no other point of relationship with that genus, its whole habit and structure resembling Goniopteris and Stegnogramma, while from Meniscium it is distinguished only by the more zig-zag anastomosing of the venules. Although it thus differs from these genera only in degree, I nevertheless think it desirable to adopt it as a genus.

Sp. D. Griffithii, Moore, Bedd. F. Brit. Ind. pl. 150; D. Wilfordi, J. Sm. (Hook. Fil. Exot., t. 93).

These two species are very local, the first being a native of Assam, the other of Formosa.

Tribe 8.-GRAMMITIDEÆ (Plate 8).

Fronds varying from simple to decompound multifid, and from a few inches to several feet in height. Veins free or anastomosing. Sori linear, free or united, discal; sporangia superficial or immersed in grooves, naked or included under an universal indusium.

OBS.-According to the "Synopsis Filicum" this tribe, as restricted by me, contains about one hundred species, the greater number being represented by the genus Gymnogramma. In some genera of the section Cryptogramma the sori are very short and even, nearly punctiform; the reasons for retaining such in this tribe are specially notified under the genera of that section.

Grammitidea is represented in all Fern regions, especially within or near the tropics.

SERIES 1.-Veins anastomosing in various ways.

Sect. 1.-HEMIONITIDEÆ.

Venation uniform, reticulated, or the venules parallel and angularly anastomosing, near to, or at the margin only. Sori equally reticulate or connected on or next the margin.

64.-HEMIONITIS, Linn., in part.

Hemionitis, Acrostichum, and Gymnogramma, sp. Hook. Sp. Fil.

Vernation erect or sub-decumbent, acaulose. Fronds simple, cordate, palmate or pinnate, smooth, villose or squamose, 6 to 12 inches in height. Veins uniform, reticulate; in some the venules free next the margin. Sporangia occupying the whole of the venation, forming reticulate, often confluent, superficial sori.

Type. Hemionitis palmata, Linn.

Illust. Hook. and Bauer, Gen. Fil., t. 74 B.; Hook. Ex. Fil., t. 33; Moore Ind. Fil., p. 45, B; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit. and For., fig. 54; Hook. Syn. Fil., t. 6, fig. 59, A. OBS.-The type of this genus is the well-known Hemionitis palmata of Linnæus, to which several other species have been added. Four of these possess the same general habit as the type; but this cannot be said of H. cordata, H. vestita, and H. Muelleri, which, although I retain them as sections of Hemionitis, are nevertheless almost worthy of being regarded as types of distinct genera.

*Hemionitis vera.

Fronds palmate or lobed, pinnatifid or sub-pinnate, villose. H. hederæfolia, J. Sm. (Hook. Syn. Fil.); H. palmata (Linn.) (v v.); H. podophylla (Hook.) (v v.) (H. pedata, J. Sm. non Sw.); H. pinnatifida, Baker; H. pinnata, J. Sm. (Hook. Syn. Fil.)

Natives of the West Indies and parts of Tropical America.

** Sericonitis.

Caudex decumbent, sub-sarmentose, short. Fronds contiguous, pinnate, 6 to 14 inches long; pinnae contiguous, 1 to

1 inch long, 6 to 12 pairs, oblong elliptical, short petiolate, densely sericeo squamose. Veins uniform, anastomosing towards the margin. Sporangia obscure, hidden by the silky squame.

H. vestita, J. Sm. (Grammitis, Wall., Bedd. F. Brit. Ind., pl. 154); H. Muelleri, J. Sm. (Gymnogramma, Hook.); H. aureo-nitens, J. Sm. (Acrostichum, Hook.)

OBS.-The fine silky hairs and squamæ common to these three species is sufficient to indicate that they are naturally allied; the latter, however, differs in having two kinds of fronds, the sterile being simple, oblong spathulate, and the fertile pinnate.

In the "Species Filicum," H. Muelleri is described as having free veins, but in the specimens which I have examined I found them to be netted.

These three species are very local, the first being a native of Nepal, the second of Queensland, and the third found only in the Galapagos.

*** Cardinitis.

Caudex decumbent, sub-sarmentose, short. Fronds stipitate, cordate hastate, firm, smooth. Sori copious, contiguous, becoming confluent.

H. cordata, Roxb. (v v.)

Throughout India, the Malay, and the Philippine Islands. OBS.-For H. Griffithii, Hooker, and Wilfordii, Hook., see Dictyocline; and for H. citrifolia, Hook., see Anetium.

65.-SYNGRAMMA, J. Sm. (1845).

Gymnogramma sp., Hook. Sp. Fil.

Vernation uniserial, sarmentum short. Fronds stipitate, contiguous, smooth, entire, simple, linear lanceolate, oblong elliptical, or rarely pinnate, 6 to 12 inches long. Veins forked close to the mid-rib, venules direct parallel, their