158 Rhodora [August 



Note 9. — Some further Observations on Nephrodium. The 

 substance of the following note was prepared for the March Rhodora 

 in order to define more clearly my views on Nephrodium and its com- 

 binations, but has been withheld from publication pending the result 

 of efforts to obtain some definite information regarding the work 

 ("Hort. Med. Par. Cat.") cited without author for the genus 

 Nephrodium by Richard in Michaux's Flora. Dr. Robinson, when 

 consulted in regard to the matter, rightly surmised that the reference 

 must allude to a rare publication by Marthe. Efforts to find a copy 

 of this work in America, however, proved ineffectual and it is through 

 the courtesy of Professor ftdouard Bureau, Director of the Museum 

 of Natural History in Paris, where the work exists, that I am now 

 able to present the readers of Rhodora with an authentic copy of 

 the title-page and that part of the work which relates to Nephrodium. 

 I give the matter as it occurs in a letter from Professor Bureau to 

 Dr. Robinson and as it concerns the earliest reference to one of the 

 larger genera of ferns it cannot fail to interest fern students at the 

 present time. The title page runs : 



Catalogue des Plantes du Jardin Medical de Paris, disposers 

 selon le systeme de Linne, avec l'explication de quelques change- 

 ments faits a la systeme. Public par Francois Marthe, cultivateur du 

 dit Jardin. A Paris, chez Gabon, Libraire, rue et place de l'Fxole 

 de Medicine. An IX. 



Upon the above title Professor Bureau comments as follows : Au 

 dessous des mots: du dit Jardin est ecrit h la main : et fait par L. 

 C. Richard de f institut. Nous pensons que ces deux lignes sont 

 ecrites par un employe de la bibliotheque, au moment de la donation. 

 Sous la ligne : An IX, on a e*crit 1801. Sur la premiere feuille, il y 

 a ces mots e'erits: Donne par P auteur fructidor an Qe; et sur le 3me 

 feuille, on voit encore ecrit : /.' auteur a la bibliotheque du Museum 

 national d' Histoire naturelte. Ces deux inscriptions paraissent etre 

 de la main de Louis Claude Richard, sans que je puisse 1' aflfirmer 

 positivement. 



Concerning the brief reference to Nephrodium Professor Bureau 

 continues : A la page 120, je trouve dans le texte : — Nephrodium 

 Fii.ix mas. Nlphrode Fougere male. Votre supposition se trouve 

 done verifiee. 



This communication from Professor Bureau is invaluable as it fully 

 establishes the identity of the " Hort. Med. Par. Cat." cited by 



