38 FEENS : BEITISH AND FOREIGN. 



between the fascicles of veins, and varying so much in 

 the more or less compound division of its fronds, that 

 one state of it was described as a distinct species by 

 Sir W. J. Hooker, under the name P. myriocarpon ; 

 Asplenium Sandwichianumj with large tripinnate 

 fronds three feet high, with numerous small segments, 

 bearing some resemblance to a Mimosa leaf, and others 

 too numerous to mention. 



The Galapagos, although not rich in Ferns, are 

 worthy of notice, on account of a very rare and 

 remarkable species, first described and figured by 

 Sir W. J. Hooker, in the "Icones Plantarum," 

 under the name of Acrostichum (Neurocallis) aureo- 

 nitens, and more recently in the fifth vol. of the 

 " Species Filicum " as Acrostichum (Chry sodium) 

 aureo-nitens. Judging by either of the sectional 

 names, it might be supposed to have some resem- 

 blance to the well-known Acrostichum aureum, but 

 such is not the case, reticulated venation and appa- 

 rent amorphous sori being the only characters that 

 place it in that alliance ; in habit it is totally dis- 

 tinct, just as distinct from Acrosticum (Chry sodium) 

 aureum as Oeterach officinarum is from Asplenium 

 (Hemidictyon) marginatum. The plant has simple 

 barren and pinnate fertile fronds 6 to 10 inches in 

 length, the whole plant being densely clothed with 

 shining scales. To me its relationship seems to be 

 with Hemionites vestitdj a beautiful Fern of India, and 

 also with another little-known species, the Gymno- 

 gramme (Eugymnogramme) Muellerii, a native of 

 north-eastern Australia, described "and figured by Sir 

 W. J. Hooker, in the fifth vol. of the " Species Fili- 

 cum," which also seems to me to be closely related to 



