36 
POLYPODIACE.E — POLYPODIES. 
The species belonging to this genus have a varied aspect, as well as a wide geographical range ; 
some are very membranous, others are remarkably rigid in texture, almost without parallel amongst 
Ferns. Many of the more beautiful species are at present unknown in cultivation. They all have 
creeping rhizomes, and are well adapted for cultivating on logs of wood, trunks of trees, or amongst 
light, open materials, where they form very beautiful and highly ornamental objects. Their compound 
anastomosing venation is met with also in other genera, even in the same section ; but the characters 
that distinguish the Drynarias from all associates are the naked or squamiferous compital sori, and 
the compound or zigzag anastomose branching of the veins, with sterile veinlets in the areoles. Fig. 
14 represents a portion of Drynaria Billarclieri (nat. size). 
} Phyllitidis, J. Smith, — Fronds simple. 
1. D. Foetunii, T. M. — An interesting 
evergreen Fern, from China. Fronds simple, 
a foot or more in height, lanceolate, attenu- 
ated at hoth the hase and apex, suhcoriaceous, 
bright green, entire, or suhsinnate, quite 
smooth, and punctulate with transparent dots, 
which indicate the apices of free veinlets 
within the areoles of the veins. Sori distinct, 
uniserial, near the costa, and chiefly produced 
a,t the upper part of the frond. Fronds much 
tapered below into the short, sparingly scaly 
stipes, which is lateral, and articulated on a 
slender scaly creeping rhizome. Eeeeived 
from Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth ; and 
precisely accords with No. 18 of Fortune’s 
Chinese plants, collected during his second 
journey. 
2. D. CONTIGUA, J. Smith (Polypodium, 
Wallich). — An evergreen stove species, from 
Borneo. Fronds simple, glabrous, linear- 
lanceolate, one to one and a half foot long, 
coriaceous, undulated, deep shining green, 
acute at the apex, attenuated at the hase, 
decurrent on the stipes, and entire at the 
margin. Sori oblong, uniserial, suhmarginal, 
immersed, forming elevated protuberances on 
the upper surface. Fronds lateral, articulated 
with a small creeping rhizome. This species 
was introduced by Mr. Low, of the Clapton 
nursery, in 1847. 
3. D. HEMiONiTiDEA, J. Smith (Polypo- 
dium, Wallich ; P. membranacedm, JD. Bon ; 
Selliguea HEMIONITIDEA, Prcsl). — A Very 
delicate evergreen stove species, from the East Indies. Fronds glabrous, simple, one to two feet long, lanceolate, 
light green, undulated, very membranous, attenuated at the base. Sori round, small, and irregular. Fronds 
lateral, articulated on a short scaly creeping rhizome. 
4. D. mioiDES, J. Smith (Polypodium, Lamarck; P. polycephalum, Wallich; Phymatodes ieioides, 
Michosohum iriibgulaee. Link). — A glabrous evergreen ornamental stove Fern, native of the Mauritius, East 
Indies, Sierra Leone, and New Holland. Fronds simple, two to three and a half feet long, light green, fleshy, 
linear-lanceolate, ensiform, attenuated at the hase, and often irregularly lohed at the margin. Sori very small, 
numerous, thickly scattered on the upper half of the frond. Venation internal. Fronds lateral, articulated on a 
short scaly creeping rhizome. 
6. D. CRASsiFOLiA, J". (PoLYPODiuM, Limucus ; kin Ksxrisu, Schott) . — A coarse-growing glabrous ever- 
green stove species, from Brazil, Peru, and the West Indies. Fronds simple, linear-lanceolate, attenuated at the 
hase, two to three feet long, and three or four inches wide, coriaceous, dull green. Sori large, round, or oval, 
uniserial between each two of the primary veins. Fronds lateral, articulated on a short scaly creeping rhizome. 
6. D. sEsauiPEDALis, J. Smith (Polypodium snsauiPEDALis, Wallich ; Pleopeltis nuda, TLooker).- — -An 
evergreen hothouse Fern, from the Mauritius and Nepal. Fronds simple, narrow lanceolate, a foot or more 
long, light green, undulated, attenuated at the hase, and decurrent on the stipes, acuminate at the apex, entire on 
