HANDBOOK TO THE 
FERNS OF BRITISH INDIA, CEYLON, 
AND THE 
MALAY PENINSULA. 
ORDER FILICES. 
CAPSULES (sporangia) one-celled, usually membranaceous and 
dorsal (on the back of the frond), or marginal, encircled by a 
complete or incomplete, jointed, elastic ring, collected in clusters 
(sori) of a definite but varied form, with or without a covering (indu- 
sium) or panicled or spicate, rarely laxly scattered ; or the capsules 
have the rmg obsolete, or none, or the ring is confined to the apex of 
the capsule, where it forms a longitudinally striated crown, bursting 
vertically ; or the capsules are sunk in a many-celled, fleshy or corky 
receptacle of varied forms, opening by pores or clefts on the upper 
surface ; spores minute, various in form ; vernation generally circi- 
nate, rarely erect. 
SUB-ORDER I.— GLEICHENIACE.E. 
Sori dorsal; of few (2-10) capsules; capsules opening vertically 
surrounded by a broad, transverse, complete ring ; indusium none ; 
caudex generally creeping ; stipes often dichotomous ; fronds rigid, 
generally large, and dichotomously branched, frequently bearing 
axillary buds ; vernation circinate. 
