Vll 
§ 15. It is rather remarkable that, up to this date, not one 
single genus of Ferns has been discovered which could be 
o o 
said to be exclusively peculiar to this country, while even 
eighty-eight of the species described in this treatise, or about 
the half of them only, could claim that privilege. The rest 
of them are widely diffused, for we find thirty-one out of the 
number inhabiting the Mascarenhas (Mauritius and Reunion). 
Fifteen are found in Europe; fifteen grow in the West 
Indies, eleven in New Holland, ten in North America, nine 
in South America, eight in the Brazils, seven in the East 
Indies, six in the barren island of Tristan d’Acunha, six in 
the Canaries and Azores, five at Java, five in Central 
America, five in the north of Asia, six in the Sandwich 
Islands, three in North Africa, two in New Zealand and 
Tasmania, two at Luzon, one in Amboyna, Singapore, Fer- 
nando Po, China, and Japan. The rare Cyrtomium falcatum, 
a native of the lastnamed country, has but recently been 
found by Capt. Espinasse in the forests of British Kaffraria. 
§ 16. Collectors of Ferns should not be satisfied with 
gathering fertile specimens alone, but secure, in like manner, 
sterile fronds and young shoots, which often greatly differ 
from perfect plants in their general aspect. The root-stocks 
and caudices also are of importance, and ought to be preserved. 
§ 17. To persons who take an interest in the natural history of 
South African Ferns, a short review of the principal works treat- 
ing on that topic may be acceptable. Thunberg,* whose writ- 
ings on the Flora of this country are invaluable, described only 
thirteen genera and twenty-nine species of Ferns as indigenous. 
At a later period, Professor de Schlechtendal, encouraged by 
the examination of the valuable collections brought home by 
several zealous botanical travellers, and deposited in the Royal 
Herbarium of Berlin, issued a work on South African Ferns.f 
*Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, 2d volume. Upsalae, 1800, 8vo., and 
Flora Capensis, ed. Sehultes, Stuttg. 1823, 8vo. 
f Adumbratio Filicum in Promontorio Bonae Spei provenientium. Part l-5> 
Berl. 1825-26, 4to., with 24 engraved plates. 
