36 0^' UBXEBA AND SrEClKS. , 



DivisiOln III.-SCHIZaEACl<LE, Uari. 

 Apex of sporangia rayed, analag'ous to a transverse ring', 

 generally produced in simple spikes, racemes, or panicles. 

 Ex. Lygodium, Sw., SchizEBa, Sw., Anemia, Siv. 



Division IV.— OSMUNDACB^, 3£art. 

 Sporangia g-lobose, reticulated, destitute of stria, opening 

 vertically in two valves, produced on contracted fronds. 

 Ex. Osmunda, Linn., Todea, Willd. 



Division V.— MAEATTIACE^, Kaulf. 



Sporangia opaque, horny, unilocular, or multilocular, 

 destitute of a ring. 



Ex. Angiopteris, Hoffm., Marattia, Sm., Danaoa, Sm. 



More than thirty years have noAV elapsed since the above 

 arrangement was drawn up and published, and during that 

 time about 1,000 cultivated species have come under 

 my notice, as well as many additional herbarium specimens 

 new to me, the consequence of which has been to greatly 

 alter my views in the definition of genera and their 

 arrangement, which is explained further on. 



The next general arrangement of this farailj' of plants to 

 be noticed is that of Professor Fee, of Strasburg, who in 

 1852 jDublished his " Exposition des g'enres de la famille 

 des Polypodiacees." This great work consists of 387 

 pages of quarto letter press, in which is given the cha- 

 racters of 188 genera, with observations and examples of 

 species of each genus, which are illustrated by figures 

 occupying thirty-two plates, the whole evincing great 

 talent and research. In this work 2,140 species are enu- 

 merated of annulate Ferns ; he follows Presl's method in 

 dividing- them into two divisions founded on the direction 

 of the ring, but restricts Helicogyratete to the tribe 

 Cyatheai, ihus excluding Glcichcniaceie, which is not taken 



