THE FERNS OF NICARAGUA. 



175 



are in full fruit, together with the less compound division and 

 less coriaceous texture of the frond, and of the presence of a 

 prominent persistent indusium, the author would refer these 

 specimens to the following species with which they agree in 

 hairiness of the stipe and rachises, in venation and the position 

 of the sori. in the decurrent pinnules and segments forming 

 wings on the secondary rachises. and in the form, division and 

 margin of the ultimate divisions of the frond, which are almost 

 identical. 



The fronds measure from 15 to 30 inches in total length 

 (including stipe), and are thrice-pinnatifid. When growing 

 the stipe was green, hairy, and brown-scaly at base. 



Fournier and Hemsley report it from Ometepe. 



5. X. effusum {Szi'artz) Bak. PI. xvm, Fig. 9. 



Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 2S7; Hemsl., Biol. Cent. Am., vol. in, p. 646; 



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



p. 155. 

 Polypodium effusum Swartz, Fl. Ind. Occ, p. 1690: Swz., Syn. Fil., p. 41; 



Roth., Les Foug., vol. 1, p. 127, pi. vn. 

 Polypodium divergent Swartz, Svn. Fil., p. 73. 



Polypodium dilatum Lieb., Mex. Breg., p. 56; Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. iv, p. 264. 

 Phegopteris dizergeus Fee, — Mett., l"b. Ein. Farng., pt. iv, p. 14: Smith, 



Hist. Fil., p. 233; Smith, Ferns, Br. and For., p. 170. 

 Aspidium excnltum Mett., Ub. Ein. Farng., pt. IV, p. 69. 

 Xephrodium cxcultum Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. IV, p. 149. 

 Phegopteris effusa Swartz, — Smith, Hist. Fil., p. 233; Smith, Ferns, Br. 



and For., p. 170. 



Tvpical specimens of this fine species were collected along 

 the La Juana River. The fronds reached a total length of 4 

 feet, and were mostly quadripinnate at the base, broadly tri- 

 angular, with the lowest pair of pinna? iS to 20 inches long. 

 The sori are small, and in the living plants only occasionally 

 showed imperfectlv developed indusia. which are entirely 

 wanting in the dried specimens. The stipes are coarse, brown- 

 ish-green when fresh, and rough with obscure spines. The 

 lower surface of the frond, including the rachis is densely 

 covered with resin-dots. 



Not heretofore specifically reported from Nicaragua. 



