40 
POLYPODIACEJ2— POLYPODIES. 
1. V. zosTEEiEFOLiA, WlMenoiv (V. ANGUSTiFRONS, BonJ). — A pendulous-growing evergreen stove Pern, 
from the Mauritius. Fronds simple, glabrous, subcoriaceous, from one to four feet long, and about a quarter of 
an inch wide, of a rather bright green. They are lateral, adherent to a small creeping rhizome, densely covered 
with dark scales. Venation internal ; costa within the substance of the frond. This species was introduced to 
Kew in 1852. 
XVIII. ANTROPHYUM, Kaiilfuss. 
Sori linear, continuous or interrupted, reticulated ; sporangiferous receptacle immersed in the sub- 
stance of the frond. Venation uniform, reticulated; sides of the 
areoles more or less sporangiferous. Fronds simple, linear-lanceolate 
or elliptical, coriaceous. — Name derived from antron, a cavern, and 
phyo, to grow ; alluding to the hollows on the under surface of the 
fronds, from whence the spore-cases arise. 
The character which distinguishes this genus from Ilemionitis is 
the immersed sporangiferous receptacle ; the sori of Ilemionitis being 
superficial. Fig. 19 represents the upper portion of a frond of 
Antrop)hyum lanceolatimi (nat. size). 
1. A. LANCEOLATUM, Kuitlfuss (Hemionitis lanceolata, Liunmus. — A 
delicate evergreen stove species, from the "West Indies. Fronds simple, 
glabrous, one foot long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, attenuated at the base, 
slightly undulated, and of a light green colour. Fronds lateral, somewhat 
fleshy, forming a dense tuft on a short creeping rhizome. Venation 
internal. 
XIX. HEMIONITIS, Linnmis. 
Sori linear, reticulated, superficial, and subsequently confluent. 
Venation uniform, reticulated, sporangiferous on the sides of the 
areoles, which are nearly equal. Fronds simple, cordate 
palmate or pinnate, glabrous or villose. — The name 
was used by Dioscorides, and is said to be derived from 
hetnionos, a mule, from the supposed sterility of the 
plant. In this sense, however, the name is here obviously 
misapplied ; for in addition to the ordinary method of 
propagation by spores, H. pahnata is viviparous; 
increases readily by this means also. 
The species of Hemionitis 
are exceedingly beautiful, of 
dwarf habit, and among the 
most interesting of all dwarf 
Ferns. The character by which 
they are at once recognised, is 
the superficial reticulated sori. 
Fig. 20 represents a frond 
of Hemionitis pahnata (med. 
size). 
1. H. palmata, Linneeus. — A 
very elegant evergreen stove Fern, 
from Brazil and the West Indies. 
Fronds hairy, nearly one foot high, 
cordate and palmate, with five 
ohlong-ohtuse or acuminate seg- 
ments, crenulate or bluntly lohed. 
Fertile fronds erect, the sterile _ F>g- 20. 
ones nearly horizontal, both proliferous in the sinuses j terminal, adherent to 
fasciculate rhizome. 
