovate obtuse obscurely 



