Maxon : A new Asplenium . 199 





Professor Eaton figures, as var. incisum Moore, one of Frost's 

 fronds, but he remarks that this variety " is frequently collected 

 near San Diego, Cal., where the" type \_A. Trichomanes~\ does not 

 t seem to occur " and adds that " it has slightly larger fronds and 

 pinnae somewhat less incised."* As stated, it appears that A. 

 Trichomanes does not occur in southern California ; and how the 

 material which does occur there could be referred to the var. hi- 

 cisnm is hard to comprehend. Some of the stouter specimens of 

 vespertinnm in general appearance bear a certain resemblance to 

 Asplenium 6/ep/iarodes~Ea.ton, described f from Lower California; 

 but the long jointed cilia, which thickly fringe the indusium of 

 that species, at once distinguish it from vespertinitm , in which the 

 indusium is smooth and merely crenate. In addition, vespertinnm 

 invariably has the pinnae much more coarsely serrate ; and its sori 

 are short, of a light color, and number from 6-12 (13), while ble- 

 pJiarodes bears from 6-8 larger, more oblique sori. The spores 

 of vesp£rtinnm appear to be more closely reticulated than those of 

 blepliarodes, and the winged ridges slightly narrower. The spores 

 of both species present striking differences from those of Tricho- 

 manes, in which the winged ridges are greatly reduced -or appa- 



- 



rently lacking and the surface warty-puncticulate or papillose. 

 The most noticeable feature, however, distinguishing vespertinnm 

 from Trichomanes, is the constancy of the coarse serrations of the 



pinnae. 



In conclusion I desire to extend my thanks to those who have 

 kindly loaned me specimens for study, to Professor L. M. Under- 

 wood and Mr. C. L. Pollard for a number of suggestions and 

 references, and especially to Miss Laura F. Kimball for the excel- 

 lent living plants of this species now growing in the Botanical 

 Garden in this city and from which the greater part of the specific 

 description has been drawn. 



U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



* Eaton, Ferns N. Am. I : 271, 273, 274. pi. 36. f. J. 1879. 

 |D. C. Eaton, Zoe, I : 197. //. 7. 1890. The type specimen, in Herb. D. C. 

 Eaton, has been kindly loaned me by Professor A. W. Evans. 



