TAB; COXXXV. 
ACROSTICHUM VESTITU M. 
FILICES.—GvnATx. Br. PorvroprAcEx. Kaulf. | Firiczes vere. Willd. 
Grw. Cnuag. J4CROSTICHUM, Linn. Sori amorphi, seu Capsule per totam pagimam infe- 
riorem frondis (interdum diverse) ad ejus partem sparse.  Znvolucrum nullum (nisi squa- 
mule vel sete in quibusdam capsulis interstincte). Zr. 
ÁCROSTICHUM vestitum; ccspitosum, frondibus oblongo-lanceolatis acutis membranaceo-coriaceis 
integerrimis, in stipitem brevem atro-squamosum attenuatis, utrinque margine costaque prze- 
cipue squamis appressis ciliatis obsitis, fertilibus lanceolatis, stipite elongato. 
Acrostichum vestitum. Lowe, MSS. 
Has. Inripas petrosas apud «Ribeiro Frio" altid. 3000 ped. in Insula Maderz. Zev. R. T. Lowe. 
Fiadix fibrosa, fibris flexuosis, ramosis, nigris, fusco-pubescentibus. 
Stipites ceespitosi, unciam ad duas uncias longi, squamis patentibus, ovatis, nigrescentibus, nitidis, longe ciliatis 
undique tecti. 
Frondes spithamzeze et ultra, unciam late, oblongo-lanceolate, membranaceo-coriaceze, leete virides, costatee, paral- 
lelim nervosz, integerrimsee, apice acute, inferne attenuatze, utrinque margine costaque precipue squamis 
ovatis vel ovato-lanceolatis nonnunquam etiam subulatis pulcherrime ciliatis tectze. Squamc frondium juniorum 
ferruginez, demum pallide: in costam majores sunt seepissime nigra, in marginem magis ciliatee ut videantur 
tomentose. Frondes fertiles reliquis angustiores, lanceolatee, stipite duplo longiores. 
Capsule totam paginam inferiorem occupantes, squamis immixtz, subglobosze, paululum DS lato-annu- 
latze, sublonge pedicellata. 
Semina subreniformi-globosa, intense fusca. 
Fig. 1. Squama e stipite. f. 2. Squama e pagina superiore frondis. f. 3. Capsule. f. 4. Semina :—maen. auct. 
Whether or not Swartz may have confounded two species under his z4erostichum squamosum,— 
the Madeira plant and that from Jamaica, —vwe cannot positively say: but certain it is, that, though 
agreeing in some respects with that species, it can hardly be considered the same; for he describes 
the fronds as one or two feet in height, and the stipes from three or four inches to a span long, 
and the scales of this latter as imbricated: whereas our fronds do not exceed a span in height, 
the stipes is unusually short for this group of zZerosticha, and the scales upon the stipes are 
remarkably patent. Willdenow does not seem to be well acquainted with Swartz's plant, for he 
quotes it under his 24. /epidotum with a mark of doubt, and the character of that species is quite at 
variance with ours. We think it very likely that Swartz had confounded imperfect specimens of 
our plant from Madeira with an zZerostichum somewhat resembling it from Jamaica: and, as he 
himself observes, he was unacquainted with the fructified state of the plant. 
This Fern is one of great beauty; for, numerous as are the scales upon every part of the plant, 
the delicate green hue of the frond is distinctly visible, and the varied colour of those scales gives a 
richness to the whole plant. "Those of the older fronds, both on the upper and under surface, are 
pale-coloured and almost white; those of the younger fronds ferruginous: those of the stipes, and 
many also on the midrib, are larger than the rest, and glossy black, sometimes with the disk 
reddish. "The plant itself Mr. Lowe appears to have detected only in one spot ; and it was not till 
after a long-continued search that he was so fortunate as to find fructified specimens. We may add, 
that we have seen no Fern that can be confounded with it from any country. 
