BLECHNUM. 45 



4. Bl. polyporlioides, Raddi ; c.audex elongated thick as- 

 cending radiculose more or less scaly at the summit, stipites 

 slender 2 inches to a span and more long rufo-paleaceous 

 below, fronds a span to a foot long lanceolate acuminate 

 generally gradually attenuated below coriaceo-membranaceous 

 deeply almost to the rachis pinnatifid pinnate below with 

 2-3 pairs of the lowest pinnoe abbreviated and triangular, the 

 segments from a broad subauriculate adnate base (forming 

 very acute sinuses) oblong subfalcate horizontal approximate 

 almost pectinated acute ultimate ones confluent iiito a lan- 

 ceolate apex, costa and rachis semiterete minutely pubescent, 

 sori abbreviated generally very much so (hence asplenioid) 

 costal unequal or the superior one wanting, veins obscure 

 rather lax often forked. — Raddi, S?/7i. Fit. Bras. n. 20. Fil. 

 Bras. p. 53. t. 60. /. 2 {excellent). Mett. Fil. Hort. Bot. 

 Lips. p. 63. Kze. in Schkh. Fil. Siippl. p. 130. /. 58. /. 1 ? 

 [excl. a). Bl. unilaterale, Willd. Sp. PL v. p. 407. " Willd. 

 Berol. Mag. iv. p. 79. t. 3. /. 1." Pr. Epim. Bot. p. 104. 

 Bl. scabrum, Liehm. Fil. Mex. p. 84. Asplenium blechnoides, 

 Siv. Syn. Fil. y. 76. 



Hab. Probably frequent in the whole of tropical and subtropical America; 

 from Mexico, Galeofti (rcgione frigida), Liebyiiann, etc. W. India Islands, St. 

 Domingo, Rilter. Jamaica, Purdie. Venezuela and New Granada, Funck, 

 Fendler, etc. Peru, Pavon, Lagasca, Lechler. Eastern Peru, Tarapota, Spruce. 

 Guiana, Schoniburgk and others. Brazil, particularly abundant, even to South 

 Brazil. — A variable plant in size and in length of the stipes, and also in the 

 length of the sori, i)eing more or less abbreviated, frequently reduced to one 

 sorus on a segment, and that is on the lower side of the costa. Small specimens 

 with the short stipites border very closely upon Bl. asplenioides. Kunze, I think, 

 lias confounded the two ; his var. angustior, of Pocppig's Peruvian specimens, in 

 my herbarium, belong to our next but one species, B. asplenioides, under which 

 the differences will be noticed. 



5. Bl. heterocarpimi, Fee; "fronds pinnatifid elliptical- 

 lanceolate resembling Pohjpodium vulgare but sessile, nervils 

 pinnate llexuose, basal superior nervil extended, rhizome 

 creeping, stipes short, intermediate segments lanceolate mu- 

 cronate, lower ones semiorbicular terminal ones angled elon- 

 gate the margin waved, sporothecia multiform, costal ones 

 normal, lateral ones shorter asplenioid, superior ones linear 

 interrupted, indusium very narrow membranaceous thin, 

 sporangia elliptical on short pedicels, spores ovoid and reni- 

 form." Fee, Gen. Fil. p. 74. 



Ilab. lirazil, Claussen. — " Allied to Bl. polypodioides, Raddi." 



6. Bl. asplenioides, Sw. ; caudex in the older specimens 



