4G 
rOIATODIACE.4!— ACROSTICHEyE, 
This genus differs from Acvosliclium in habit more than in technical characters. Its nearest affinity 
is with Anetium, which it resembles in habit, having simple fronds and a creeping rhizome ; but it is 
separated by the dense amorphous sori, the sori 
in Anetium being few and irregularly scattered, 
v.’hile in Jhjmenodium they densely cover the 
whole under surface, except the margin. Fig. 
27 represents a fragment of the sterile, and a 
fertile frond of Ili/menodium crinitum (less than 
half the nat. size). 
1. II. CEiNiTcor, Fee (Aceostichum, Linnatus 
Olfeesia, Fresl; Dictyoglossum, J. Smith). — An 
evergreen stove Fern, with a very peculiar aspect ; a 
native of Jamaica. Sterile fronds simple, oval- 
elliptical, coriaceous, twelve to fifteen inches long, 
and eight to ten inches wide, dull green, and hairy 
throughout. Fertile fronds simple, erect, oval- 
elliptical, contracted, from twelve to fifteen inches 
high, with a stipes of si.x to nine inches, densely 
covered, as well as the upper surface of the frond 
with long narrow blach hair -like scales. Both forms 
F'la- 27. 
are terminal, adherent to a thick creeping rhizome, which is densely 
covered with criniform scales. 
XXVII. ACROSTICHUM, Linnants. , ,, ... 
Sori amorphous, universal on the under surface of the fertile 
frond. Venation uniform, reticulated, forming elongated are- lv)'-rv 
olcs. — Named from altros, high, and stichos, order; the 
fructification occupying the upper portion of the fertile 
disk. 
The species belonging to this group are but few in number, 
all tropical plants, and varying from six to eight feet in height. 
The technical characters by which the genus is distinguished 
are : — the uniform reticulated venation, and erect eaudiciform 
rhizome. Fig. 28 represents a pinna of the sterile and fertile fronds of Acrostiehum aureuni (med. size). 
