510 



Gen. Nephkodium, R. Br. 

 4, Nephrodium foenisecii, Prodr. Ms. 



N. Fronde triangulari vel ovata, 3 — 4 pinnatifida, utrinque glabra : 

 laciniis (tertii quartique ordinis) oblongis, obtusis ; ultimis incisis, 

 mueronato-serratis ; omnium inferioribus exterioribus internis opposi- 

 tis majoribus : soris numerosis distinctis : indusiis primo semiovatis 

 vel reniformibus, demum orbiculatis, emarginatis : stipite breviusculo, 

 basi sparsira subpaleaceo, fusco, superne rachique pallidis. 



a. alatum ; fronde 4-pinnatifida ; pinnis inferioribus (primi secun- 

 dique ordinis) triangularibus vel ovatis, externis interioribus oppositis 

 valde majoribus: pari infimo pinnarum (primi ordinis) basi deorsura 

 ramoso ; pinnula (secimdi ordinis) potissimum prima (aliquando etiam 

 secunda) inferiore s. exteriore deorsum producta. 



Hab. in sylvis Vaccinii padifolii, Sm., Maderae ; ubique vulgatis- 

 sima. 



B. productum; fronde tripinnatifida, paullo magis elongata: pinnis 

 omnibus oblongis ; externis internis oppositis vix majoribus : lacinia- 

 rum ultimarum dentibus subaristatis. 



Hab. in umbrosis humidioribus MaderaB ; rariss. 



/3. Statu potius prioris (a), e loco obscuriore, defectu luminis, &c. 

 quam varietas videtur. 



Frons in utraque varietate nana, 1 — \^ pedes (una cum stipite) lon- 

 ga, fere pedalis ; 6-8 pollices lata : stipite vix dimidium totius longitu- 

 dinis aquante. In utraque odor idem gratissimus foenum novum redo- 

 lens, constans. 



Species Aspidio dilatato et spinuloso, Aiict. certe proxima ; et cum 

 illis forsan, in unam speciem (ut ab amiciss. cl. Hookero) consociatis, 

 olira conjungenda. Sed distingui posse credo, figura frondis abbrevi- 

 ata, deltoida ; stipite breviore, minus (sc. basi tantum) paleaceo ; pin- 

 nulis angustioribus, odore. His adde frondem magis decompositam : 

 quamvis enim raro, sc. in B. certe minus quam in a. decomposita, in 

 utroque tamen statu saltem sub-tripinnata, et longe frequentius, sc. in 

 a, statu normali, sub-g'ac^ripinnata. Hebc omnia, cum aliis characte- 

 ribus supra indicatis, nullibus exemplaribus stabilita sunt ; et in 

 planta a, adeo per totam insulam pervulgata, constantia, nee in tanta 

 differentia loci coelique (fi enim potius monstrosa) variantia inveni. 



We now arrive at the question of nomenclature. We find that the 

 species recurva has been previously described by Mr. Lowe as a por- 

 tion of his foenisecii : not " lumped in " without judgment or conside- 

 tion, but carefully and advisedly included, and not only thus, but the 

 author, evidently struck with its remarkable habit, has separated it 



