(b) Fructifications paniculate on distinct fronds or lateral 

 tranches. 



161. ANEMIA, Swa/rte, Synops. Ml. 155. 



Oeihthopteeis Sernhardi; fOraUhopt&ris, Sook. G&n., ex. err. iyp.J; 

 CoPTOPHTLLUM, Gardner; Spathepteeis, I'resl; AlTEUlEHIZA, J. Smith; 

 OstiMHTDjE sp., Auct. ; MoHEi^ sp., J. Smith. 



Fructifications paniculate on the lower (pair of)- branches of a. 

 three-branched frond, or on distinct fertile fronds; the fertile 

 branches or fronds erect contracted raehiform decompound, the 

 segments unilaterally sporangiferous. Spore-cases oval or sub- 

 globose, having a many-rayed apical ring, sessile, bi-serial on the 

 ultimate segments. Veins flabeUately dichotomous, sometimes 

 dimidiately so ; or forked, often repeatedly, from an evident or 

 indistinct costa 5 or simple in the narrow ultimate segments ; 

 vetmles free. 



Eronds pinnate or bi-tri-pinnate ; dimorphous, the fertile and 

 sterile distinct ; or monomorphous, the fertile ones then always 

 ternately branched, the two lateral branches distinct erect stipi- 

 tate fertile, the terminal one spreading sterile. Pinnse sometimes 

 dimidiate. Ehizome short erect, or slowly or ciespitosely creep- 

 ing. — ^A genus recognized by the distinct branches of its fronds, 

 which respectively resemble the foliage and inflorescence of a 

 phsenogamous plant. It is distinguished from TrocTwpteris by 

 bearing its fructification on stipitate decompound raehiform 

 fronds or branches of the frond ; and from Anemidictyon by its 

 free venation. We are much inclined to regard the radical 

 fructifications of the Coptophylhim group, and of Shizoglosmm 

 among the Ophioglossacece, as deserving of generic distinction ; 

 but the separation of these would involve a similar division of 

 Osmunda, which we are unwilling to disturb, though the species 

 with distinct fertile ironds have been separated by Presl. Spa- 

 thepteris seems known only from Plumier's figure, which probably 

 represents the barren frond of some Fteris, and the fertile of 

 Gymnogrammia trifoliata. Swartz writes the name Anemia, 

 nearly all subsequent authors Aneimia. 



