P0WP0DIEJ3. IsXvii. 



S'^t,Auci,J PhIEBODII sp., ^wei.; DeTOSTACHTI sp., ^we^,; D1PTEEIDI3 



sp., J. Smith; NiPKOBOLi sp.j^Mrf.; Sbixigtje^ sp., PresJ ; MiEGiifA- 

 BliE sp., Sory, 



Sori non-iuduBiate, sometimes ooyered whEe young by peltate 

 scales, rotundate or elliptic, (sometimes vrith the receptacles 

 difiuso-confluent in lines), superficial or immersed j the recep- 

 tacles compital, i.e., produced on the points whence several 

 reticulated veins radiate, rarely medial. Veins pinnate or pin- 

 nato-fiircate, from a central costa, parallel or flexuose, some- 

 times evanescent; the vemiles much branched, reticulated in 

 (usually) several series of irregular or hexagonal areoles, within 

 the ultimate of which are produced variously-directed straight 

 curved or hamate, often numerous, free sterile vemlets, which 

 are generally distinctly clavate at their apices. 



Fronds membranaceous or more or less coriaceous, often 

 opaque, simple pinnatifid or pinnate, sometimes furnished with 

 scattered peltate scales. Sori serial or irregular. Ehizome 

 creeping; the fronds articulated. — An extensive genus, dis- 

 tinguished by the compital sori, and compound venation with 

 free included variously-directed veinlets. The group Pleopeltis 

 of authors has divaricate free included veinlets, and is therefore 

 quite accordant in the character of its venation, and sufficiently 

 so in degree, with that of the group FJiymatodes of Presl ; both 

 having compital sori. There being, consequently, no good grounds 

 for continuing to separate these groups, we have combined them, 

 retaining the older name. We have kept separate the very dis- 

 tinct-looting little groups of Drynairia and Dvpteris, the former 

 distinguished by its peculiar sessile sterile fronds, the latter by 

 its peculiar dichotomo-palmatifld fronds, rather perhaps than by 

 differences of higher value. 



§ HjipleopelUa. — Veins immersed, obscure; fronds usually scaly; sori 

 covered when young witli peltate scales. 



Ex. : e. m 

 .te 



P. lepidota, Presl. 

 P. nuda, Sook. 



P. leucospora (Polypodium, E2J 



P. angusta, S. B. 



P. Eaddiana (Drynaria, F^eJ 



§ PhleboMopsis. — Free veins comparatively few, straightish. 



Ex. : P. lycopodioides, Fresl. I P. accedens (Polypodium, Sl.J 



P. sctuamulosa, Fresl. P. oodes, (Polypodium, XzeJ 



P. stigmaticai Fresl. \ P. stenophyUa (Polypodium, Bl.J 



