6-2 WOODSIA. 



5. W. Caucasica, J. Sm. ; fronds lanceolate glabrous acumi- 

 nate ])innatc the costa and rachis slightly hairy, pinna) sessile 

 nearly opposite lanceolate but broadest at the base acumi- 

 nate pinnatifid, segments ovate-oblong oblique obtuse den- 

 tate, sori 2 on each segment near the base one on each side 

 the costa near the margin, involucres glabrous large membra- 

 naceous loose at first apparently entire with a central depression 

 at length o])ening with a contracted depressed irregular and 

 somewhat 2-lobed mouth. — Hymenocystis Caucasica, C. A. 

 Mey. PL Cnuc. et Casp. p. 229 ; Hook. Gen. Fil. t. 3. Phy- 

 sematium fragile, Kuuze, Anal. Pteridog. p. 42. Dicksonia 

 fragilis, " L. C. Trevir. in Berl. Mag. vii. 1816, p. 155, tab. 

 3,/. 18, 19." Aspidium Caucasicum, Fisch. in Herb, noslr. 



Hah. The country adjacent to the Caspian Sea, F. Blume. Rocky places 

 in the Caucasus, at an elevation of 1000 — 6000 feet above the level of the 

 sea, C. A. Meyer. — A span or more high, with the frond and the pinnae 

 more acuminated than in any other Wuodsia, and somewhat resembling 

 Cistopteris fragilis. The involucres are peculiarly large for so small a plant, 

 the two on each segment often meeting together over the costa and the 

 other side overlapping the margin : they seem too large for the sorus, which 

 gives them a somewhat irregular and buUate form, considerably different 

 from other fructifications in the genus. 



6. W.elongata, Hook.; glanduloso-pilose especially above, 

 fronds oblong elongated pinnated, pinnae rather distant alter- 

 nate sessile from a broadish base oblong-obtuse pinnatifid not 

 more than half way down, segments short rounded inciso-den- 

 tate each bearing a sorus (rarely more) on the lower anterior 

 veinlet near the sinus, involucres small soon bursting with an 

 irregular opening at the top glanduloso-pilose, stipes and ra- 

 chis slightly chaffy. (Tab. XXI. C.) 



Hab. Northern India. Himala mountains, Ladi/ Dalhoune. Krande, 

 Pakenham Edgeivorth, Esq. — A very distinct and well-marked species 

 with a short stipes ; the frond from a span to a foot in length, bearing nu- 

 merous pinnse which are scarcely broader at the middle of the rachis than 

 at the base, and the apex of the frond is but little attenuated. Pinnae and 

 segments very obtuse, but the latter strongly even incisedly toothed. In 

 other respects it perhaps resembles the W. mollis more than any other species. 



Subgen. II. (Perrinia, Hook.) Involucre subhemispherical, from 

 an early stage open at the top and soon breaking down into 

 spreading, irregular, jagged, deciduous lobes or segments, al- 

 ways larger than the sorus. 



7. W. obtusa, Hook. ; frond broad-lanceolate glabrous or 

 minutely glanduloso-pilose pinnate, pinnae remote suboj)po- 

 site slightly petiolate deltoideo-ovate obtusely attenuated 

 deeply pinnatifid the lower ones again pinnate, segments or 

 pinnules oval dentate or inciso-pinnatifid, sori solitary in each 



