'-(3 CHAEACTEES OF TEIBES AXD GE^'EKA. 



Obs. — This tribe consists of nearly 100 known siaecies, 

 typically represented by the genus Cheilanthes, as origin- 

 ally characterised by Swartz. I, hofrerer, include under 

 it a number of species of Pteris of early authors. In most 

 Clicilanihece the sporangiferous receptacles are fi'ee, not 

 transversely connected as in true Pteris, but there are 

 apparent exceptions to the correctness of this distinction ; 

 there being instances of the normal punctiform sori of 

 some species of Pellcea so united and seated in the axis of 

 the indusium, thus scarcely differing in technical character 

 from Pteris, The smooth, polished, and generallj- firm 

 texture of the fronds coincide, however, more with the 

 species of Clieilantlies than with Pteris; I, therefore, deem 

 it best to retain them in the present tribe, as being more 

 their natural affinity than the tribe Pteridece. 



With regard to the genera of GJieilantliea; as here 

 restricted, I must own there is much difficulty in defining 

 their limits, as derived from the technical character of 

 their fructification alone. 



155.— ]SroTnocm,E>-A, E. Br. (1810). 

 Kotlioclilcena and Cheilanthes, sp. ITooli. Sp. Fil. 



J'ernation fasciculate, cfespitose, acaulose. Frauds pin- 

 nate or bipinnate, 6 to 18 inches high, pilo-tomentose, 

 squamose or farinose. Veins forked, free. Eeceptades 

 terminal. Sporanijia few to each receptacle, contiguous, 

 forming a marg'inal row in the axis of the inflexed rudi- 

 mentary indusium. 



Type. Pteris trichomanoides, Linn. 



Illust. Moore, Ind. Fil., p. 55 B. ; J. Sm., Perns, Brit, 

 and For., fig. 86 ; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 6, fig. 50. 



