138 CHAEACTEES OF TEIBES AXD GES'EEA. 



Type. Acrostichmn nicoiiancpfoUum, Siv. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer, Gen. Pil,, t. 8-5 ; Moore Tnd. 

 Fil, p. 8, A ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 43. 



Oes. — This genus was founded by Bernliardi in 1800, on 

 the Acrostichum quercifolinm of Eetzins. As a genus it is 

 technically distinguished from the preceding- by the more 

 compound yenation, which is similar to that of the genera 

 Dryomanes, Dipteris, Clieiropleiiria, and Asjnd ium, which, 

 with Gymnopieris, form a very natural group of Ferns, the 

 several genera being distinguished from each other more 

 by the grouping and position of the sporangia than by any 

 great diversity in mode of growth or general habit of the 

 fronds. 



The genus consists of about sixteen species, natives of 

 the Old and Iv^ew World. 



* Indian and Malayan i-egion. 



Sp. G. quercifolia {lietz.) (v v.); G. trilobata, /. Sm. ; 

 G. tacca;folia, /. Sm. ; G. Harlandi {Hook) {G. decur- 

 rens, Hooh. Fil. Ej:ot., i, 94) ; G. subrepanda, /. Sm. ; 

 G. semicordata {Bale); G. Presliana {Rook.). 



** Tropical West Africa. 

 G. Gaboonense {Hook.) (v v) ; G. Heudelotii {Rook.) ; 

 G. salicina {Rook.) 



*** We.<t Indies and Tropical America. 



G. pandurifolia {Rook.) ; G. oligarchica {Bak.) ; G. nioo- 

 tianasfolia {Sw.) (v v.) ; G. aliena {Sw.) (v v. ); G. semi- 

 pinnatifida {Fee); G. acuminata {Willd.) (v v.) {Plum. 

 Fil, t. 115). 



Obs. — Acrostichum variahile, Rook. Sp. Fil. {Gijmnopteris 

 decurrens, Rook. Gard. Ferns, t. 6), is Lejitochilus decurrens. 



