CHAEACTEES OF TEIBES AND GENEEA. 107 



Sect. 5. — Drynaei^e. 



22. Detnaeia, Bory. (1825). 

 Phymatodes, Fred ; Pohjpodium t-p., mict. ; Hooh. 8p. Fil. 



Surnilum sliorr, tliick, and fleshy. Fronds rigid, tbe 

 sterile (when present) sessile, broad cordate, sinuose, or 

 laciniated ; the I'ertile stipitate or sessile, pinnatifid or 

 pinnate, rarely simple, the segments articulated with the 

 rachis ; when sessile, the base is dilated similar in form to 

 the sterile frond. Veins external, elevated, compound 

 anastomosing, forming quadrate or hexagonal areoles. 

 Primary veins costreform or obsolete. Feceptacles compital. 

 Sori round, small, numerous, and irregular, or transversely 

 or obliquely serial, sometimes confluent, forming a linear 

 sorus between the costa^form veins. 



Type. Pohjpodium qnercifolivm, Linn. 



Illust. Hook. Gard. Ferns, t. 1 and 31 ; Fil. Exot., t. 13 ; 

 Moore, Ind, Fil., p. 63, A ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and 

 For., fig. 28. 



Obs. — This is a well-marked and distinct genus of Ferns, 

 its typical representative being the well-known Pulypodium 

 quercifoliitin of Linnasus, which receives its specific name 

 from the fanciful likeness of the sterile frond to the leaf of 

 the common oak. In some species, however, it is much 

 larger, even to a foot in length, oblong cordate, entire 

 sinuose or deeply laciniated, and of a firm woody texture. 



This genus consists of about nine known species, widely 

 distributed over the Eastern hemisphere, in Mauritius, 

 Ceylon, India, China, Malayan, Phdippine and Tropical 

 Polynesian Islands, and Australia. 



In general they are epiphytal, their larg-e broad fronds 

 imparting a special character to the trees on which they 

 grow. 



