TAB. II. 
WoODSIxl (Hymenocystis) polystichioides, Eaton. 
Spithamasa ad pedalem dense crespitosa, caudice subnullo, 
frondibus subcoriaceo-membranaceis opacis lanceolatis pin- 
natis, pinnis patentibus numerosis approximatis sessilibns 
. 6-7 lineas longis lanceolatis obtusis basi cuneato-truncatis 
sursum acute auriculatis junioribus sparsim paleaceis 
villosisque demum glabris margine integerrimis vel apicem 
versus obsoletissime crenatis, costa indistincta, venis im- 
mersis simplicibus vel furcatis liberis ad marginem apice 
soriferis, involucro e squamis 4-5 tenui - membranceis in 
orbem dispositis imbricatis longe ciliatis, stipitibus castaneis 
rachique straminea nitidissimis deciduo paleaceis. 
Wood si a (Hymenocystis) polystichoides, Eaton in Wright's 
Herb, of Ringgold and Rodgers U. S. North Pacif. Explor. 
Exped. 
Hab. Hakodadij Japan, C. Wright. 
A very remarkable and very pretty Fem, for which I am 
indebted to Mr. Wright and Mr. Eaton, who observe (in litt.) 
that this ought, perhaps, to be made the type of a new 
genus; for that “the parts of the indusium imbricate over 
each other.” It is however, I think, very difficult, where the 
indusium (or involucre) is of so very delicate and fragile a 
nature, to say whether it is of the structure now mentioned, 
or whether, being first entire, it may not afterwards burst from 
the top into a few unequal valves, which may appear to be 
imbricated, and as is the case in the group or subgenus 
Physematium, Klfs. (Hymenocystis, C. A. Meyer), to which 
Mr. Eaton has, as it appears to me, properly referred it. 
Fi 9 '• L Fertile pinna, seen from beneath, f 2. Portion 
ot the same. f. 3. Involucre partially closed. /. 4. In- 
volucre open, and showing the sorus. /. 5. Portion of a 
valve of the involucre. /. 6. Capsule magnified . 
Can, 2. T. 2. 
