50 ULECHNUM. 



pellucido-menihran.iceous texture, slightly scabrous at the 

 edge, acuminate subfalcate, veins forming close parallel fine 

 lines simple or forked, sori close to the costa continuous 

 not unfrequent on the lobes of the terminal pinna. (Tab. 

 CUy.)—H.n.K. Gen. et Sp. Am. i. /;. 13. IViUd. Sp. PL 

 V. p. 413. IJook. Hot. Mar/, t. 2818 (smaller form, to which 

 perhaps both lU. (/raci/e, Klfs., and B/. intermedium of 

 Link, should be referred). Fee, Gen. Fil. p. 73. Pr. Epim. 

 Bot.p. 108. Bl. Mcridense, /i7. in Lhincca, xx. p. 209. Fee, 

 Gen. Fil. p. 73. Pr. Epim. Bot. p. 108. — Yar. robustior ; 

 larger stouter more coriaceous and opaque, pinntc sometimes 

 an inch and more in diameter, rhizome above and base of 

 the stipes more scaly. — Bl. Schlimense, Fee, 8me Mem. Fouff. 

 p. 71. 



Hal). Venezuela, abundant, HumboUlt and Boi>])lmi<l, Fendler, n. 114 and 115, 

 and 113 (this last Las the feilile frond of the ordinary character, hut the sterile 

 one, from the same rhizome, is referable to var. robuatior). Trinidad, Lockhart. 

 St. Vincent, Dr. Wright. New Granada, St. Martha, Sierra Nevada, Piirdie. 

 Galipan, Moritz, 7i. 24 (the Bl. Mcridense, Kl.). Tarapota, in Jilastcrn Pern, 

 Spruce. — Var. robustior. San Augustin, Cuniana, Funck, n. 212. Ocafia, New 

 Granada, Schlim, n. 752. La Faila, Ihlton, n. 59. Antioquia, Mr. Jervise. 

 Venezuela, Fendler, 7i. 113. — Whatever may l)e the fate of the two preceding species 

 (I am not at present disposed to think that Bl. Lanceola can merge into them), 

 the present must be retained as the first described, the B. longifolium of Hum- 

 boldt, Bonpland, and Kunth. In deference to so many able botanists, 1 have 

 retained the Bl. gracile of Kaulf. and the Bl. intcrmediwn, but I do not see how 

 they differ from small specimens of Bl. longifolium, and even from the ordinary 

 specimens of this plant. There is yet a variety (n)y var. robustior), of which 

 the extreme specimens look at first sight as different from it as that is from 

 Bl. intermedium ; but copious individuals show a gradual passage from the 

 one extreme to the other. Our present figure represents what may be con- 

 sidered the normal form of the plant, and every one can judge for himself 

 how far the other supposed species described are deserving of being retained as 

 such. 



14. Bl. occidentale, L. ; caudex or rhizome thick paleaceous 

 often stoloniferous, stipes 4-12 inches long paleaceous at the 

 base with ovate acuminated scales often as well as the rachis 

 glanduloso-pubescent, frond ovato-lanceolate acuminate mem- 

 branaceo-coriaceous glabrous or when young somewhat hairy 

 pinnated, pinna; 2-4 or more inches long numerous approxi- 

 mate often opposite sessile truncate at the base and then fre- 

 quently auricled above acute or acuminate often falcate the 

 edge subcartilaginous entire or scabrous with very minute ser- 

 ratures, aljove the middle their base becomes adnate to the 

 rachis and confluent with tlie adjacent ones so that the frond 

 here is pinnatifid and terminates in an acuminated serrated 

 point or in an entire more or less elongated lobe, veins sim- 



