Underwood: American ferns 



605 



reiterated too often, viz. : u A species is not a description, but a 

 group of allied individuals," in this case represented by a single 

 well-preserved type specimen. The accompanying figures (15-16) 

 are drawn directly from Presl's Poecilopteris crenata and it will be 

 seen to be, not the plant to which it has been erroneously re- 

 ferred by those who have never seen it, but instead a species 

 closely allied to the one described in Mr. Christensen's paper as 

 Leptochilus contaminoides (Christ) C. Chr. Having seen the type 

 number of the Paraguay plant both at Berlin and at Kew, and the 

 Brazilian specimens also referred by Mr. Christensen to Christ's 

 species, we are inclined to regard the Paraguay plant as distinct 

 from the others, and refer all the Brazilian plants cited to Presl's 



species, 

 onymy 



Otherwise Dr. Christ's species must fall under it in syn- 



We 



and Presl's plant : 



Balansa 2852 (Type of Gymnop- Poecilopteris crenata Presl. {Cf. 



teris contaminoides Christ). 



Pinnae 3.5 cm. wide. 

 Color bright-green. 



figures 15 and 16.) 

 Pinnae 2 cm. wide. 

 Color distinctly red. 



Margins regularly crenate- Margins irregularly undulate. 



toothed. 

 Areolae in 5 (4-6) rows between Areolae in 4 (3-5) rows between 



the costae. 



the costae. 



Sporophyllary pinnae 8 mm. Sporophyllary pinnae 6 mm. 



wide. 



wide. 



At a later time we hope to add something to the series of 

 species so well described by Mr. Christensen, when the other 

 species may be more appropriately transferred to what we regard 

 their correct generic name, Poikilopteris. 



Columbia University. 



