8(i IIYMENOI'IIYLLUM. 



Caiulex crcepiii(f. Fronds sfipitnte, coriaceous, glabrous, 

 decompound, fj/aucoas beneath, the segments lanceolate, den- 

 iato-pinnatijid, secondary veins or veinlefs simple or forked. 

 Hook, Gi;n. Fil. tau. 15. 



1. L. Cunninc/bami, Br. MS.; A. Cunn. in Bot. N. Zeal, 

 in Hook. Comp'.Bot. Mag. ii. /?. 3G6,^ 31,32. Davallia deal- 

 bata, ^. Cunn. MS. Triclioniancs ca3noptevoides, i/ary. il/.S'. 



Hab. New Zealaiul, northern island, abundant, A. ^- R. Cunningham, 

 Mr. Colenan, Dr. Sinclair, J. D. Honker, and all travellers. — One of the 

 most rcniarkal'le of Ferns, especially in tlie nature of its fructifications, 

 and rigid fronds. Frond about a foot lonfj, tripinnate, very glaucous be- 

 neath. Involucres in a measure connate with the margin of the frond, and 

 resembling that of some coriaceous Davallire, but they form a complete 

 somewhat urceolate cup. The receptacle is a long exserted column as in 

 Trichojnanes, covered with hairs and stipitate capsules, which have the 

 broad oblique ring o{ Cyatheacece, and exhibit little resemblance to those 

 of Trichomanes. 



11. IIymenophyllum, Sm. 

 Sori marginal, lateral or terminal, more or less sunk in the 

 frond, or quite exserted, and always terminating a vein or 

 costa. Involucres monoi)liyllous, cup-shajDed, urceolate, cu- 

 neate or orbicular, more or levs deeply 2-valved, sometimes to 

 the very base, of the same substance as the frond, or thicker 

 and more compact, reticulated, toothed or entire at the mar- 

 gin. Receptacle elongated, frequently columnar, included, 

 rarely exserted. Capsules sessile, or nearly so, covering the 

 receptacle wholly or in part, depressed, surrounded by a ge- 

 nerally broad, entire, almost transverse ring, bursting verti- 

 cally on one side. Sporules (always?) triangidar, with a deep 

 triangular depression. — Small, sometimes minute, Fems, in- 

 habiting rocks or trees or terrestrial, in the tropics and tem- 

 perate, rarely cold, climates. Caudex generally creeping, 

 filiform, slender. Fronds more or less stipitate, sometimes 

 sessile, of a singularly delicate, thin, inembranaceous, yet 

 strongly reticulated texture, resembling some Jungermannia3, 

 of a dark lurid green color, in drying often turning black or 

 brown, sometimes red-brotvn, glabrous or hairy, simple and 

 penninerrcd in one instance, or pinnated, or pinna tifid, and 

 rariously divided, generally into narrow oblong or linear ob- 

 tuse segments, entire or toothed at the margin, with a strong 

 central costa. Hook. Gen. Fil. tab. 32. 



Ous. The present and fallowing genus have been strangely excluded 

 from the true Ferns by Prosl ; and Endlicher has constituted of them a se- 

 parate group, IIi/mejiophi/lle<r, chiefly founded upon the complete transverse 

 ring of the capsules, the very much elongated, columnar or filiform recepta- 

 cle, and the delicate texture of the frond : — but it will be seen by the previous 



