182 DAVALLIA. 



J. Sm. Polypodium Speluncoe, L. Polypodium nudum, 

 Forst. Prodr. n. 446 [according to Herb. Bunks.) Polypod. 

 cristatum, Houtt. {according to Brown). Caenopteris Japo- 

 nica, JVilld. Phyt. p. 8 /. 1 ? {Br.) Dicksonia flaccida, 

 Hook, et Am. in Bot. of Beech. Voy. p. 108, in part. — a. 

 suhglahra ; fronds nearly glabrous or but slightly hairy or 

 pubescent. D. virens. Wall. Cat. n. 264. D. Roxbiirghii, 

 M^all. Cat. n. 2218. D. puberula, in part, Wall. Cat. 

 262|2. — B. puhescens ; fronds pubescent with short close 

 down extending often to the involucres. D. puberula, 

 Wall. Cat. n. 262|5. D. rhomboidea ? Wall. Cat. n. 262|.3. 

 D. pyramidata, Wall. Cat. n. 261. — y. liispida; fronds hairy 

 or hispid especially on the underside upon the costa and 

 veins and often on the involucres. D. pilosula, Wall. Cat. 

 n. 263. — ^. rhomboidea ; larger in every part, nearly glabrous 

 pubescent or hairy. D, rhomboidea. Wall. Cat. n. 257. 

 Microlepia rhomboidea, Pr. Tent. Pterid. {name only), and 

 also f. 22, single lobe. J. Sm, Gen. Fil. {name only). 



Hab. Tropical or subextratropical regions, probably throughout the 

 world. New Holland (Tropics), Broum. — a. Ceylon, Mrs. Gen. Walker. 

 East Indies, Roxburgh, Dr. Buchanan Hamilton. Madras Peninsula, 

 Dr. Wight. Mergui, Griffith. Assam, Griffith, Major Jenkins. Sinca- 

 pore, Tovay, Nepal, &c., Wallich. Java,* Millett, Blume. China, Beechei/. 

 Oahu, Menzies, Beechei/. Brazil, Sivainson, Macrae. Fernando Po, 

 Dr. Vogel. — fi. Singapore, and Penang, and Maitaban, Wallich. Assam, 

 Jenkins. Mergui, Griffith. Java, Zollinger, n. 513. Macalisberg, sub- 

 tropical South Africa, Burke, n. 513. — y. Nepal (with long scattered hairs), 

 Wallich. Ceylon, (almost hispid beneath), Mrs. Ge7i. Walker. Courtalam, 

 Wight. Amboyna (ex Herb. P. B. Webb). Khasiya (very hispid espe- 

 cially beneath and on the involucres, the ultimate lobes of the pinnules 

 more uniform, frond narrower), Griffith. — 8. Nepal, Wallich. Assam, 

 Griffith, Jenkins. Luzon, Cuming, n. 7, according to Mr. J. Smith ; 

 but ray specimens rather resemble a. — The more I study the Ferns, and 

 compare specimens from different countries, the more difficult I find it to 

 define, in a specific character, the essential distinguishing character of 

 species with the much divided fronds -, so different are they, according to 

 locality, to age on the various portions of the same individual, and other 

 circumstances. Then the nature and degrees of pubescence augment the 

 difficulty : and all these difficulties seem to be combined in the present 

 species. I could not, however, have ventured to unite so many supposed 

 species, as I have done, without the means of comparing a multitude of 

 forms from various countries, both in the old and new world, and which 

 have led me to the above conclusions. Perhaps I ought not to have stopped 

 here, but added two or three of the following, if I had been furnished 

 with still more ample suites of specimens. The present species has a good 



* In some "of the old specimens from Mr. Millett, the fructifications 

 form dense pulvinuli, apparently from the copious pedicels whence the 

 capsules have fallen. 



