Ceratopterh:\ ^xuti^^. 443 



5. CERATOPTEBIS, Brongn. 

 Spove-cases globulm-, opening in 2 valves with an incomplete or mdimen- 

 a,y ring, arranged dong the longitudinal veins of the nan-ow segments of 

 the feitUe fronds and loosely covering their under surface. Indusium con- 

 tinuous and membranous, formed of the revolute margins of the segments. 



b'rn\rSLtond;Snl ^''-''' ^^^"^-^^ ^^^"^ ™>' *^^ 

 A genus limited to a single species. 



4 }k C!' thalictroides, Brongn.; Hook. Spec. Fil. ii. 335; Gen. Fil. 

 t. li. ironds bipmnate, the fertHe ones erect, 6 in. to 1 ft. high, with Unear 

 acute segments f to 1 in. long; the margins revolute and covering the fruc- 

 tification their whole length. Barren fronds shorter and more spreading 

 the segments cuneate.with 3 or 3 oblong or lanceolate lobes, of a soft haS- 

 succulent texture. Veins reticulate.— Pas^-^ma pteridioides. Hook. Exot M 

 t. 147 and 231 ; Hook, and Grev. Ic. Pil. t. 97. 



Hongkong, Seemann ; in the Happy VaUey, at the water's edge, Wilford. Widely distri- 

 buted over tropical Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. 



SERIES II. TRXTE FERNS. 



Spore-cases erect, hehnet-shaped, with a vertical ring opening by a transverse fissure, nsually 

 stipitate, very small and crowded in the sari. 



6. ACROSTICHUM, Linn. 



Spore-cases not distributed in distinct son, but densely crowded and cover- 

 ing the whole under surface of the fertile segments, which are either on the 

 same or on distinct fronds from the barren ones, and usually narrower. In- 

 dusium none. — Herbaceous Ferns. Fronds in the Hongkong species all 

 simply pinnate, simple or variously divided in others. 



A large genus, chieiiy tropical, common to the New and the Old World. 



Barren segments coriaceous, the veins all equally reticulate, the fertile on 



the same frond I. A. aureum. 



Barren fronds memhranous, the primary veins pinnate, fertile fronds distinct. 

 Segments 3 to 5 (rarely 1), broadly oblong, 6 to 10 in. long, decurrent 



at the base %. A. decurrens. 



Segments numerous, lanceolate, usually petiolulate, 3 to 5 in. long . 3. A. repandum, 



1. A. aureum, lAnn. ; Moore, Ind. Ml. 5. Fronds firm, 1 to 3 or 4 ft. 

 high, pinnate. Barren segments linear-oblong, about 4 to 8 in. long, veiy 

 obtuse, oblique at the base and petiolulate, the midrib prominent, the very 

 numerous equally reticulate veinlets covering the under surface. Fertile seg- 

 ments usually occupying the upper part of the frond and rather smaller than 

 the barren ones, the fructification of a rich golden colour when fi-esh. 



Hongkong, Wright ; at Tytamtook, Tkguhart. Common in most tropical and subtro- 

 pical countries. 



2. A. (Gymnopteris) decurrens, Hook. Ml. Exot. t. 94. Fronds \^ 

 to 2 ft. high, pinnate or the outer ban-en ones rarely simple ; the stipes rich 

 brown, with subulate scales at the base. Segments of the barren fi-onds 

 usually 3 or 5, oblong, acuminate, the lateral ones 5 to 9 in. long, the terminal 



