42 BLECHNUM. 



L. salicifolia, Kze. in Linncea, ix. p. 58; being compared 

 by tlie author with L. sorbifolia of Kaulf., is probably a Lo- 

 mariopsis, Fee. 



L. ? serpens. Wall. Cat., is Gymnopteris axillaris, Pr. 



L. spondicefolia, TValL Cat. n. 37, is Stenochlrena spon- 

 diccfolia, /. Sni. and Pr. Epim. p. 1G5. 



L. spicata, JFilld., is Hymenolepis ophioglossoides, K(fs. 



L. tenuifolia, Desv., is Lomariobotrys tenuifolia, Fee. 



2. Blechnum, Linn. 



(Hook. Gen. Fil. tab. LIV. B., and tab. XCIII., 



Salpichlcxna.) Wil/d. Sir. Presl {Tent. Pierid.). Blcchnum, 

 Parablechnum, Mesothema, Spicanta, Blechnopsis, Pi'csl 

 {Epim. Bat.). Salpichlsena, /. Sm. 



Sorns linear, continuous, rarely interrupted, parallel with 

 and near the costa, or between the costa and the margin. 

 Involucre taking the same form as the sori, never formed by 

 an expansion of the margin, membranaceous or more or less 

 fornicate or involute. Vei7is free, simple or forked, in Sal- 

 pichlana terminating in the thickened margin of the pinnules, 

 rarely subanastomosing at or near the sori, which latter run 

 transversely with the veins. — Tropical or extratropical, 

 scandent in the section, or subgenus, Salpichlsena. Caudex 

 more or less repent, rarely erect and subarborescent. Fronds 

 uniform, rarely of two kinds, sometimes slightly dimorphous, 

 the fertile segments or pinnce subcontracted ; varrjing in size, 

 chartaceous or subcoriaceous, simple or pinnatifid, more gene- 

 rally pinnate, rarely bipinnate. 



I have already alluded, under the preceding genus Lomaria, to the close 

 affinity between that and Blechmim : so great, indeed, that Schlcchtendal united 

 the two genera, and he has been followed by other able pteridologists ; whilst 

 Presl, in his latest work on the Ferns, has broken up both Loinaria and 

 Blechmim into a multitude of other genera on very slight grounds. Satjnchla'na 

 of J. Sm. is separated from Bk-chnum mainly by its scandent habit (like that of 

 our Lomaria scandens in Lomaria), and its more fornicate or involute involucre, 

 which breaks up into segments of vaiious lengths. 



* Fronds pinnatifid or pinnate, rarely simple. Eublechnum. 

 t Fronds pinnatifid, at ledst in their upper half. 

 1. Bl. Brasiliense.Uesy.: caudex erect stout 1 foot and 



