28 
POLYPODIACE^— POLYPODIEiE. 
Sect. Symplophlebiejk, J, Smith (from symploke, connection, and phieps, a vein). — Veins anastomosing, so as to 
form a network, 
VII. MENISCIUM, Schreher. 
Sori linear, medial, somewhat transverse, arcuate or crescent-shaped, continued across the junction 
of two anastomosing venules, and subsequently becoming confluent. 
Veins pinnate, curved, somewhat parallel ; venules arcuate, or angularly 
anastomosing, producing from their junction an excurrent veinlet, free, 
or uniting with the anastomosing venules above, dividing the surface of 
the frond throughout into numerous rectilinear parallelograms. Fronds 
from one to five feet long, smooth or hairy, simple pinnate or ternate ; 
pinnae entire, crenulate, or serrulate. — Name derived from menislios, a 
crescent ; the fructification forming short curved lines. 
The venation in some of the species of this genus is not distinguish- 
able from that of some Nephrodiums. The only technical character by 
which Meniseium can be distinguished is the arched or arcuate sori, by 
which, however, it is readily known. Fig. 8 represents a portion of 
the base of a pinna of Meniseium palustre (nat. size). 
1. M. SIMPLEX, Hooker. — A dwarf evergreen stove Fern, from China. Fronds 
simple, pubescent, somewhat elliptical or oblong-acuminate, dentato-serrate, 
from six to twelve inches long, duU green, cordate at the base, and sub-hastate ; 
lateral, adherent to a slender scaly creeping rhizome. Sori medial. This species 
is of recent importation, having been introduced to Kew from Hong Kong in the 
latter part of 1850. 
2. M. PALUSTKE, Raddi (M. dentatum, Fresl — fide Kunze). — A tall robust 
evergreen stove species, from South America. Fronds glabrous, rather erect, 
somewhat ovate-lanceolate, pinnate, from three to five feet long ; pinnae entire, 
lanceolate, acuminate, coriaceous, from six to ten inches long, lively green, 
slightly undulated, and roundish or cuneate at the base ; the lower pairs of 
pinnae often proliferous at their base. Stipes dark-coloured near the base ; lateral, 
adherent to a thick creeping rhizome. Sori medial, subsequently confiuent. 
3. M. EETicuLATUM, Swartz (Polypodium, Linnceui). — A taU robust evergreen stove Fern, native of the 
West Indies. Fronds four to six feet high, lanceolate, pinnate ; pinnae lanceolate, acuminate, six or seven inches 
long, membranous, obliquely cuneate at the upper base, rounded below, repand, serrate ; viviparous in the 
axils. We have not seen fertile fronds of the cultivated plant, which, however, we refer with little hesitation 
to the species of Swartz above quoted. 
VIII. GONIOPTERIS, Fresl. 
Sori round, medial, or costal. Spiore-cases sometimes echinate. Veins pinnate ; venules angularly 
anastomosing, producing from their junction an excurrent free or anastomosing sterile veinlet. 
Fronds from one to two feet high, pinnate ; pinnce entire, serrate, crenate, or pinnatifid ; when deeply 
pinnatifid, the inferior pair of venules only anastomose, the superior ones being all free. — Name 
derived from gonia, an angle, and pteris, a fern; in allusion to the angular anastomosing of the venules. 
The species of Goniopteris are easily cultivated, and have usually a neat appearance, being of 
nearly uniform size. The primary character of the genus lies in the round and naked sori, which are 
moreover medial, costal, sub-marginal, or basal ; the venation afibrds no trustworthy distinguishing 
character, for the veins are arranged exactly as in some species of Meniseium and of Nephrodium. 
Fig. 9 represents a pinna of Goniopteris crenata (med. size). 
1. G. REPTANS, Fresl (Polypodium, Swartz; P. eadicans, Lamarck). — A prostrate-growing, evergreen hot- 
house Fern, from Jamaica. Fronds lax, slender, elongate, pubescent, pinnate, a foot or more long, light green, and 
rooting at the apex ; pinnse petiolulate, inferior ones oblong-ovate, cordate at the base, and round at the apex ; 
superior ones auriculate, and semiorbicular, truncate at the base, crenate at the margin. Fronds terminal, 
adherent to a somewhat tufted rhizome. Sori uniserial. Introduced to Kew in 1852. 
2. G. GEACiLis, M. and H. — An interesting evergreen stove Fern, from Jamaica. Fronds slender, narrow, 
lanceolate, pinnate, minutely pubescent, one to one and a half foot long, deep green, and proliferous near the 
apex ; lower pinnae small, distant, petiolulate, cordate-oblong, obtuse at the apex, pinnatifid, with round lobes ; 
