7 59 
Dryopleris were to be divided into smaller genera, a very natural treatment indeed, 
the ten subgenera could not all be considered good, natural genera. Such are, in 
my opinion: 
1. Eudryopteris. 
23. Stigmatopleris. 
3. Ctenilis. 
These three are very different from the following and it is in reality highly 
unnatural to unite them all under a single genus. Intermediate forms with de- 
compound lamina seem to exist between Stigmatopteris and Ctenitis, but the two 
groups are as a whole very well defined. 
4. Lastrea. 
Under this fall as specialized groups Glaphyropteris and Steiropteris; the 
latter approaches: 
5. Cyclosorus. 
Leptogramma can scarcely be separated from Cyclosorus as genus. 
6. Goniopteris. 
A most natural genus, probably also including Meniscium. 
In the treatment of the single species I have followed the principles, which 
I have explained in my paper on the group of D. opposita. Instead of giving de- 
tailed descriptions of all species I have chosen to describe certain central species 
under each narrower group, while I for all other species have confined myself to 
point out. those characters, by which they differ from their nearest relatives. If 
the original diagnosis of a species does not mention essential characters, what very 
often is the case, I add the necessary notes. 
My keys are elaborated so detailed as possible. Several species being ex- 
ceedingly variable I have considered all forms known to me, and, therefore, you 
will find not rarely the same species occurring twice or even several times in 
the key. 
Finally I shall make a few remarks on the geographical distribution of the 
species. As previously pointed out by me there are only some few species, which 
are common to Andes-West-Indian islands and South Brazil. Out of the 280 spe- 
cies the following 14 are common to the two regions: 
Eudryopteris: D. paleacea, D. patula. 
Stigmatopteris: D. rotundata. 
Ctenitis: D. submarginalis. 
Lastrea: D. opposita, Du oligocarpa, D. pachyrachis, D. cheilanthoides. 
Glaphyropteris: D. decussata. 
Cyclosorus: D. patens, D. oligophylla, D. mollis, D. gongylodes. 
Goniopteris: D. vivipara. 
