F I L I C E S. 



(Filicineae). 



Arrangetnent of the families. (^Modified'), 



A. CLASS I. F»JL.^IVIXHALL.OSA.E. Prothallium green, 

 flat or filiform, entire, incised or branched, epigeous or epiphytical, 

 adpressed to the substratum; antheridia and archegonia whether or 

 not immersed in the prothaUium. — Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pfl.fam., 

 P, fig. 11. 



a. SERIES I. ANNULATAE. Sporangia very minute, provided with 



a ring consisting of a row or a group of contiguous, prominent 



or thickened cells; walls of the sporangia only 1 cell thick; 



antheridia and archegonia prominent, exceptionally immersed in 



Ceratopteris. (Eu filicineae). 



FAMILY I. Cyalheaceae. Ring large, circular, obhque, subver- 



tical, complete ('), the continuity sometimes apparently interrupted by a 



stomium of less prominent cells, which are, however, distinctly differentiated 



from the other cells of the sporangium; stomium horizontal. Sori globose 



or somewhat oblong, consisting of numerous crowded sporangia ; indusium, 



if present, inferior, i. e. attached under the sorus, globose or scale-like, 



never linear. — Arborescent or subarborescent ferns. — Engl. & Prantl, 



1. c, fig. 82 D; Hk. Bk., Syn. Fil., tab. I, fig. 4—6. 



FAMILY n. llafoiiiaceae. Ring large, circular, oblique, sub- 

 vertical, complete, never interrupted; stomium horizontal. Sori round, 

 consisting of 4 — 14 sporangia placed in a whorl; indusium superior, 

 i. e. attached above the sorus, peltate-umbellate. — No arborescent 

 ferns. — Engl. & Prantl, 1. c, fig. 181, 182 B; Hk. Bk., 1. c, tab. L fig. 8. 

 FAMILY in. Qlcicheniaccae. Ring large, horizontal, surround- 

 ing the sporangium like an equatorial belt ; stomium vertical. Sori dorsal, 



C) Ring excsptionally vertical and incomplete, but only in forms with marginal, 

 cup-shaped or 2-valved indusia. 

 Ferns and Fern Allies. 2 



