96 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER 



St Helena.— Endemic. Diana's Peak and Sandy Bay Ridge, and on woody hills in 

 many places — Burchell, 186; dark woods, Diana's Peak— Hooker; without locality — 

 Walker, Houghton, Seemann; common on roadsides in the higher lands — Morris, in 

 18S3. 



Melliss states that this grew somewhat plentifully on both sides of the Central Ridge, 

 and was rarely found below an elevation of 1400 feet. 



It was formerly regarded as a form of Asplenium arhorescens, Mett., a species in- 

 habiting Mauritius, Bourbon, Madagascar, and Johanna Island. 



Nephrodium (Lastrea) patens, Desv. 



Nephrodium (Lastrea) patens, Desv. in M^m. Soc. Linn. Par., vi. p. 258; Hook., Sp. Fil., iv. 



p. 95 ; Hook, and Bak., Synop. Fil., p. 262 ; Melliss, St Hel., p. 355. 

 Aspidium patens, Swartz, Synop. Fil., p. 49; Eaddi, Fil. Bras., p. 32, t. 48. 



St Helena. — Indigenous. In Swanley Valley, above and below the Willow Pond — 

 Burchell, 175 ; without locality — Lefroy, Cuming, and Morris, in 1883. 



Melliss says that this grows at a lower altitude than the other species of the genus, 

 ranging from 1000 to 2500 feet, and was found on the sides of mountain streams in the 

 neighbourhood of Oakbank, Powel's Spring, Willow Cottage, &c. 



A common species in America from Florida and Texas to Chili and South Brazil ; also 

 in Tropical Africa and Polynesia. 



Nephrodium (Lastrea) molle, Desv. 



Nephrodium (Lastrea) molle, Desv. in Mem. Soc. Linn., vi. p. 258 ; Hook., Sp. Fil., iv. p. 67, pro 

 parte; Hook, and Bak., Synop., p. 293. 



St Helena. — Indigenous. Morris, in 1883. 



This fern is found in nearly all tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. 

 As it was not collected in the island by any previous traveller, it is probably of recent 

 introduction. 



Nephrodium (Lastrea) cognatum, Hook. 



Nephrodium (Lastrea) cognatum, Hook., Sp. Fil., iv. p. 123, t. 256; Hook, and Bak., Synop. Fil., p. 



279 ; Melliss, St Hel., p. 355. 

 Lastrea cognata, Presl., Epiin. Bot., p. 40. 

 Aspidium cognatum, Mett., Monogr. Aspid., p. 61 ; Kuhn, Fil. Afr., p. 128. 



St Helena. — Endemic. Hallcy's Mount and Diana's Peak — Burchell, 176 ; Diana's 

 Peak — Hooker; without locality — Cuming; Seemann; Lyall ; and Morris, in 1883. 



" One of the ferns of the highest land on the Central Ridge and Diana's Peak, at 2400 

 hot."— Melliss. 



