ASPLENIUM, § KHASPLENIUM. 83 



inches wide broad-lanceolate more or less acuminate gradually 

 tapering from a little below the middle into a pale-coloured 

 sbghtly winged stipes 2-5 inches long, stipes and under side of 

 the frond towards the base especially near the costa (which is 

 dej)ressed above) clothed with fringed brown appressed scales 

 which are eventually deciduous, veins approximate horizon- 

 tally patent quite free and terminating just within the slightly 

 thickened margin, sori linear narrow ratlier distant, some- 

 times extending to near the margin and even occupying 

 almost the whole length of the frond. — Bl. En. Fil. Jav. p. 

 174. Kze. in Hot. Zeit. vi. j). 145. Metten. Asplen. p. 90. 

 Thamnopteris, Pr. Neottopteris, Fee. Neottopteris stipi- 

 tata, /. Sm. in Hook. Journ. of Bot. iii. p. 409. — /3 ? Smilhii, 

 esquamose, base of the frond very obtuse scarcely at all de- 

 current on the wingless stipes which as well as the lower half 

 of the costa is ebony-black. — Neottopteris stipitata, J. Sm. 

 Cat. of Cult. Ferns, p. 49. 



Hah. S. Camariiie Islands, Cumhiy, n. 195. On limestone rocks, Borneo, Sara- 

 wak, Thos. Lobb ; Banjerniassing, Motley. Java, Blume, Zollinger, n. 960 z. 

 — /3.' Only known in the stove of the Botanic Gardens of Kew. — Neottopteris 

 stipitata is a name, without description, given to the Asplenium,n. 195, of Mr. 

 Cuming, from the S. Camarine Islands : hearing, in general aspect, so great 

 a resemblance to smaller specimens of A. Nidus, and especially to the species or 

 variety A. PhylUtidis, and the venation being indistinct owing to the opaque 

 substance of the frond, it was no wonder Mr. J. Smith sliould refer it to liis 

 genus Neottopteris : all authors who have adopted the species have done the 

 same ; but a recent examination of original specimens in my herbarium has 

 shown that the veins are all free at their apices, terminating within the tliickened 

 margin of the frond, unconnected with any intramarginal vein. Thiscircuujstance, 

 together with the presence of a clothing of fringed scales near the base of the 

 frond, and other characters, have satisfied me that the plant is the Aspl. s/juamu- 

 latuni of Blume, and which, notwithstanding Presl and Fee refer it to the Tham- 

 nopteris group, Mettenius properly transfers to Euasplenium. 



There has been for some time cultivated in the Royal Gardens of Kew an 

 Asptcnium, believed to be raised from spores of Mr. Smith's Neottopteris stipi- 

 tata, and consequently bearing that name : but which diti'ers from our native spe- 

 cimens of the species under consideration, inasmuch as the frond is perfectly 

 destitute of scales, is not attenuated or contracted at the base, but truncated 

 or almost cordate there, the portion only next the costa being decurrent for 

 about a quarter of an inch. The stipes is 3-4 inches long, deeply channelled in 

 front, bluntly carinated at the back, and is, as well as the costa, for more than 

 halfway up, ebony-black. In the recent state the very slightly thickened margin 

 is corneous and pellucid ; the veins, very coiispicuous when held between the eye 

 and the light, while fresh, are clearly seen to terminate just within the margin ; 

 but here and there the apex takes a curve as if to meet an adjacent one, and here 

 and there they arch over and combine, and I have seen as many as three or four 

 thus united : but it is evidently not the normal state of the venation, rather the 

 exception. 



12. A. (Euasplenium) venosmn, Hook.; fronds (not quite 



