98 
the 28th of February of this year, I found the steep sides of this 
nook well covered with three kinds of ferns in good fruit, a num- 
ber of specimens of each of which I gathered and took away. 
Unfamiliar as I was with southern ferns, I did not doubt that I 
had three distinct species of Spleenwort, but upon subsequent 
examination of them, and reference to the books on North Amer- 
ican ferns, I found that one of the ferns was not described. 
These three ferns, of which there were hundreds growing in 
close proximity or actual contact one with another, were Asp/e- 
nium dentatum, Linn., Asplenium myriophyllum, Presl., and a 
third form of the same genus, larger than either of the others, 
possessed of those features common to both, having rather the 
texture and hue of the dentatum and a leaf-pattern approximating . 
to that of the myriophyllum. 1 send herewith a specimen of each 
of the three kinds. 
Now, considering that this fern grows in company with A. 
dentatum and A. myriophyllum (I do not recollect having seen it 
otherwise), that it partakes of their characteristics, and is in most 
respects almost exactly intermediate between them, that it is of 
more vigorous growth than either of those nearly related species, 
and that it belongs to a genus the species of which are strongly 
suspected of sexual looseness, the question arises whether this is 
not a hybrid product of the two species mentioned. 
It is my intention to have a considerable number of specimens 
of this fern from the locality above described next season, when 
the question may receive further consideration. In the few speci- 
mens I have, the marks of the immediate form appear to be as 
definite and unvarying as are those of what are considered good 
species. IsAAC HOLDEN. 
Special Uses and Properties of some Mexican Grasses. 
Dr. Edward Palmer has been engaged in making botanical 
collections in Mexico during several years past, and has given 
particular attention to ascertain the uses to which plants are ap-_ 
plied. The following notes, gathered from him, respecting the 
uses and properties of the native grasses are of interest: 
Bromus segetum, Schl.—The seeds of this grass are used to 
assist in the fermentation of a favorite drink called | used © 
