CHAEACTEES OF TEIBES AND GENERA. 137 



than in these two genera, but even in that character 

 there are instances of different degrees of anastomo- 

 sing found in the same or on different fronds of the same 

 plant, therefore, setting aside the general acrostichoid 

 character, Piecilopteris naturally associates with Meniscium. 



Fee refers sixteen species to this genus which in the 

 " Species Filicum " are reduced to twelve, and in the 

 " Synopsis Filicum " the species are placed under two 

 sections, Oymnopteris and ChrysoJmm, which between them 

 contain 36 species, part of which have no natural affinity 

 with either the original species of Pcecilopier'is or Gymnop- 

 teris; several even have articu.late vernation and consequently 

 belong to the division Eremobrya. 



Sp. P. flagellifera {Wall. Hook, and Grev., t. 23) (v v.) ; 

 P. Quoyanum {Oand.) ; P. repanda {Til.) ; P. crispatula 

 {Wall.) (vv.); P. virens {Wall., Rook, and Grev., t. 221) 

 (v v.) ; P. prolifera {Bl. Hook. Ic. PL, t. 681—2) (v v.) ; 

 P. costata {Wall.) ; P. pnnctulatum {Linn.) (v v.) ; P. flu- 

 viatile {Hook.). 



The two latter are natives of Tropical West Africa, the 

 others of India and Malayan reg-ion. 



53.— Gtmnoptbeis, Bemh. (1800). 



Acroslichmn .fj)., Hook. .Sj;., FU. 



Vernation uniserial, sarmentum short or elongated. 

 Fronds distant or contiguous and subfasiculate, simple, 

 lobed or pinnate, rarely bipinnatifid, from 6 inches to 2 or 3 

 feet high, pinnse 6 to 8 inches in length, ovate lanceo- 

 late. Primary veins costasform, venules compound 

 anastomosing, with free variously directed veinleta, termina- 

 ting in the areoles. Fertile pinnce sometimes broad, densely 

 sporangiferons on the under side. 



