382 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 52 



rhizome is horizontally creeping, ligneous, with numerous bases of 

 old stipes, and densely clothed at the apex with finely pubescent, 

 brown scales. By its slightly reduced, coriaceous lamina and its 

 creeping rhizome D. firma is a most distinct species. 



[Note. — D. Pavoniana (Kl.) C. Chr. must be placed next to D. 

 firma. It has, as shown by a specimen from Ecuador, RiuihacJi 118, 

 sent me by Dr. Rosenstock, a long,, creeping rhizome.] 



GROUP OF D. PACHYRACHIS 



DRYOPTERIS PACHYRACHIS (Kunze) Kuntze 



(Revision 305, No. 44, Fig. 31.) 



In my "Revision" I referred the Jamaican Nephrodium Jeinnaiii 

 Baker to D. pachyrachis, having seen only one specimen, which ap- 

 peared to be almost exactly D. pachyrachis, but without the charac- 

 teristic sessile red glands of the under side of the lamina. Having 

 now seen additional specimens of A'^. Jenmani, the question of its 

 identity with D. pachyrachis becomes more difficult. The specimens 

 seen belong to two somewhat dififerent forms : 



(i) A more firm, nearly glabrous and eglandulose form, which 

 in habit and pubescence agrees very well with true D. pachyrachis 

 but diflfers from it, as mentioned, in the lack of glands. In its most 

 developed state this form is considerably larger than the Brazilian 

 forms of D. pachyrachis (Aspidium platyrachis Fee), much more 

 resembling D. tencrrima (Fee) C. Chr. It is the typical Jcnuiani, 

 as shown by type specimens in U. S. National Herbarium. 



(2) A very thin-leaved form with the under side densely glandu- 

 lose and with the midribs of the segments, like the costse, setose 

 above. This form I referred (p. 311) to D. Germaniana as a new 

 variety, var. glandulosa. I now think it best to consider it a form 

 of Jenmani, resembling D. Germaniana in size but differing from 

 that species in being glabrous between the veins above and in its 

 fewer reduced pinnae. 



I dare not consider these two forms specifically difl:"ercnt, nor 

 separate them as a species distinct from D. pachyrachis. In general 

 habit, texture, pubescence, number of veins, position of sori, shape 

 of indusium they agree very well with the continental forms of D. 

 pachyrachis. Still, I see clearly a difference between these West 

 Indian forms and true D. pachyrachis, but it is impossible for me 

 to point out even one character by which they may be distinguished 

 from the continental form. However, should some other pteridolo- 



