2 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



heini lias given so much careful exploration in years past; yet this 

 need not surprise one who has even a slight knowledge of the country. 

 During January, 1905, the writer, while engaged in economic work 

 affording little time for collecting, passed a few days upon the southern 

 and eastern borders of this region, traveling by water from Port 

 Livingston to Panzos, thence overland to Sepacuite, Secanquim, 

 Senahu and Actala, in Alta Verapaz; thence by way of Purulha out 

 of the humid districts to the interior arid basin of Salama. The 

 greater part of Alta Verapaz is a rough mountainous region of intense 

 humidity, largely covered, except in the neighborhood of coffee 

 plantations and Indian villages, by extensive forests, offering the 

 most ideal conditions for a luxuriant growth of ferns, both as to 

 species and number of individuals. The fern flora will be found 

 eventually to be scarcely if at all inferior to that of Jamaica, long 

 regarded as one of the richest in America. A thorough and extended 

 survey of this region, rather difficult of accomplishment owing to the 

 long-continued rains which render the few trails at times almost or 

 quite impassable, in connection with a similar exploration of Oaxaca 

 and Vera Cruz at mid-elevations, is, so far as the ferns are concerned, 

 perhaps the most desirable or even necessary fieldwork that can be 

 undertaken at present in tropical Xorth America. 



As to the specimens here listed, Baron von Turckheim's labels in- 

 variably supply full data as to locality and altitude, and commonly 

 as to habitat; but not infrequently the same number is given to 

 specimens supposed to be of the same species collected at different 

 times, oven in different years; hence, to avoid error the date of collec- 

 tion is cited for each specimen listed below, in addition to the number 

 and locality. These data pertain only to specimens in the U. S. 

 National Herbarium. A few of the common species which were re- 

 ceived under their proper name and a few others which offer no points 

 of particular interest are omitted. Also, to obviate unnecessary 

 duplication of data for those listed, the province is omitted in the 

 case of Coban and Cubilquitz, both of these being in Alta Verapaz. 

 All the numbers are of Baron von Turckheim's second series, as 

 indicated by a roman II in each case. 



MARATTIACEAE. 



Danaea elliptica Sm. 



II. -I'M. Forests near Cubilquitz, altitude 350 meters, October, 1900. 



A West Indian species, not reported from Mexico or Central America by Underwood. *> 



« Since the following list was prepared for publication an additional package of speci- 

 mens has been received from Captain Smith. A larjje pari of these arc Hymenophyl- 

 laceae, which are not included in the following enumeration. There are besides several 

 numbers indicated by Doctor Christ as representing undescribed species. 



b Bull. Torr. Club 29: (i72. 1902. 



