338 BOTANY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.iX.S. HERALD. 
t. 135). — Olfersia lonyifolia, Presl, Tterid. p. 234! Sierra Madre (n. 1939). Common throughout 
tropical America and the West Indian Islands^ varying mnch in size and aspect. 
The present specimens are small and imperfect, but they appear to me to be only a state of the above. 
r 
650. Elaphoglossum simplex, Schott, J. Sm. in Hook. Gen. Fil. t. 105 A. — Acrostichum sim- 
plex, Sw. Southern Mexico (Schaffner !). Common through tropical America and the West Indian 
Islands, varying much in size, and more or less furnished with squamse. 
Presl, in hia ' Tentamen Pteridographije,' places the simple-fronded Acrostichece with free veins under 
Olfersia of Eaddi, a genus founded on a piunate-fronded Fern, which, with its ally Olfersia cervma, differs 
entirely in general character from the species constituting Maphoghssum. In a latter "vvork (' Epimelis 
Botauicfc') he restricts Olfersia to l?addi's original species (0. Corcovadensis), and constitutes a new genus 
of O. cei-vina, which he characterizes under the name of Dorcapferis, the only apparent distinguish mg cha- 
raeter bemg that tlie fertile pinnte of O. Corcovadensis are linear and entire, those of O. cervina sinuose- 
pinuatiiid ; but as I have witnessed more than once the production of both kinds of fronds growing at 
the same time on one and the same plant in the Eoyal Gardens at Kew, it is evident that, instead of 
two genera, there is only one species, and that consequently Presl's genus Borcap)teris must be set aside. 
651. RnipiDOPTERis peltata, Schott, supra, p. 232. Xear Orizaba (Schaffner!). West Indian 
Islands and tropical America. 
653. PoLYPODiUM pectimtum, L., Willd. Spec. Plant, vol. v. p. 180.— Schk. Fil. t. 17. Sierra 
Madre (n. 1936). Tropical America and the West Indian Islands generally. 
This varies much in size, and iu bemg smooth or more or less villose, in consequence of which some of 
the different states have been described as distinct species. The specimens iu this collection are small, and 
agree best with Schkuhr's figure, as also with specimens from Brazil named Volypodium ScUuhrii, by 
Eaddi ; but, setting aside size, I know not how to distinguish them from the states called P. Otites and the 
usual typical forma (identified by a specimen m the Lmncan Herbarium) oi F . pectinatum. 
653. PoLYPODiuM Madreme, J. Sm. (Tab. LXXIII.) ; frondibus stipitatis oblongo-ovatis pro- 
funde pinnatifidis coriaceis opacis, sinubus rotundatis, laciniis linearibus ohtusis, margine integcrrimo 
incrasaatis, venis immcrsis obseuris bifurcatis, venulis liberis inferioribus fcrtilibus, soris globosis uni- 
serialibus subconflucntibus, stipite rachibusque subtus sqiiamiferis.— Rhizoma squamosum; stipitis 
basis nodoso-artieulataj frondes 6-12 uncias alt*, laciniai 1 unciam long*, 2 uncias lat*, siccat* 
supra involuto-circiuatic. Sierra Madre. 
This differs from any previous described species ; its nearest relationship is ^"ith Polypodiimi vulgare, 
from which it differs in being squamose, and iu the margin of the lacini£e being entire and thickened ; it is 
also related to another Mexican species, Polypodium plehejum of Scldechtendal, but the specimens l' have 
seen of that do not appear to differ much from those oi Polypodium vuljare. In the herbarium Polypodium 
ISladreme is readily known by the laeinice being circinatcly rolled up, the effect of a hygrometrie property 
peculiar to this species, and apparently caused by the different contracting power of the thickened margm 
and disc of the lacinis. ^ 
Plate LXXIII. Pig. 1, a lacinla, showing the under side bearing sori ; 2, a pori;ion of tlie same, show- 
ing the position of the sori on the lower venule; 3, upper side of ditto ; 4 and 5, sporangia; G, spores:-- 
all magnified. ' i o > j i 
654. Lepicysiis ,epulla, J. Smith, supra, p. 230. Sierra Madre (n. 1933). Tropical Arucrica 
generally. ^ 
The natural group to which Lepieystis belongs includes Pleopeltis, and several species of squamlfcrous 
