THE FERNS OF NICARAGUA. jjj 



Genus NEPHROL EP IS Schott. 

 i. N. cordifolia (Z.) Presl. 



Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 300; Hemsl., Biol. Cent. Am., vol. 111, p. 652; 

 Bak., Jour. Bot., vol. xxn, p. 363 (from Costa Rica); Hitch., PI. Bah., p. 



155- 

 Polypodium cordi folium L., Syst. Nat., vol. 11, p. 692. 

 Aspidium cordijolium Swartz, Syn. Fil., p. 46. 

 Nephrolepis tuberosa Presl,— Eaton, Fil. Wr. et Fend., p. 212; Hook., Sp. 



Fil., vol. iv, p. 151; Smith, Ferns, Br. and For., p. 164. 

 Nephrolepis pendula Fee, — Fourn., Sertum Nic, p. 260. 



Abundant on a prostrate tree-trunk near the La Juana River, 

 but not found at any other point. 



The specimens are quite typical, but rather small, the fronds 

 averaging less than a foot in length, and about an inch in 

 width. The pinna? are deciduous. Reported from Chontales 

 by Fournier as N. fcnduJa F&e. 



2. N. acuta (Sc/ik.) Presl. 



Lieb., Mex. Breg., p. 117; Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. iv, p. 153; Bed., Ferns S. 



Ind., p. 33, pi. xciv; Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 301; Hemsl., Biol. 



Cent. Am., vol. Ill, p. 652; Hitch., PI. Bah., p. 155. 

 Aspidium acutum Schk., — Swz., Svn. Fil., p. 46. 

 Nephrodium acutum Presl, Rel. Haenk., p. 31. 

 Nephrolepis acuminata Presl, — Lieb., Mex. Breg., p. 119. 

 Nephrolepis ptuictulata Presl, — Eaton, Fil. Wr. et Fend., p. 212; (var.) 



Fourn., Sertum Nic, p. 260. 



This handsome (when growing) species was common in 

 the low woods near Castillo, the short rootstocks crowding 

 among the bases of the petioles of palm leaves, and the fronds 

 forming a gracefully drooping fringe just below the crown of 

 leaves at the summit of the host palm-stem. A smaller form, 

 more rigid in habit, and with pinna? more nearly entire, was 

 found on a prostrate log near the La Juana River. 



The Castillo specimens have the pinna? distinctly crenate, 

 and sometimes auricled on both the upper and lower sides, in 

 which case the auricles are smaller and more rounded. Many 

 of the fronds exceeded three feet in length. 



All of the specimens from both localities are ferrugineo- 

 tomentose on the stipe, rachis, the lower surface of the pinna?, 



