114 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Sub-family I. — Polypode^. 

 Spore cases memhranous, furnished with a vertical ring. 

 This comprehends the majority of ferns, including the 

 whole of the British species, with the exception of about 

 four. 



Sub-family II. — Gleichene^. 



Spore cases furnished tvith a horizontal ring. Sori rounds 

 dorsal. 



This is principally represented by the genus Gleichenia, 

 natives within or near the tropics, their fronds being conti- 

 nuous and repeatedly forked. Matonia pectinata is one of 

 the most rare and beautiful of all ferns, and is found only on 

 Mount Ophir, in the peninsula of Malacca. Its fronds are 

 borne on slender foot-stalks (stipes) from five to six feet high, 

 averaging two feet or more in width, divided into pectinate 

 pinnse, much resembling a fan-leaved palm. 



Sub-family III. — Hymenophylle^. 



Sj)ore cases furnished with a horizontal ring produced in 

 marginal cysts on memhranous fronds. 



This contains the Filmy Ferns, represented by numerous 

 species of Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes, of which three 

 species are natives of this country, but rare and local. 



Sub-family IY. — Osmundace^. 



Spore cases produced on spikes or panicles, rarely dorsal, 

 furnished with an apical, horizontal ring, which is some- 

 times rudimentary only. 



This section is represented in this country by Osmunda 

 regalis, and in tropical America by the genera Anemia and 

 Schizta. 



Although the species of this family are both numerous 

 and variable, they possess but few qualities of much impor- 

 tance in the arts or domestic economy. Many are used me- 

 dicinally in their respective countries, some being more or 



