248 CHARACTEBS OF TRIBES AND GENEEA. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer. Gen. Fil., t. •42 A ; Moore Ind. 

 Fil., p. 85 B ; J. Sm. Ferns Brit, and For., %. 133. 



Obs. — The general habit of the species of this genus 

 agree in every respect with Gijatliea, and are only dis- 

 ting-uished by the technical character, Tvhich consists in the 

 indusia oi Ahopliila being either absent, small, scalo-likc, or 

 forming a nearly complete cup. 



In my Genera of Ferns, 18 Id, I arranged the species of 

 Alsopliila under two sections, the first Hymennstegia, including 

 those having a membraneoas indusium, very small in some, 

 but in others forming a nearly complete cup, diflering from 

 Ci/o.tJiea only by not completely surrounding the base of the 

 receptacle, there being always an open sinus on the exterior 

 side ; and the second, Trklwstegia, those in which the mem- 

 braueons indusium is entirely absent, the sporangia being 

 more or less covered with articulate hairs. 



Although thirt}^ years have elapsed since that mode of 

 arrangement "was publislied, and having observed much 

 during- that period, I find I can make little or no alteration 

 in it, except by amalg'amatmg the genus Oi/mnosphera, of 

 Blnrae, with Alsopliila, of the species of which I now form 

 a third section, characterised by the sori being destitute of 

 a membrane and of hairs, in that resjiect not technically 

 distinct, except in the arborescent ha.bit, from Phegoptcris, 

 to which it is otherwise related through the genus Lopho- 

 soria. 



In the " Species Filicum " sixty-three species arc described, 

 of which about a dozen are marked dubious, the "Synopsis," 

 however, enumerates ninety species including the Apiieudix, 

 They are widely dispersed over both hemispheres. 



