THE FERNS OF NICARAGUA. 



133 



Sertum Nic, p. 249: Underwood, Our Nat. Ferns and their Allies, p. 



112; Chapm., Fl. of the So. St., p. 597; Hemsl., Biol. Cent. Am., vol. ill, 



p. 603: Gray, Manual of Bot., p. 692: etc. 

 T. kunzeanum Hk., Sp. Fil., vol. 1, p. 127, pi. xxxix D. 

 T. scandens L., — Fourn., Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., vol. xv, p. 144. 

 T. mexicanum V. den B., — Fourn., Sertum Nic, p. 249. 



The form collected in Nicaragua recalls most nearly the 

 var. kunzeanum Hk.. but it has the rachis distinctly winged 

 throughout, the stipe very short and winged, and the pinnae 

 more blunt and shorter, the frond gradually tapering toward 

 both extremities; the lower pinna?, sometimes all in the lower 

 half of the frond, are reflexed, the lowest pair often being not 

 more than }{ of an inch in length. The fronds are from 12 to 

 16 inches long, and 2^< to 4*2 inches broad, — the stipe % to 

 2*^ inches. The involucre varies from two-lipped or winged, 

 to entire without spreading border. 



Careful comparisons were made with specimens from num- 

 erous tropical and subtropical countries, and there seems to 

 be no question concerning the position of this splendid form, 

 which may. however, be deserving of varietal rank. 



The name T. scandois L. was applied bv Fournier to No. 

 20 of Fendler's Venezuelan collection. An examination of 

 Fendler's fern, however, proves it to be T. kunzeanum 1 or T. 

 scandens V. den B.). 1 and not T. scandens L. 



Reported from Chontales, Nicaragua, by Fournier and 

 Hemslev (ibid.*). 



Rather common, creeping on trunks of trees in deep woods 

 near Camp Menocal. 



9. T. crispum L. 



Linn., Svst. Nat., vol. n, p. 696: Presl, Rel. Haenk., vol. 1, p. 69; Hook, et 

 Grev., Icon. Fil., pi. xii: Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. 1, p. 130; Fourn., Bull. 

 Soc. Bot. Fr., vol. xv, pp. 144-5; Hook, and Bak., Syn.Fil., p. S2 : Hemsl., 

 Biol. Cent. Am., vol. m, p. 601: Baker, Biol. Cent. Am., vol. iv, p. 115, 

 (from Costa Rica). 



The Nicaraguan specimens are small, averaging 2 inches 

 in the length of the stipe, and 4 inches in the length of the 

 frond. One frond only measures 7 inches in length. 



1 See note under T. radicans in Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 82. 



