432 HEWARDIA. 



tioTis will also be given in tlie Genera Filicum, Part IX., 

 for which the plates are now in preparation — Ed.) 



In my paper on the Genera of Ferns, laid before the Lin- 

 nsean Society, I have constituted a new genus, founded 

 upon a remarkable, and I believe, very rare Fern, of which 

 I have seen only one specimen that has been kindly presented 

 to me by Mr Lambert, into whose possession it came by the 

 purchase of the celebrated collection made by Martin in 

 French Guiana. I have enclosed you a sketch of my speci- 

 men, as also a portion of one of the pinnae, and I should be 

 glad if you thought it worthy of being published in the 

 Genera Filicum. My reason for so asking is, on account of 

 its not being yet described, (to my knowledge) and of my hav- 

 ing dedicated it to my friend, Mr Robert Heward, F.L.S. I 

 have been induced to do so in consequence of the very great 

 attention bestowed by him on the Ferns while residing in Ja- 

 maica, and subsequently of his having materially assisted me 

 in determining many of the doubtful West India species. I 

 characterize it as follows : — 



Hewardia, J. Sm., mst. in Linn. Soc, Trans. 



Indusium marginal, continuous, attached exteriorly,''venose 

 and sporangiferous on its underside ; at length replicate, 

 forming a continuous marginal sorits. Veins superficial, re- 

 ticulated, all the venules anastomosing and forming elongated 

 areoles. — Fronds from H to 2 feet high ? stipitate and dicho- 

 tomons, eheneous. Pinnae pinnate; pinnules mernbranaceous^ 

 ovate- lanceolate, oblique at the base, 4 to 5 inches long by 2 

 inches wide, alternate and petiolated, persistent, (not articulated 

 and deciduous as in Adiantum;) midrib becoming obsolete 

 towards the apex of the pinna. 



Hewardia adiantoides. (Tab. XVI XVII.) J. Sm. 



mst. in Linn. Soc. Trans. 



Hab. Guiana. Martin, ex Herb. Lambert. 



Obs. — In habit and aspect this hitherto undescribed Fern 

 approaches the largest forms of Adiantum and Schizoloma, 

 agreeing with the first in the sporangia being produced on 



