88 



The peculiar .habit of the plant presents some interesting ques- 

 tions in vegetable morphology. 



ist. On the supposition that the stomata are about equally distribut- 

 ed on both surfaces— do the leaves assume this vertical position (as Dr. 

 Gray queries in the case o^ Bapthia perfoliata) because the stomata 

 are thus equally distributed — or are the stomata so arranged to suit 

 the habit of the leaf? 



2nd. What is the correlation between the recumbent position of 

 the stem and the vertical position of the leaves,^ 



The stems are stout, and apparently quite large and strong enough 

 to support the foliage, if growing upright, — but in that position the 

 sessile leaves with clasping auricles could not possibly bring both 

 surfaces to the light. There is apparently no mode by which this can 

 be accomplished but by these two abnormal processes operative to- 

 gether, the stem assuming a recumbent position, and the alternate 

 twisting of each internodal space, to bring the leaves into their double 

 one-ranked position. The whole habit of the plant seems therefore 

 modified by the peculiar conformation of the leaves, their mode of 

 attachment to the stem and their functional requirements, 



I may state, In conclusion, that the root (perennial) is long, fleshy, 

 unbranched (or rarely so) tapering downwards, with few or no fibrous 

 rootlets, from i8 inches to 2 feet or more in length, and grows in poor 

 sandy soil where other vegetation would hardly subsist. The whole 

 plant above ground is highly ornamental. Aside from its unique 

 habit, which would at once attract attention, the flowers of cinereous, 

 ashen hue, have a soft delicacy of tint, which renders them objects 

 of beauty; whilst the symmetrically disposed, large, fleshy leaves, with 

 pinkish translucent midribs and laterals, anastomosing in every di- 

 rection, contrast with the dark green of the parenchymous tissue and 

 make it^ more attractive than many of the so-called "Foliage 

 Plants " in cultivation. Held up to the light, when the ramifying 

 net-work of veins may be seen extending throughout the green tis- 

 sue, the leaf presents an object of marvellous beauty. 



Aiken, S. C. 



83. F^n Notes. 11. 



By Geo. E. Davenport. 



Taenitis lanceolata, R. Br. 



'ina 



28, t. 40; Fil. 116, t. 132. Pteris lanceolatay Linn.) — I have the pleas- 

 ure of announcing the discovery of this interesting fern on Old 

 Rhodes Key, Florida, in May last, by Mr. A. H. Curtiss, the well 

 known botanical collector. 



The history of the species is interesting as showing the various 

 views held by different authors in regard to its generic distinction. 



Originally described and figured by Plumier in 1693, it was after- 

 wards removed to Pteris by Linnaeus, and by him named Pteris Ian- 

 ceolata, whence its present specific name. 



Later, Robert Brown (Prodromus, p. 154, in obs.) excluded it from 

 that genus and referred it to Taenitis, where it was subsequently 

 placed by Kaulfuss, and latterly retained by Hooker and Baker. 



J. Smith, however, breaks'un the latter eenus. distribntpc: thp Hif- 



