250 198 



is possible that some of the doubtful forms referred as varieties to D. tetragona really 

 belong to Ü. tristis. For the present I prefer to refer to Ü. tristis the specimens only 

 which have medial sori and lower pinnæ with a long cuneate base. They are the 

 following : 



Peru: Tarapoto, Sprucf, nr. 4091 (RB) — in valle tluv. Rio Hûallaga, StObel nr. 1090 (v. glabrata 



Hieroii. Hedvvigia 46: 324), 1090 a (B). 

 Ecuador: Fraser (Bj. 

 Colombia: Castafial, Sonntag (B, C) — Magdalena, Lindig nr. 377 b, 383 (B) — Ocana, Engel nr. 256 



(B); ScHLiM nr. 129 et 657 iB) — inter Honda et Bogota, StObel nr. 391 (B); Linden nr. 



1010 (B) — Sta. Marta, H.H.Smith nr. 2562 (C). 

 Panama; Hillebrand nr. 195 (B, C) — Bocas del Toro, Hart nr. 21 a (W); Maxon nr. 4651, 4682 



4705, 5756 (W). 

 Costa Rica: Bio Hondo, plains of Sta. Clara, 100 in, Cook and Doyle nr. 561 (W), 

 Surinam: Paramaribo, Kappler nr. 1776 (B). 

 Brasilia: Para, Rio Maracå (near Guiana), M. Guedos nr. 567 (C — bud on rachis) — in sylvis H. Ma- 



ranon, Spruce s. n. (RB). 



250. Dryopteris nicaraguensis (Fourn.) C. Chr. Ind. 279. 1905. — Fig. 41 d. 



Syn. Phegopteris nicaraguensis Fourn. Bull. Soc. Fr. 19: 252. 1872. 



Type from Nicaragua: Chontales, leg. P. Levy nr. 460 bis (Herb. Cos- 

 son, Paris!). 



The type-specimen, with which agree a few other specimens, belongs to a 

 species, which seems to be a very distinct one. It is marked by its large size: stipe 

 up to 8 dem long, lamina 5 dem, pinnæ 20 — 24 cm long by S'/n — 4 cm broad at the 

 middle, by the grey-green or yellowish green colour and firm, papyraceous texture 

 of the lamina and by the prominent, stramineous costæ and costulæ. Veins 12—18- 

 jugate, those of the three lower pairs connivent to sinus, below which they are se- 

 parated by a hyaline membrane, folded in the dried specimens. Rachis very finely 

 downy, especially upwards, like the costæ beneath, or nearly glabrous; surfaces 

 otherwise glabrous, opaque. Pinnæ 8 — 10 to a side, at distances of 4 — 5 cm, the 

 inferior ones shortly stalked, (terminal pinna similar in shape), incised about half- 

 way to the costa into falcate, subacute, entire segments, 8 mm broad, the lower 

 ones of the lower pinnæ gradually reduced, those of the basal or two lower pairs 

 forming a sinuate wing to the costa. Sori small, inframedial, apparently exindusiate. 

 Sporangia glabrous. 



The main differences between the typical form and I), tristis are seen in the 

 colour and texture of the lamina, in the base of the lower pinnæ and in the po- 

 sition of the sori. Unfortunately all these characters seem to be combined in dif- 

 ferent ways, and I have examined a number of specimens, which as well may be 

 referred to D. nicaraguensis as to I), tristis. Other specimens, partly mentioned under 

 I), tetragona, connect this species with 7J. nicaraguensis, and I have failed to find 

 good distinctive characters, by which these intermediate forms can be referred to 

 their proper species. To D. tetragona var. 3 and 5 I have referred the forms having 



