420 PERCY SLADEX TRUST EXPEDITION 



64. Elaphoglossum martinicense (Desv.), T. Moore, vav. obtustjm, C. Ciir. (var. nov.).— 

 Acrostic/mm simplex, var. martinicense, Baker, Fl. Maur. 510. 



Malie, Some, 676! Gardiner \ Not uncommon in Mahe and Silhouette {Home). 



DiflFers from the typical ^. martinicense of the West Indies, which certainly 

 is specifically different from U. simpleoc, by the shortly acute or rounded-obtuse apex of 

 the lamina (not long and gradually acuminate) and by the long decurrent base of the 

 sterile frond, the stipe being winged nearly to the base. Sterile lamina 10-20 cm. long 

 by 1 cm. broad, very coriaceous ; fertile lamina shorter but of the same breadth on a 

 much longer stipe. This variety may be the same as Acrostic/mm Uneatum, Kuhn 

 (Christ. Mon. Elaph. 146), from Madagascar, but that is said to have a stipe 10 cm. long. 

 Other similar forms are found in tropical West Africa. The true E. martinicense is 

 probably confined to the West Indian islands. 



65. Elaphoglossum conporme (Sw.), Schott; C. Chr. lud. 304<.-'-Acrostichum conforme, 



Sw. ; Baker, Fl. Maur. 511. 

 Mahe and Silhouette, Gardiner ! 

 Through the tropical regions. 



66. Elaphoglossum latifolium (Sw.), J. Sm. ; C. Chr. Ind. 309.— Acrostichtmi lati- 

 folium, Sw. ; Baker, El. Maur. 511. 



Mahe and Silhouette, Gardiner ! 



I follow Baker in referring the ferji in question to E. latifolium, which by some 

 authors is considered an exclusively American species. I really cannot see how the 

 specimens can be safely distinguished from the American form. Christ, in his 

 monograph of the genus, refers all the large glabrous forms of Elaphoglossiim from 

 the South-east African islands to E. Sieberi (Hook. & Grev.) ; but that species is said to 

 have linear-subulate, almost black scales; our specimens have, however, light brown 

 lanceolate scales, resembling those of the genuine E. latifolium. I am inclined to 

 believe that the form from the Seychelles is just the same as Acrostichum ellipticum, 

 Fee, Acrost. tab. 4, referred by Baker to E. Sieberi; Fee describes the scales as 

 " aurantiaco-rufidulis," It resembles also very much the Javan E. callifolium (Blume), 

 T. Moore. Kuhn (Bot. v. Ost-Afr. 69) lists E. Sieberi among the ferns of the Seychelles, 

 but his A. Sieberi is no doubt the same as E. latifolium as understood here. 



E. latifolium is widely distributed in tropical America ; a form very much resembling 

 that from the Seychelles is known from the Comoros. 



67. Elaphoglossum Hornei, C. Chr. (sp. nov.). (PI. 25, figs. 4-7.) 



Syn. : Acrostichum viscosum, var. glabrescens. Baker, Fl. Maur. 512 (nou A. c/labrescens, Kuhn). 

 Rhizoma breviter repens, paleis rufis crispis anguste linearibus subintegris dense 

 onustum. Stipites dense fasciculati, stricti, parce paleacei denique nudi, 1^2 mm. 

 crassi, 5-7 cm. longi. Lamina sterilis lanceolata, usque ad 35 cm. longa, medio 

 4 cm. lata, apice breviter attenuata, acuta, basi longe cuueata, papyracea vel sub- 

 coriacea, prseter costara paleis minutis rufis laceratis subtus parce instructam ubique 



