ASPLEXIUM, § EUASPLENIUM. 193 



involucres brown lax-membranaceous subathyroid, rachis 

 slender zigzag. — Hook. 2nd Cent. Ferns, t. 27- 



Hah. Jamaica, M'Fadi/en. — A remarkable species, not likely to be mistaken for 

 any species known to mc. Caudex long, crcopiiig, clotbed with broadish brown 

 scales, which partially extend to the stipites. Fronds of a very lurid dark green 

 colour. The whole plant has the appearance of being semiaipiatic, or of grow- 

 ing in very wet situations. Piniuc and pinnules always remote, the latter small, 

 rarely exceeding 2-3 lines in length. 1 have seen no specimens but those sent 

 me by the late Dr. IM'Fadyen. 



182. A. (Euasplenium) fontanum, Bernh. ; caudex short 

 thick tuberous densely rooting, stipites 1-.3 inches in length 

 slender pale brownish-green densely tufted, fronds 3-6 inches 

 long linear- or broad-lanceolate attenuated below membra- 

 naceous bright-green bipinnate, pinna) approximate i to ^ 

 an inch long patent or sometimes reflexed sessile ovate ob- 

 tuse lowest ones dwarfed tripartite, pinnules obovate or cu- 

 neate minute h a line to a line long the base entire the rest 

 coarsely and spinuloso-dentate, sori few on each pinnvile or 

 lobe at length confluent, involucres very small athyroid white 

 thin membranaceous. — Bernhardi, in Schrad. Neu. Jovrn. 

 180G, \.part 2. ;;. 26. Sw. Syn. Fil. p. 57- Willd. Sp. PL 

 v. p. 272. Engl. Bot. t. .2024. Metten. AspJen. p. 140. 

 Athyrium, Roth. Aspl. Halleri (frond linear-lanceolate), 

 Willd. Sp. PI. V. p. 274. Athyrium, Roth.—Yar. refr ac- 

 tum; larger pinnse broad pinnatifid very crowded, stipes and 

 rachis beneath castaneous ; apparently a cultivated form, and 

 only known in that state. Aspl. refractum, Moore^ Br. Ferns, 

 Nat. Print, sub t. 35 A. Lowe, Nat. Hist, of Ferns, v. t. 35 A. 



Ilab. Central Europe : France, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc. ; rare in Britain. — 

 A small, but beautiful and well-marked species, with very finely cut pinna; and 

 pinnules : the lower pinna; dwarfed and remote, the rest appro.vimate, and often 

 very compact. 



183. A. {¥j\xasip\emum) tenui/olium, T)ox\ ; caudex horizon- . 

 tal stout when old scarcely paleaceous, stipites tufted 3-4 

 inches to a span long castaneous at the base, fronds oblong- 

 ovate acuminate pale green membranaceous 6-12 inches 

 long 3-subquadripinnate, pinnro and pinnules all petiolate, 

 primary pinnre patent 2-3 inches long broad-lanceolate ulti- 

 mate pinnules obovato- or lincar-cuneate tapering into the 

 petiole bifid or pinnatifid or laciniated, the segments very 

 acute almost mucronate, apices of the fronds and primar}'' 

 pinnae pinnatifid with linear segments, veins solitary central 

 terminating much short of the apices, sori rarely more than 2 



VOL. m. 2 c 



