220 Maxon: A new Botrvchium from Jamaica 



undoubtedly the most logical proceeding to recognize these as 

 species and to designate them as binomials. The recognition of 

 subspecies implies or ought to Imply the existence of specimens 

 showing the transition from the typical form to the subspecific 

 center of variation. In two or possibly three instances among the 

 recently recognized ''species*' referred to above, such intermediates 

 seem to exist, and the writer hopes to discuss these later at greater 

 length ; but in the majority of cases intermediates (if existent at 

 all) have not found their way into the herbaria, and the supposed 

 justification for the reduction practiced by several American 

 writers appears to be contained in the fast disappearing fallacy 

 that the sum of the differences and not their constancy is the 

 criterion for specific segregation, — a logical pursuit of which 

 principle would lead by no very circuitous route to the treatment 

 accorded the group by Hooker and Baker. 



• The plant here to be described is not associable specifically 

 with any described form. It may very appropriately bear the 

 name of one whose studies must necessarily prove largely instru- 

 mental in a final elucidation of this perplexing group. 



BotrycMum 'Underwoodianum sp. nov. 



Plant of large stature (3 dm.), to be placed between B. Jen- 

 mani and B. decompositiim of the terfiatwn group. Roots copious, 

 stout, cordlike, corrugate above, fasciculate from a short (1-2 cm.) 

 underground prolongation of the axis : common stalk short 

 (about 2 cm.), bud densely covered with a compact growth of 

 silky hairs : sterile division short-petiolate ($-10 cm.), 12-20 cm. 

 broad and nearly as long, commonly pentagonal in shape, tripin- 

 nate, the basal pinnules of the lowermost lateral divisions usually 

 much elongated and again deeply pinnatifid ; ultimate segments 

 relatively very large, bluntly obovate or broadly spatulate, the 

 margins evenly and finely crenate-dentate with an occasional 

 shallow lobation ; texture slight, resembling that of j5. obiiquum\ 

 venation manifest : sporophyl about 30 cm. long ; panicle rather 

 lax, about 8 cm. long, bipinnate ; sporangia large, sessile. 



Jamaica, — Type in the herbarium of the New York Botanical 

 Garden, Jenman collection. Co-type in the U. S. National Her- 

 barium {110, ^2iioj). Of the several specimens collected by Jenman 

 only one is fertile ; and thus, though smaller than usual and less 

 characteristic in the outlines of the sterile division, is here figured 



