io6 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
Genus XV. — Pteris, Linn. 
Indusium marginal, continuous, opening inward, and bearing 
the capsules in an uninterrupted, narrow line, along its axil. This 
genus contains plants of various habit, and has been split into 
several genera by some authors, while others keep it entire, or 
unite Pellaea and Lonchitis with it. Several species are widely 
distributed, and the others are found all over the world. 
Key to the species : — 
§ Veins free; involucre single; rhizome only a procumbent crown — 
Eu-pteris. 
52. P. longifolia. Frond simply pinnate. 
53. P. Cretica. Pinnae linear, the lower with one or two linear pinnules 
on the lower side. 
54. P. quadri-aurita. Frond 2 to 3-pinnate, barren pinnules not 
toothed, or only very slightly. 
55. P. flabellata. 2 to 3-pinnate, barren pinnules distinctly serrate. 
§§ Veins free, except along the mid -ribs, where there is one line of areolae 
on each side. Rhizome short =Campteria, Presl. 
(P. bi-aurita, an anastomosing form of quadri-aurita.) 
56. P. Buchanani. Frond 2 to 3-pinnate, barren pinnules distinctly 
serrate. 
§§§ Veins sometimes anastomosing freely=Litobrochia, Pr. 
57. P. incisa. Rhizome long, with distant 2 to 3-pinnate fronds. 
§§§§ Veins free, involucre sometimes double = Paesia, St. Helliere. 
58. P. aquilina. Rhizome long, with distant, 2 to 3-pinnate fronds. 
52. Pteris longifolia. Linn. 
Plate XLII. Natural size. 
Rhizome procumbent or shortly creeping, paleaceous. Frond 
simply pinnate, lanceolate, one to three feet long, three to eight 
inches broad, glabrous, and with a glabrous, green, channelled 
rachis, and a short, round, herbaceous stipe, set with numerous, 
linear, white, spreading scales, toward the base. Pinnae about 
twenty pairs, three to four lines broad, two to four inches long 
about the middle of the frond, considerably reduced downward, 
and slightly reduced upward ; and the frond rather abruptly 
terminating in a terminal pinna similar to the others but longer ; 
all linear pointed, from a wide, rounded or cordate, sessile base, 
