Woodsia .] 
FERNS. 
29 
(P. flexile, Moore; Pseudathyrium flexile, Nev)m., fig. p. 203 (1854); (Suppl. 
Plate, fig. 2, b) ; has the pinnae deflexed and the pinnules somewhat lanceolate 
from a narrow base. It was found with P. alpestre by Mr. Backhouse, and per- 
haps is not distinct.) 
GYMNOGRAMMA, Desvaux. 
(Named from yvpvog, naked , and ypcyya, a line, in allusion to the naked 
lineal - sori). 
This genus is distinguished by its linear forked sori, which ultimately become 
confluent, bearing the thecae on the backs of the veins of llie leaf It consists of a 
number of elegant little Ferns, chiefly tropical, of which the silver and gold Ferns 
commonly cultivated in hot-houses are examples ; the yellow or white dust on the 
backs of the leaves of these species consists of fine hairs. 
GYMNOGRAMMA LEPTOPIIYLLA. 
SCALE-LEAVED GYMNOGRAM. 
(Suppl. Plate, fig. 3.) 
Cha.' — Leaves ovate, bipinnate. Pinnules roundish wedge- 
shaped, about 3-fid ; the segments obtuse, bifid. 
Syn. — Gymnogramma leptophylla, Moore, Newm. — Polypodium leptophyllum, 
Linn. — Gymnogramma leptophylla, Sxvtz. 
Fig. — Moore (1853), p. 63. — Newm. (1854), p. 11. 
Des. — Rootstock erect. Leaves tufted, 4 to 8 inches high when 
well developed ; leaf-stalk about half the length, brown and shining, 
blade ovate bi- or tri-pinnate, the pinnae alternate, ovate, with alter- 
nate pinnules. Pinnules trifid above, wedge-shaped below, the 
segments bifid, stalk of the pinnules somewhat decurrent. Sori 
forming two lines diverging from one point on the back of each seg- 
ment of the pinnule. 
Sit. — Wet places, where Marchantia flourishes. 
Hab. — Jersey, Mr. Ward, M. Piquet. 
Geo. — Madeira, Azores, Spain and Portugal, France, Italy, Sicily, Greece, 
and, according to Kunze, Mexico. 
WOODSIA, Br. HAIR-FERN. 
(Named in honour of Mr. J. Woods, an English Botanist.) 
A , portion of a leaf of Woodsia Ilvensis, natural size. US, ditto enlarged. C, 
sorus perpendicularly divided. D, indusium. E, one portion of ditto. F, scale. 
G, theca. II, spores. 
Mr. Brown first separated from the Polypodia, 8fc., this very distinct genus, 
which contains only two British and four foreign species, all very small plants, 
and natives of mountainous regions. The indusium, if such it can be called, is 
very singular and beautiful: it is attached under the mass of thecre — inclosing 
