INTRODUCTION. V 



111 tliis respect, our plant is justly referable to Disporopsis. Yet, it is 

 not impossible that the '' corona " is quite a different thing from what I have 

 imagined, and that our plant is of a generic character entirely different from 

 that of RANGE'S genus. Had the author given but a sketch, however rough, 

 there could have arisen no such confusion. 



Other plant, with respect to which I desire to ask my readers' assistance 

 in determining its proper genus, is a species of Polypodium, called P. urceolarc. 

 The fern is undoubtedly a species referable to Prosaptia which, according to 

 the leading pteridologists, is considered to be a subgcnus of Davallia. Yet, 

 quite contrary to current opinion, I have referred it to Polypodium. As this 

 matter requires a full explanation too long to be treated here in this 

 Introduction, I shall give my reasons as perfectly as possible in pp. 326-332, 

 in the note on Polypodium urceolarc. 



In the present volume, I give floral sketches of some of my species already 

 described, as I desire to present a clear conception of my species to any one 

 who may examine them to see whether they should be recognized as genuine 

 new species or be reduced to known species ; but the original description in 

 each case is not repeated, as the space is here more limited than it was in the 

 preceding volume. Some of the figures contained in the section on phanero- 

 gamous plants are reproduced from my field notes drawn from the living- 

 material. Though they may be rough in appearance, they are more trustworthy 

 in the exactness of the outline, than those drawn from dried specimens. Almost 

 all woodcuts given in. the cryptogamous sections are reproduced from my own 

 sketches which were drawn with the aid of " Zeichenapparat nach Abbe." 

 In such reproductions, the original sketches are usually reduced to \ size. 

 Great care has been taken in showing the venation of fronds and the cellular 

 structure of the scales. 



I avail myself of this opportunity to tender my hearty thanks to the 



