302 Bower . — Studies in the Phytogeny of the Filicales . 
The mature sporangium of Struthiopteris oidentalis is long-stalked, 
and it is specially worthy of note that in the Indian specimens a glandular 
hair is, as a rule, attached to the stalk of each. This corresponds in 
character and position to the gland which accompanies the sporangium of 
Nephrodium filix-mas. These glands are absent in germanica and most 
of the other related Ferns. The annulus is nearly vertical, and it is 
interrupted at the stalk, being in this point similar to what has been shown 
for *S. germanica (Studies, V, Fig. 91). It consists of about fifty cells, 
a larger number than is shown in S', germanica . It is to be noted that 
frequent cases occur where the series of cells of the ring is irregular, taking 
sometimes a zigzag or contorted course in place of the usual regular hoop- 
like series. Such irregularities may be expected in those forms where 
a transition between the oblique and the vertical annulus is in progress, 
according to our general hypothesis. It is in such Ferns that these 
irregularities have been observed. 
The characters of Struthiopteris orientalis thus described correspond 
in essentials with those of S', germanica and O. sensibilis. The differences 
are in details, and there is no doubt of the naturalness of the group. But 
in O. sensibilis the venation is the most advanced, being reticulate, while in 
the rest it is an open, Pecopterid venation. The Onocleae appear to be 
nearly related on grounds of habit, of venation, of anatomy, and of sorus to 
the Cyatheae, and probably Struthiopteris , with its upright habit and open 
venation, is the nearest. These Ferns have, however, adopted the dimorphic 
frond, though the existence of middle forms in both genera shows that the 
distinction has not been definitely impressed. The fertile leaf has rolled up 
its margin, as in Plagiogyria and the Pterideae, for the better protection of 
the sori. These, however, are all distinct, and have the Hemitelia-\\ke 
indusium present in addition. This, with the gradate, superficial character 
of the sorus, stamps the relationship with the Cyatheoid Ferns. They may 
be held to be a series which has carried the Cyatheoid type into boreal and 
alpine climates, where additional protection is required. Further, Onoclea 
shows in its reversion to the creeping habit, and all of them in their deciduous 
foliage, evidence that they are the outstanding colonists of the family 
which have become modified in order to meet the conditions of the 
habitats to which they have spread. 
Cyst op ter is , Bernh. 
This genus was founded by Bernhardi in 1806, and includes thirteen 
species. Presl (‘Tentamen’, p. 93) recognized its affinity with Aspidium 
and Asplenium , and placed it in close juxtaposition with Acrophorus in his 
Aspleniaceae. Hooker (‘ Syn. Filic. ’, p. 103) places it between Davallia 
and Lindsay a, but remarks that it is ‘ allied to Woodsia and Microlepia ’. 
Diels (Engler u. Prantl, i. 4, p. 163) places it in his f Woodsiinae ’, in close 
