maxon: new genus of davallioid ferns 143 



rather abundant and forming a rather thick, partly adherent covering 

 of the endocarp; nuts rather long; hilum basal, somewhat prominent, 

 nearly circular, with scattered coarse pits; adhilum represented by a 

 slight swelling above the margin. Supposed to come from Panama, but 

 the locality unknown. Fruit head received from J. R. Smith, Waterbury, 

 Conn., in Economic Herbarium of U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 bearing U. S. National Herbarium No. 691784. 



More extended descriptions with numerous photographic illus- 

 trations have been prepared for publication, in connection with 

 a general review of the South American species. 



BOTANY. — A new genus of davallioid ferns.^ William R. 

 Maxon. 



In revising the treatment of the pteridophyta for the second 

 edition of the Flora of the Southeastern United States the writer 

 has found it necessary to remove from the genus Odontosoria 

 the species known latterly as Odontosoria clavata (L.) J. Smith 

 and to refer it to a new genus, Sphenomeris. The publication 

 of this volume having been delayed, it seems desirable to pub- 

 lish this name elsewhere, since a»paper- dealing with the species 

 of true Odontosoria (with references to Sphenomeris) is already 

 in proof and may conflict in date of publication with that of the 

 Flora. 



In the unpublished treatment of Odontosoria just mentioned 

 it is pointed out: (1) That the genus Odontosoria, as recognized 

 by Diels in the Pflanzenfaixiilien of Engler and Prantl, comprises 

 two sections or subgenera, the first (Eu-Odontosoria) containing 

 rather small species of erect or ascending habit and determinate 

 growth, the second (Stenoloma) containing three nominal species 

 of indefinite scandent growth; (2) that these two groups are 

 entitled to recognition as distinct genera; and (3) that, adopting 

 this view, it is necessary to apply the name Odontosoria to the 

 second group, the large climbing species, rather than to the first, 

 as has been done erroneously by Diels. The grounds for this 

 disposition are then presented, together with a review of the 



^ Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 2 Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 17, part 2 (unpublished). 



