; 
i 
4 
UNDERWOOD: AMERICAN FERNS 259 
Confused by Jenman with Gleichenia Matthewsii Hook., a 
Peruvian species with a widely different vestiture throughout. 
12. Dicranopteris mellifera (Christ). 
Gleichenia mellifera Christ, Bull. Herb. Boiss. II. 6: 28. 1906. 
Type Locauity: Valle del Rio Navarro, Costa Rica, Wercklé. 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Costa Rica. 
13. Dicranopteris orthoclada (Christ). 
Gleichenia orthoclada Christ, Bull. Herb. Boiss. II. 5: 16. 1905; 
thid. 6: 282. 1906. 
Gleichenia intermedia dissitifolia Baker, Jour. Bot. 25: 24. 
1887. (Type from Costa Rica, /. /. Cooper.) 
TYPE LocaLity: Costa Rica, Wercklé 272. 
DIsTRIBUTION : Known only from Costa Rica. 
14. Dicranopteris palmata (Schaffner) sp. nov. 
Mertensia palmata Schaffner; Fée, Mém. Foug. 9: 32. 1857 
(xomen nudum). 
Gleichenia palmata Moore, Ind. Fil. 380. 1862 (nomen nudum). 
A smoothish species with upright stems 3—4-forked, the primary 
and secondary internodes naked, the ultimate pinnae diverging at 
an angle of about 30°. Rootstock creeping, sending up strict 
branches (stems) 60 cm. or more high, the upper portion 4-6 
mm, in diameter, smooth, olive-brown ; primary branches diverg- 
ing at an angle of 90°, 7-8 cm. long, naked except for a few scat- 
tering scales ; secondary branches diverging at an angle of 60°, 
the internodes 3.5-4 cm. long, with a pair of bracts at the base 
and a line of linear scales along the inner side, otherwise naked ; 
tertiary branches diverging at an angle of 30°-40°, the internodes 
5-6 cm. long, pinnate on both sides throughout ; quaternary and 
final branches forming an angle of 30°, the pinnae 20-25 cm. 
long, 3 cm, wide, tapering gradually to the point; segments 2. 5 
mm. wide, the margin often finely revolute, blunt, with a few scat- 
‘tered hairs beneath; sporangia in 3’s or 4’s; rachises pale red- 
dish-brown with scattered ciliate scales. 
Type from moist woods, Orizaba, Mexico, Pringle 6129; also 
collected by Liebmann, Schaffner, and Bourgeau ; also common at 
1500 m. in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, occurring singly and 
not forming thickets like the allied species. 
This species was first recognized by Schaffner as distinct and 
given a manuscript name which was published but not described 
