XXVII. Novitiee Flora Maderensis: or Notes and Gleanings of Made- 

 ran Botany. By the Rev. R. T. Lowe, M.A. 



[Read Mail 28, 1838.] 



FILICES. 



1. AcROSTicHUM paleaceum. Hook, et Grev. Icon. Fil. t. 235. 

 Identical I apprehend with A. squamosum of Swartz. Although his 



character of " frondes 1 — 2-pedales " certainly exceeds the average of 

 Maderan specimens, I liave lately seen some fully 18 inches long, without 

 the stipes: and I am informed by my friend J. I. Bennett, Esq., that in 

 "the Banksian Herbarium are barren fronds of 15 or 16 inches in length, 

 in addition to the stipes (as by Swartz described) of 3 or 4 ; and some of 

 them, which are abruptly mutilated, would, I think, justify tlie describ- 

 ing them as " 1 — 2-pedales." In every other particular Swartz's descrip- 

 tion perfectly agrees ; and was, I have little doubt, drawn up from 

 the Maderan plant. 



2. Polypodium drepnnum, nob. 



Aspidium drepanum Sw. {Aspidium ? drepanum nob. Primit, p. 6. 

 No. 3.), proves, as I have already stated in the Botanical Miscellany 

 (New Series, I. p. 26.), to be a genuine Polypodium; not having the 

 .slightest trace of an indusium in any stage of growth. The following 

 description of the fructification is derived both from abundant wild 

 specimens, and from others cultivated in my garden, and watched care- 

 fully for several years. 



Indusia nulla. Sori nudi, globosi, valde convexi, tumidi, distinct- 

 issimi, subconferti, biseriati, purpureo-nigri, capsulis nitidissimis ; demum 

 (sporis effusis) pallide fcrruginei, minuti, punctiformes. Polypodii species 

 vera. 



Vol. VI. Part III 3 X 



