1 '^t_- ^ 



MAXON STrDTES OF TROPTCAL AMEKTCAN FERNS. 491 



uncTer this last name Swartz cites both plate 20 and plate 30, figure 3,^ the 

 prototypes of the Linntean Asplcniuui rad'wans, 1750. 



Bj' lS06j then, the transfer of the Jamaican plants from the several Lin- 

 nteun names under Asplenium had become coniL^lete. The confusion could 

 have been avoided by a slight regard for the Linniean citations. 



Sloane's long description^ is well worth perusal. His speciruens in the 

 herbarium of the British Museum were determined as Polypodimn rcptans by 



r 



Jenman ^ who cites plate 20 and plate 30, figure 1, adding, '* Sloane well 

 describes the great variation of form in this species, and says that he had 

 * not seen in any Plant so great sporting of nature.' '' 



If there is the slightest evidence that any true Aspleniuni formed a part 

 of the original Asplcnium radicaufi T.., 1750, .1. rhizophyUum T-., p. 1540, 1703, or 

 A. rhizophorum L., 1704, it is unknown to the writer. The Asiilenium commonly 

 listed under these names (usually under the last) ranges from simply pinnate 

 to tripinnate and appears to have first received a tenable name at the hands 

 uf Kichard as Asplenium cirrhatutu,^ on specimens from Gaudeloupe. These 

 were simply pinnate. Between this state and the most compound there 

 every intermediate stage, as shown alone by the Jamaican series in the U. S. 

 Natfbnal Herbarium, The figures given by Hooker show some of these,^ but all of 

 Hooker's synonyms are not to be credited. A, cirrhafnm is especially common 

 in the ^\e^t Indies and occurs less frequently on the continent. In its various 

 forms it has receivefl many names; several of these have recently been reaii- 

 pHed by Urban. ^ 



Dryopteris serrulata (Sw.) C. Chi'. Ind, Fil. 202. IS 



Pohjpodium scrrulatutii Sw. Schrad. Journ. Bot. 1800': 25, 1801, not Xlett. 

 1S5G. 



PoUfpodium ai^plcnioides Sw. Schrad, Journ. Bot. 1800^: 20. ISOl. 



? Poltjpodhnn hfnanianum Hew, Mag. Nat. Hist. IT. 2: 4(i0. IS.'IS. 



NepJtrodium scrrulatum Jenman, lUiU. Bot. Dept. Jamaica 11. 3: ISO. 1S!)<>. 



The three names here involved were all given originally to Jamaican plants, 

 PoJypodium scrnilatiuti Sw. was founded upon Sloane's plate 43, figure 1, 

 ■representing a plant of which Sloane says: ''It grows on :Mouut Diablo, near 

 Archers Kidge, and other inland woody parts of the Island.'* 



PoJypodiiint asplGriioides Sw. was founded on Sloane*a plate 411, figure 2, thi* 



showing a plant upon which Sloane conunents at lengthy in part as follows: 

 "This is in everything the sanu^ as the former, only, although as high, yet 'tis 

 In everything lesser, the Pinnae a little more frequent, shorter and narrower 

 by much than that immediately preceding, being not over half an Inch broad 

 at Base wliere broadest, ending in a point. And in this, wliich seems to be 

 quite different from the formi^r, there are some varieties. It grew with the 

 former." 



"Also Plukenet, pL 2S6y faj. 2, which had been cited by Poiret (Encye. 5: 

 530. 1S04) undi'r Poly podium radicans. I*oiret's use of the term radicans 

 is apparently independent of Linn^us, 1750; and Pohjpodium radicans Poiret 

 is a doubtful synonym of Dryopfrrist radicans. The Poiypodium rhizophylJuni 

 Sw. cited by him as a doubtful synonym is, of course, Polystichum rhizo- 

 phyllum (Sw.) Presl. 



^Fage 77. 



^ Journ, Bot. 24: 34. 1SS6. 



^Willd. Sp. PL 5: 321. ISIO. 



^Sp, Fil. 3: pU 187. ISGO, as A, rhizophorum. 



t Symb. AutilL 4: 35. 1903, 



