DOODIA. 71 



late entire or rarely obscurely lobed serrulate only at the 

 acuminated apex, veins everywhere copiously anastomo- 

 sing, sori o])long numerous approximated eventually con- 

 fluent forming a continued series or chain close to the costa 

 on each side and frequently in the slightly-lobed specimens 

 at certain distances sending out nearly opposite pairs of sori 

 even where there is no distinct costule (so that the segments 

 present to the eye a pinnatifid line of fructifications from the 

 base to the apex), involucre vaulted but submembranaceous, 

 cavity of the sori indistinct. — Hook. Fil. Exot. t. 7? and in 

 Florula (Ferns) of Hongkong , Kew Gard. Misc. \x. p. 341. 



Ilab. Hongkong, among long grass and low buslies, Harland, Lorraine, TJ'il- 

 ford, n. 15. A very remarkable and very beautiful JJ'oodwardia, fully described 

 and figured in the ' Filiccs Exoticit' above quoted. It was first received from the 

 lamented Dr. Harland, a gentleman who, had he lived, would have done much 

 for the promotion of the Botany of China and Japan. 



[Woodwardia dispar, Willd. Sp. PI. v. p. 419, is a name given to an imperfectly 

 known Fern of Martinique, figured by Plumier, Fil. t. 16.] 



5. DooDiA, B7: 

 (Hook. Gen. Fil. tab. XXIV. A.) Woodwardia, Metten. 



Sori oblong or sublunulate, in one or more series, ar- 

 ranged transversely, with the veins forming areoles which 

 are superficial, not sunk. LivoJucres membranaceous, of the 

 same form as the sori, opening towards the costa and lying 

 parallel with it. Veins prominent beneath, free, except 

 Avhere they anastomose for the production of sori, simple or 

 forked. — Caudex a subglobose, small rhizome, rarely erect 

 subcaidescent. Fronds sometimes subdimorp/ious, fascicled, 

 rather membranaceous than coriaceous, subasperous, erect, 

 small, a span to 1-2 feet, lanceolate, jnnnute or pinnatifid ; 

 segments or pinnae sharphj serrated. Natives of the southern 

 hemisphere, especially in Australasia and the South Pacific 

 islands : one species is found in Java and Ceylon : none is 

 indigenous to the new ivorld. 



Restricted as the genus was by Mr. Brown, this appears to me a good one, 

 with a natural habit and tangible characters, as well defined as those of most 

 genera of Ferns. " Admodum affinis," says Presl, "est Doodia Woodwardm ; 

 non differt nisi venis venulisque subtus elevatis, soris a costa remotiusculis, non 

 immersis nee linearibus, indusio piano nee fornicato." Presl however includes 

 the Woodwardia Virginica, Sw., et Nobis, in which view I do not coincide. 

 {Pinnatifid.) 



1. D. as/;era, Br. ; caudex short subrepent rooting with 

 \ilack wiry fibres, fronds uniform a span to a foot and more 



