CASSEBEERA. 117 



5. Cassebeera, Kaulf. 



(Hook. Gen. Fil. tab. LXVI. A.) Martius, Presl, and 

 J. Smith, in part. Adianti Sp., Smith, Swartz. 



Sori subglobose or elliptical intra-marginal, frequently 2 

 confluent ones from as many veinlets on an emarginated 

 lobe. Involucre inserted within the margin, of the same 

 shape as the sorus, opening towards the costa, generally ob- 

 long or elliptical, membranaceous, brown, pressed down upon 

 the sorus. — Tropical or extratropical, small Ferns of Brazil, 

 inltabiting dry rocky places, having a rather short, horizon- 

 tal, densely scaly caudex or rhizoma. Stipiles tufted, ra- 

 ther long in proportion to the fronds, ebeneous as well as the 

 rachises and the midrib heneath. Fronds of a singularly 

 thick, coriaceous, hard texture, quite glabrous, tripartite 

 pedate or pinnate, even bipiiinate, the pinnae oblong or 

 linear, simple and lobed or again pinnate, rarely and only 

 below bipinnate, icith the segments rotundate. Veinlets 

 forked, quite internal, so that not a trace of them can be 

 seen without dissection. Sori generally 2 combined (on the 

 termination of 2 veinlets) on the lobules of those species 

 which have trifoliate or simply pinnate fronds, so that each 

 pinna bears as many sori as there are lobes : while in the 

 bi- or (rarely trij- pinnate species the pinnules bear but 

 one simple or double sorus, though the involucre is sometimes 

 cleft. 



The Genus Cassebeera was established by Kaulfuss upon a remarkable- 

 looking Brazilian Fern, the Adiantmn triphyllum. Smith ; to which he 

 added a new species, Cassebeera pinnata, equally from Brazil, and an un- 

 doubted congener. A third species of the Genus was detected by the late 

 Mr. Gardner in the Diamond district of Brazil, and is figured in the 

 ' Icones Plantarum,' under the name of Cassebeera gleichenioides, Gavdn. 

 In this the frond is more compound, but the habit and fructification are the 

 same as in the other Cassebeera. Thus limited it is a natural and a good 

 Genus. Presl however in his ' Tentjimen Pteridographiae ' has placed in it 

 the Cheilanthes pteroides of Swartz and the present work, which it must be 

 confessed has considerable affinity in the fructification and in the texture 

 of the frond, but not in habit. Mr. J. Smith takes another view of the 

 Genus Cassebeera altogether ; restoring indeed Cass, pteroides to Cheilan- 

 thes : but uniting with the original species of Kaulfuss, the Pteris pedata 

 and argentea, Linn., Pteris hastata of Swartz, our Cheilanthes intramargi- 

 nalis, together with Cheilanthes farinosa, cuneata, inicrophylla, tenuifolia 

 &c. of authors and of this work : so diff"erent are the opinions of botanists 

 who have most devoted attention to the Family, on the subject of Genera 

 of Ferns. Few however are more guided by attention to natural affinities 

 than Mr. J. Smith: and he says "On comparing the Adiautoid section 

 VOL. II. R 



