XI, C, 1 Copeland: New Species Borneo Ferns 49 
NEPHROLEPIS Smith 
NEPHROLEPIS (7) MARGINALIS Copel. sp. nov. 
Stipite 45 cm alto, badio, pilis brevibus vestito; fronde 70 em 
alta haud deorsum angustata, pinnata, pinna apicale elongata, 
rhachi et praecipue deorsum costis minute velutinis ; pinnis rectis, 
infimis 18 cm longis, 13 mm latis, brevi-stipitatis, obtusis, auri- 
culis brevibus acroscopicis praeditis, crenulatis, papyraceis, gla- 
bris, superne nigris (in herbario), inferne atroviridibus; venis 
furcatis; soris marginalibus vel submarginalibus, contiguis; 
indusiis 0.8 mm latis, 0.4 mm altis, basibus adnatis late rotun- 
datis, apicibus truncatis. 
Mount Kinabalu, Gurulau Spur, Topping 1632. 
The specimen is incomplete, being without caudex. By the characters 
of the sorus, the plant is a Cystodiuwm, and I feel sure the affinity thus 
suggested is a real one. The phylogeny of Nephrolepis has never been 
cleared up, and I believe that this species furnishes the necessary clue to it, 
the line being Dicksonia-Cystodium-Nephrolepis. We have, therefore, to go 
back to Dicksonia, commonly treated as outside the Polypodiaceae, to find 
the common ancestor of Nephrolepis, of the Balantium series (Saccoloma), 
and the very extensive series of Dennstaedtia derivatives. To find an 
ancestor common to these ferns and the other Polypodiaceae, we must of 
course go still farther back. To establish natural families, we have there- 
fore either to include Cyatheaceae and Matoniaceae, and perhaps still other 
of the recognized families. in the Polypodiaceae, or else to split Polypo- 
diaceae into the several phylogetic series. If the latter alternative is tried, 
the resulting groups will defy definition. 
CYATHEA Smith 
CYATHEA CAPITATA sp. nov. 
Caudice 3 m alto; stipite 25 cm alto, 1 em crasso, deorsum nigro 
paleis stramineis 15 mm longis 3 mm latis valde acuminatis inte- 
gris vestito, sursum sordide atropurpureo, glabrescente; fronde 
1.5 ad 2 m longa, utrinque angustata, abrupte brevi-acuminata, 
rhachi purpureo-fusca, segmento apicale deltoideo, basi lobato; 
pinnis subsessilibus, basi aequaliter truncatis, apices serratos 
versus sensim angustatis, alibi integris, potius acuminatis quam 
caudatis, glabris, papyraceis, inframedialibus 18 cm longis, 3 cm 
latis, horizontalibus; venis conspicuis, 2- ad 4-furcatis, venulis 
soriferis plerumque super soros anastomosantibus; soris in lin- 
eam unam irregularem utroque latere costae et ca. 5 mm dis- 
tante instructis; indusio laete fusco nitido, tenue sed persistente. 
Mount Kinabalu, Maraiparai Spur, Mrs. Clemens 11033. 
An exceedingly well-marked species of the group of Cyathea Brunonis, 
from which it differs in the stout stipe and rachis of darker color, less 
scattered sori, anastomosing veins and wholly distinct apex. The anasto- 
mosis of the veins, as a feature correlated with broad, entire laminae of 
146016 —4 
