NEPHROLEPIS. 45 



GENUS IX. 



NEPHROLEPIS. Schott. 



An interesting genus. The name derived from the Greek, 

 nephros, a kidney, and lepis, a scale, in reference to the cov- 

 ering of the spore-cases. 



Fronds pinnate, linear, or narrow-elongate; pinnae numerous, 

 upper side of the base auriculated, sessile, and articulated to 

 the rachis. The pinnae very soon fall from the rachis, 

 frequently leaving a more or less leafless stem. 



Veins forked. Venules free and clavate, the basal exterior 

 one being fertile. 



Sori terminal, circular, sub-marginal, transverse, and uniseriaL 



Indusium reniform or sub-reniform. 



The fronds vary in length from twelve to seventy inches. 



Rhizoma brief, erect, forming lengthy slender stolones, which 

 bear fasciculate crowns at intervals, or elongately creeping; 

 sometimes bearing tubers. 



There are no British examples. 



Mr. Moore, in his "Index Filicum," gives the following: — 



Platyotis. Kunze. 

 Hirsutula. Presl. 

 Splendens. Presl. 

 Trichomanoides. J. Smith. 

 Biserrata. Sclioit. 

 Punctulata. Presl. 

 Biaurita. Presl. 

 Repens. Brackenridge. 

 Sesquipedalis. Presl. 

 Exaltata. Schott. 

 Pectinata. Schott. 

 Davallioides. Kunze. 



Mr. J. Smith, in his "Catalogue of Ferns cultivated in 

 British Gardens," gives the following: — 



Tuberosa. 



Presl. 



Undulata. 



J. Smith. 



Obtusifolic 



I. Presl. 



Cordifolia. 



Presl. ^ 



Neglecta. 



Presl. 



Volubilis. 



Presl. 



Floccigera 



. Presl. 



Gibbosa. 



Presl. 



Mauritianum. Moore 



Pendula. 



Moore. 



Pamosa. 



Moore. 



