Of Tribes. 
Tribe I. Gleicheniacece. Capsules in each sorus 1-6, without 
stalks, bursting longitudinally, completely surrounded by an oblique 
or transverse ring. Gen. I. 
Tribe II. Cyatliece. Sorus globose, capsules with an incom- 
plete vertical ring, placed on an elevated receptacle, often mixed 
with jointed hairs. This tribe includes all the tree-ferns of New 
Zealand. Gen. II— IV. 
Tribe III. Ilymenophijllece. Sorus at or beyond the margin 
of the frond, always terminating a vein ; capsules on a thread, or 
club-shaped often much elongated receptacle, girt with an oblique 
ring. Fronds very delicate and translucent (except in Loxsoma.) 
Gen. V— VII. 
Tribe IV. Polypodieoe. Sorus generally on the back of the 
frond, rounded or linear ; capsules not placed on an elevated recep- 
tacle, stalked, partly girt with a vertical ring, bursting transversely 
on the side where the ring is wanting. This large tribe may be 
divided into : 
Sub-tribe A. Sorus covered with the more or less altered 
margin of the frond. Gen. VIII.-XIII. 
Sub-tribe B. Sorus covered with involucra. Gen. 
XIV— XXI. 
Sub-tribe C. Sorus naked. Gen. XXII. -XXX. 
Tribe V. Schizaeese. Sori arranged in overlapping spikes or on 
divisions of the frond bent back and altered ; capsules not stalked, 
striped at the apex as they terminate in a horizontal ring. Gen. 
XXXI, XXXII. 
Tribe VI. Osmundese. Sori naked ; capsules stalked, with 
a broad, dorsal, incomplete ring bursting lengthwise. Gen. 
XXXIII, XXXIV. 
Tribe VII. Marattieae. Capsules without a ring, combined 
into an oblong or linear mass (sorus) which bursts down the 
middle. Gen. XXXV. 
Tribe VIII. Ophioglossese. Sori in stalked spikes, distinct 
from the frond, without a ring, globose, bursting transversely into 
two valves. Gen. XXXVI, XXXVII. 
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