172 



NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 



and on the midribs of the pinnae on the upper surface, thus 

 being the var. subferruginea of Hooker 1 , or what Baker 2 

 says " appears to be JV. rufescens Presl." 



The species was also observed near Camp Menocal. Hem- 

 sley reports it from Chontales. Fournier gives it in his Nica- 

 raguan list, without locality, under the name JV. -punctulata 

 Presl, var. 



Genus NEPHRODIUM 3 Rich. 



1. N. conterminum ( Willd.) Dcsv. PI. XVIII, Fig. 4. 



Hook., Sp.Fil., vol. iv, p. 91; Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 268; Hemsl., 



Biol. Cent. Am., vol. in, p. 645; Bak., Jour. Bot, vol. xxii, p. 363; 



Hitch., PI. Bah., p. 154. 

 N.panamense Presl, Rel. Haenk., p. 35. 

 Aspidium conterminum Willd., — Mett, Ub. Ein. Farng., pt. iv,p. 78; Eaton, 



Fil. Wr. et Fend., p. 209; Eaton, Ferns N. Am., vol. 11, pp. xxiv, and 



278. 

 Lastrea contermina Willd., — Smith, Hist. Fil., p. 214; Smith, Ferns, Br. 



and For., p. 154. 

 Aspidium molliculum Kze., — Fourn., Sertum Nic, p. 254. 

 Aspidium conterminum var. strigosum D. C. E., — Underwood, Our Nat. 



Ferns and All., p. 104: Chapm., Fl. So. St., p. 671. 



Terrestrial, and rather gregarious in habit. Very common 

 along the Lajuana River on higher bottom lands, and also 

 found in similar situations along the San Juan River near Cas- 

 tillo, and at Boca del Rama. It was also observed at Grey- 

 town and near Camp Menocal. A few specimens were col- 

 lected in a gulley at the base of the volcano Ometepe, where 

 the species was quite rare. 



Much variation in the character of the surface is exhibited 

 by the large series in the collection. The most common form, 



1 Sp. Fil., vol. iv, p. 153. 



8 In Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 301, note under N. acuta Presl. 



3 This genus is usually united with Aspidium by American authors. 

 While it is true that specimens are often found which cannot be definitely 

 referred to either genus, this difficulty is no greater than that which is 

 often encountered between Aspidium (in the widest sense) and Phegoptcris, 

 and is usuallv readily overcome if the specimens are fresh, or were col- 

 lected in good condition. Ne.phrodium certainly has as good claim to ex- 

 istence as have Nephrolepis and Fadyenia. The large number of species 

 makes the division convenient to say the least. 



