CHAEACTEES OF TEIBES AND GENERA. 261 



widely spread over the tropics of both hemispheres ; and 

 on account of the apparent or but slightly varied forms 

 being found in different countries, has led to great con- 

 fusion in the sjjecies. In the " Species Filicum," under 

 DavalUa polypodioides, Sir William Hooter says: "The 

 more I study the Ferns, and compare specimens from 

 different countries, the more difficult I find it to define in a 

 specific character the essential distinguishing character of 

 species with the much divided fronds ; so different are 

 they, according to locality, to age on the various portions 

 of the same individual, and other circumstances. Then the 

 nature and degree of pubescence augment the difficulty ; 

 and all these difficulties seem to Ije combined in the pi'e- 

 sent species." Upon this view he unites about a dozen 

 specific names of authors under DavalUa polypodioides of 

 Don, a species originally named and described by D. D(jn 

 on Nepal specimens. 



Sp. M. piunata {Cav.) (D. flagelUfera, Wall., HooJc. and 

 Grev. Ic. Fil., t. 183); M. gracilis {Bl.) ; M. Moluccaiia 

 (I?L); M. rhomboidea {Wall.) {Eooh. Seed. Cent., t. 48); 

 M. scabra {Don.) (v v.) ; M. Khasyana {Hooh.) ; M. cris- 

 tata {Hool:.) (v v.) ; M. calvescens (Wall.); M. Spelunta? 

 {Linn.) {D. pejhjpod.ioides, Don., Hoolc. Sp. Fil., D. jlaceida, 

 B. Br.) (v V.) ; M. ISTovffi-Zelandias (Col.) (v v.) (zlcro|)/tO'-«.s 

 hispidus, Moore) ; M. strigosa {Siv.) (v v.) ; M. hii'ta 

 {Kaulf.) ; M. trichosticha (Mooh.) (vv.) ; M. alata (Hew.) ; 

 M. adiantoides {Sw.) ; M, platyphylla {Don.) (v v.) 



143. — SCTPHOLBPIA, J. Sm. 



DavalUa sp., Wall., Hook. Sp. Fil. 



Vernation uniserial. Fronds contiguous, pinnate, 2 to 2-J- 

 feet high ; pinnrn lanceolate, 4 to 5 inches long, serrate, 



