Prats 24, 
HYPODERRIS Brownn, J. Sm. 
Brown’s Hypoderris. 
Gen. Car. Sori dorsal, subglobose, arranged in lines or series within 
the areoles formed by the secondary veins upon the confluent angles of 
reticulated veinlets. Involucre inferior, cup-shaped, very thin and mem- 
branaceous, the margin fimbriated and spreading.—Fern of Trinidad, con- 
jined to one species. Caudex creeping, very paleaceous with subulate scales, 
and similar scales clothe the stipites and the costa beneath.—Fronds sti- 
pitate, membranaceous, subcordato-hastate, acuminate, costate, pinnatedly 
veined ; primary and secondary veins alternate, nearly parallel, flexuose ; 
veinlets copiously anastomosing, so that the whole surface is reticulated 
with angular areoles, some of which have a free clavate veinlet (appendi- 
culated). 
Hypopernxis Brownii. 
Hypoprrris Brownii. J. Sm. in Hook. Gen. Fil. t. 1. Hook. Ic. Plant. t.615 
and 576; Sp. Fil.v. 1. p. 57. J. Sm. Cult. Ferns, p. 51. 
Has. West Indies: St. Anne’s Valley, Trinidad, Lockhart; growing on moist 
rocks in deep shady ravines; since communicated, probably from the same 
locality, by Dr. Cruger. Cultivated at Kew. 
A Fern of great rarity, and remarkable in structure, inas- 
much as, with the fructification evidently allied to Woodsia, it 
has the habit and venation of that group of Polypodium, to 
which Phymatodes and Drynaria belong, and of Aspidium, Presl, 
among the Aspidium-group. Its only native country yet known 
is the island of Trinidad, and the only locality there yet re- 
corded, is that above given. 
In the present case, as the genus is a very remarkable one, 
we have given the generic character. There being but one 
species, no specific character is necessary, for there is no other 
known Fern with which it can offer any specific comparison. 
Puate 24. Figs. 1 and 2. Fertile fronds of Hypoderris Browniana, J. Sm., 
natural size. %. Portion of a fertile frond, with sori, showing the venation,— 
magnified. 4. Sorus and involucre,—more magnified. 
JUNE lst, 1861. 
