bU HYPOLEPIS, 



clear from this that he is not guided by the composition of the frond, but by 

 the nature of the involucre, separate and free and more or less approaching 

 to orbicular: Jli/polepis, in fact, in the sense in which Bernhardi intended it. 

 This is the principle I have followed in the genus as here laid down ; and 

 if thereby I have not preserved Hi/polepis with so marked a natural habit 

 as by the arrangement of Presl and J. Smith, yet I have weeded Cheilan- 

 thes of several rather anomalous species of that genus, in which, as it now 

 stands, the sori are more or less confluent, and border so closely upon Pfrris, 

 that clearly defined limits cannot possibly be detected between them. Tbus, 

 I have referred Adiantum radiatnm, L. (Cheilanthes, Br. and J. Sm. 3IS.) 

 to Hi/polepis, rather than to Chcilant/ies proper, and others with a some- 

 what similar habit. On the other hand, I have preserved Cheilanthes spec- 

 tabi/is, Kaulf , in Hi/polepis, where Link and Presl and Kunze have placed 

 it, although the involucres are frequently continuous. It is a remarkable 

 fact in this species, that, sometimes, the sori are seen in nearly round dots, 

 in other specimens elongated to a considerable extent. Such and other dif- 

 ficulties are met with in almost every extensive genus of Ferns, and should 

 lead us not to think harshly of others whose views on the genera of Ferns 

 may happen to differ from our own. 



{Tri- quadri- pinnate, or more or less tri- qnadri- pinnaiijid. Hypolepis, 

 Pr., J. Sm.) 



1. H. ienuifolia, Bevnh. ; fronds ample quadripinnate 

 raembrauaceo-charlaceous, primary pinnae ovate acuminate, 

 secondary and tertiary lanceolate acuminate rather remote, 

 pinnules narrow-oblong slightly falcate and acuminate entire 

 or toothed or lower ones pinnatifid monosorous on the inner 

 margin of the lobe, involucre semiorbicular submembrana- 

 ceous, stipes slightly rough towards the base generally pale 

 (sometimes darker) brown more or less hairy, rachis and mid- 

 rib generally downy with crisped hairs, costa and often the 

 underside of the pinnules slightly hairy and occasionally 

 glandular. (Tab, LXXXIX. C.) — Bernhardi in Sdirad. 

 Neues Journ. filr die Bot. i. p. 34. Presl, Tent. Pterid. p. 

 162, t. 6, /. 29. Lonchitis tennifolia, Forst. Prodr. n. 424. 

 Cheilanthes arborescens, Sw. Si/n. Fil. p. 129, /. 336. C. 

 dissecta. Hook, et Am. Bot. of Beech. Voi/. p. 75. — 0. lobes 

 of the pinnules rather broader more membranaceous and her- 

 baceous more cut at the margin. — y. lobes of the pinnules 

 larger than in /3. more obtuse more coriaceous and still more 

 cut at the margin, involucres larger more of the texture of the 

 frond, the whole frond when dry rich yclrow or golden brown, 

 hairs on various parts of the fern longer and more crisped. 

 (Tab.XC.A.) Cheilanthes pellucida, Colenso, in New Ferns 

 of New Zeal. p. 13. 



Hab. Tanna, New Hebrides, Forster, (v. s. in Herb. Banks.) Coral 

 Islands, Bceckcy. New Zealand, Northern Island, All. Cunningham, Co- 



