Benedict: Revision of the genus Vittaria 403 



Specimens examined. Venezuela: Tovar, Moritz 143 in 

 part (U) ; Tovar, altit. 2,300 m., Fendler 260 (U, E). Panama: 

 Cana, 2,000 m., R. S. Williams 889 (U). Costa Rica: La Palma, 

 altit. 1,450-1,550 m., Maxon 397 (U, N) ; La Palma, C. Brade, 

 26 Mr 1908. (N);L. C. Werckle, 1901-05 (U, N). Jamaica: 

 numerous collections by Jenman (U), Undenvood (U, N) ; Maxon 

 (U, N), Harris (U), and Clute (U, N). Porto Rico: Sierra de 

 Luquillo, P. Wilson 81 (U, N) ; Sintenis 1139 (U, N); Sierra de 

 Naguabo, Sintenis 5451 (U, N) ; El Yunque Mts., Everman 674 

 (N); Blauner 307 (U). 



Vittaria remota seems to be the commonest West Indian species 

 of this subgenus, at least as far as representation in herbaria is 

 concerned. It is most easily distinguishable from the preceding 

 species, as has been noted, by the greater breadth of the leaves. 

 In scales and rhizome, it is generally similar. 



4. Vittaria latifolia sp. nov. 



Rhizome erect, unbranched, 1-2 cm. long, with the persistent 

 petiole bases and roots about 5 mm. thick, 2-3 mm. thick in section, 

 radially symmetrical, the leaves and roots arising from all sides, 

 the scales ciliate, dull brown, very soft, lanceolate, 7-10-costate at 

 the base, the costae uniformly slender ; leaves 3-6, erect or spreading, 

 12-22 cm. long, the petioles solid, about 2 mm. thick, flattened and 

 laterally angled except at the very base, dull brown or greenish, 

 1-4 cm. long, the scales like those of the rhizome but smaller, the 

 lamina herbaceous, thin, narrowly lanceolate, broadest (1.5-2.2 

 cm.) near, usually somewhat above, the middle, acute with a blunt 

 apex, narrowed very gradually below into the petiole, the margins 

 thin, sharp, often reflexed, the leaf-trace simple, branching in the 

 base of the petiole, the midrib evident along the ventral surface 

 of the lamina as a slight but distinctly angled ridge, and marked 

 below by a whitish line, the veinlets alternate, rather prominent 

 when dry, whitish below, divergent from the midrib at an angle of 

 20°, bent forward near the margin and connivent with the anterior 

 veinlet, the areolae thus formed simple, 3-4 mm. broad, elongate- 

 rhomboid, the oblique sides about 20 mm. long, the marginal and 

 costal sides about 10 mm. long; sporangia and paraphyses borne 

 along the intersected portions of the veinlets, forming a continuous 

 shallowly crenate soral line, 2-3 mm. distant from the margin, 

 superficial or scarcely immersed, the spores diplanate, the para- 

 physes pyriform or cyathiform, rounded at first, but soon collapsing 

 and becoming angular and ribbed. (Plate 17.) 



