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O N O C L E A . L in n .
C a l y p t e r iu m . Be rn h .
S o r i globosi, inferiori pa rti venæ dorso inserti, magni, valde approximati, demum
confluentes. In d u s inm orbiculatum, concavum, reticulato-venosum. ^ Sp o ra n g ia
creberrima, receptáculo conico inserta, annulo crebernme striato cincta— Filix
Am e r iea n am horealem incolens. Rhizoma repens. Frondes alternoe, herhaceæ,
dissimiles, sterilis p ro fu n d e p in n a tifid a la ta sinuato-incisa, fertilis Mpinnata,
p in n u lis sessilïbus in glohum haccmformem contractis. Venæ e le va tæ ,m fro n d e
sterili dissimili ramosissimoe, venulis in maculas elongate et ir re g u la rite r h e xa gonoideas
confluentihus, marginaUhus libere desinentibus, in fro n d e fe r t ili h o rizontales
crassæ apice clavato Ubero terminatæ ven u la transversa m a cu lam sub-
q u a d ra tam efficienti conneoeoe. Pre sl.
Onoclea U n n . ( T a b . L X X X I I .)
In our specimens which are in rather advanced age, it is extremely difficult to see the exact
nature of the indusium, from the very rigid and coriaceous texture of the fertile pinnules,
and from their singularly revoluted margins, which render it hardly possible to examine the
fructification without injury to the indusium. To us it appears to he globose, membranous,
bursting irregularly, but towards the apex of a segment of the frond, and containing a
great quantity of compact sporangia. We can see little affinity with the Cystopteriiem,*
a section in which Presl places it, nor do we observe the transverse veinlets described and
figured by that author.
T ab L X X X II . Fig. 1. Sterile Pinna o f a fro n d ; nat. size; f . 2 . Portion o f the same to show
the venation; magnified: f . 3. F ertile spikes; nat. size: f . 4. Small portion of the same; magnified.^
f . S. Upper view of a fertile pinnule; d o .: f . 6. Under view of the same; d o .: f . 7. Veinlet with
single sorus; / , 8, 9. Sporangia; / . 10. Sporules;—»nagn!/ieii.
• Since the above was written, Mr J . Smith has given us t h . following extract from his unpublished
paper on the Ferns, written in 1 8 3 8 ; -T h i s Genus (Onoclea) has hitherto been placed in affinity
with Blechnum and Woodwardia, which no doubt has arisen from th e membranaceous conniving
margin being considered as an indusium, and from authors not haying paid due regard to the appar
e n t membranaceous scales which are found interposed between the confluent so ri: which membrane
I find is cueullate and attached to the sporangiferous receptacle, and therefore quite analogous to the
interior attached lateral indusium o f Aspidieat. W h a t further strengthens my opinion th a t Onoclea
should be placed in Aspidiea, is, th at th e venation in the sterile fronds is similar to the Genus
S a g en ia : some of the contracted species of th a t Genus presenting much analogy, and requiring only
a little more contraction to pass into Onoclea. Thus Onoclea presents the same affinity with
A sp id ium as S truthiopte ris does with P olyp o d ium— J . Sm.