CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE BOTANY OF ASCENSION. 49 



evidence of long isolation, and has au indigenous flora too scanty to allow any generalisa- 

 tion safely to be made as to its relationships. 



Finally, 1 must record my indebtedness to Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, K.C.M.G., 

 the late Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, through whose kindness the 

 hepatics and lichens were there determined. 



PHANEROGAM /. 



EUPHORBIA ORIGANOIUES, Linn. Amcen. Acad., iii. p. 114 ; Sp. PL, i. 453 ; Hemsl. 

 Chall. Bot., i. ii. p. 36. 



On the dry plains between Georgetown and "Two Boats." An endemic species, 

 but far from common. 



PORTULACA OLERACEA, Linn. Sp. PL, i. 82; Hemsl. Chall. Bot., i. n. p. 34. 



This species is very common on the plains, especially at " Wideawake" and vicinity, 

 and is undoubtedly spreading on the island. It is widely spread in tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries, and Mr Hemsley doubts whether it is indigenous at Ascension. 



CRYPTOGAM/E FILICES. 



POLYPODIUM REPTANS, Sivarlz, Syn. FiL, p. 36 ; Hook, and Baker, Syn. FiL, p. 316. 

 Elliott's Pass. Found from the West Indies to Brazil, but not previously collected 

 at Ascension. 



POLYPODIUM TRICHOMANOIDES, var. JUNGERMANNOIDES, Hook. Sijn. FiL, p. 33 ; 

 Hook, and Baker, Syn. FiL, p. 326 ; Hemsl. Chall. Bot., i. n. p. 41. 

 Elliott's Pass : an endemic variety. 



PTERIS INCISA, Thniib. Prodr. Fl. Cap., p. 733 ; Hook. Sp. Fil.,\\. p. 230 ; Hemsl. 

 ChalL Bot., i. n. p. 39. 



Elliott's Pass : indigenous (Hemsley). Widely distributed in the southern hemi- 

 sphere, including Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island. 



ASPLENIUM LUNULATUM, Swartz, Syn. FiL, p. 80 ; Hook, and Baker, Syn. FiL, 

 p. 202 ; Hemsl. ChalL Bot., i. n. p. 40 ; A. alatum, A. Rich. Sert. Astrolabe, p. 52. 

 Elliott's Pass. Widely spread, including Tristan da Cunha. 



BLECHNUM AUSTRALE, Linn. Mantissa, i. p. 130; Hook. Sp FiL, p. 56; Hemsl. 

 Chall. Bot., i. n. p. 39. 



Elliott's Pass. Distributed from St Paul and Madagascar through South Africa to 

 Tristan da Cunha. 



NEPHRODIUM MOLLE, Desv. in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, vi. p. 258 ; Hook. Sp. FiL, 

 iv. p. 67 ; Hook, and Baker, Syn. FiL, p. 293 ; Hemsl. ChalL Bot., i. n. p. 40. 



Elliott's Pass. Widely spread, including St Helena. 



VOL. III. 7 



