34 



THE FERN BULLETIN 



genus Dorypteris. Linnaeus knew the plant as Pteris 

 pedata but John Smith, a former curator of the Royal 

 Botanical Gardens at Kew, concluded that the reticu- 

 lated venation of this species, so unlike that of the true 

 brackens, entitled it to be placed in a distinct genus and 

 therefore called it Doryopteris pedata. 



If generic relationships depended alone upon the 

 superficial appearance of plants, our species would still 

 have much to warrant its being placed in a separate 

 genus, for its fronds, not unlike certain geranium 

 leaves in appearance, have little of the conventional 

 fern frond about them. It is to be noted, however, 

 that even these fronds have a hint of the triangular in 

 them such as many species in the genus Pteris exhibit 

 and which is well shown in the common brake. But it 

 is the venation and arrangement of the sori that must 

 furnish the decisive features, and in these it differs so 

 much from the true brackens that it seems well placed 

 as Doryopteris. In the present instance the great value 

 of veining and disposition of the sori in determining- 

 genera is shown by another species Pellaea geraniifolia 

 that at first glance is almost exactly like our plant. 

 This, too, was once considered a member of the Pteris 

 genus, but is now regarded as a Pellaea because the 

 sori are on the tips of free veins not connected by a 

 transverse vein. Its veins being free and not reticu- 

 lated very clearly distinguishes it from Doryopteris. 



The pedate bracken is found from the West Indies 

 to Southern Brazil, being not uncommon in 

 half shaded situations. Its fronds spring in tufts from 

 a short rootstock and are a foot or more in length, 

 with rather thick blades and dark and polished stipes 

 and rachises. The spore-cases are usually abundant 



