400 Benedict: Revision of the genus Vittaria 



grooves, to say nothing of other marked differences. The material 

 illustrated (Endres) does not show the narrowed apices believed 

 to be characteristic of the species, but the blunting appeared to 

 be abnormal. In the Werckle material, of which two plants and 

 a photograph of a series of plants were seen, the narrowed almost 

 acuminate tip was an evident character. 



Vittaria minima, in spite of its obvious differences from the 

 other species, falls naturally into the genus and into the subgenus 

 Radiovittaria. There was so little material that no attempt was 

 made to section the stem or petiole, but the brown coloration of 

 the petiole probably indicates the presence of the kind of collen- 

 chyma found in this subgenus. The fact that the spores and 

 paraphyses are indistinguishable throughout the seven species is 

 further evidence of close relationship. 



It is also worthy of note that there appear to be good grounds 

 for believing that V minima is a real connecting species between 

 Vittaria and Hecistopteris J. Smith, as has already been indicated 

 in the synonymy. The occurrence of identically the same type 

 of paraphysis and spore in Hecistopteris, as well as the suggestively 

 similar leaves sometimes developed in this genus, lead to the 

 suspicion that Hecistopteris is probably more a genus of taxonomic 

 convenience than one of generically different evolution. 



2. Vittaria Gardneriana Fee, Mem. Foug. 3: 15. pi. 3. 1851 



Vittaria Karsteniana Mett. Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. V. 2: 207. 1864. 



(Type from Colombia.) 

 Vittaria gracilis Kuhn ; in Moritz, Linnaea 36: 67. 1869. (Type 



from Colombia.) 



Rhizome erect, unbranched, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, with the per- 

 sistent petiole bases about 0.05 cm. thick (about 2 mm. thick in 

 section), radially symmetrical, the scales brown, iridescent, soft, 

 lanceolate, 5-8 cells wide at the base. Leaves several, erect or 

 spreading, 20-40 cm. long, usually very thin, the petiole solid, 

 about 1 mm. thick (less when dry), terete at first, but soon be- 

 coming flattened and angled laterally, dull brown or greenish 

 brown, or becoming polished, 1-3 cm. long, the lamina broadest 

 (3-5~7 mm.) near or just above the middle, narrowed very gradu- 

 ally above and below, with or without a median brown stripe 

 extending a few centimeters along the surface from the petiole, 

 either thin, and with all the veins prominent, or thicker, and with 



