NKPHRODHTM, § LASTRKA. 103 



neath pinnated deeply pinnatifid at tlie apex, pinnrc approxi- 

 mate lowest ])air remote 4 inches long subsessile oblong acu- 

 minate deeply ])iniiatifid (very nearly to the cost.i), segments 

 oblong obtuse crenato-serrate, veinlets simple bearing a dor- 

 sal sorus between tlie margin and the costule, involucre small 

 reniform. — Nephrodium, Desv. Mem. Soc. Linn. vi. p. 241. 

 Lastrea, Pr. Aspidium, Raddi, Fil. Brasil. p. 31. /. 47. 

 Lastrea squamosa, A7. in Herb. Nostr. and Aspid. chrysolo- 

 bum, Link ? Metten. Aspid. p. 90 ? Lastrea nmcronata, Pr. 

 and Kl. in Herb. Nostr. 



Hal). Brazil, Rio, Raddi, Douglas, Sellow, Milne, McGillivray, Gardner, etc. 

 Mexico, Galleoti, n. G290. — I cannot quite satisfy myself of the presence of an 

 involucre in this Fern. The fronds are flaccid and membranaceous, and heneath, 

 especially, viscid and glanduloso-puhescent ; the segments are long, crenato-ser- 

 rate ; the sinuses extending very nearly to the costa. 



7G. N. (Lastrea) tetragonum, Hook.; " stipes a foot long 

 puljerulous with minute stellated hairs, frond membranaceous 

 above (the cost® excepted) glabrous below puberulous with 

 very minute stellated hairs \\ foot long oblong acuminate 

 pinnated, pinn£E 10-15 pairs obliquely patent subopposite 

 Q-\ inches long 1 inch broad petiolate broad-lanceolate acu- 

 minate pinnatifid attenuated at both extremities, segments 

 approximate confluent into a wing 2—3 lines broad oblong 

 obtuse tapering from the middle towards each extremity, 

 lower ones abbreviated, basal ones very much dwarfed or ob- 

 literated, tertiary veins curved twelve on each side (the cos- 

 tule), the lowest anterior ones as well as the posterior ones 

 proceeding from the costa and those adjacent connivent at 

 the sinus of tlie segments, sori nearer the costules than the 

 margin." Metten. — "Lastrea tetragona, Pr. Tent. Pterid.p. 

 70 ?" Aspidium, Metten. Aspid. p. 95. "Aspidium setosum, 

 Kl. in Linndiu, xx. p. 371." 



Hah. Tropical America : " Paramaiba, Keppler ; New Granada, Funk, n. 450 ;" 

 Tovar, Moritz, Aspid. setosum, KL, consequently authority for Mettenins's plant ; 

 and with this agree specimens from Venezuela, Fendler, n. 44G, n. 193 and 193 7 ; 

 St. Vincent, L. Guildivg ; Berhice, Sc/iotudurgk ; Brazil, Gardner, n. \G and 190? ; 

 Esmeraldas, Jameson, but most of the upper pinnae exactly opposite; and Gua- 

 deloupe, U Herminier, n. 22 .' (bordering more closely on N. falcilobum). — This is 

 comparatively a new species. Dr. Mettenius adopts the name from Presl, but with 

 a mark of doubt. It must not be confounded with Polypoditim tetragonum, 

 though has considerable general resemblance to the plant so called. I fear it is 

 a very variable species. 



77- N. (Lastrea) deltoideum, Desv. ; caudex stout erect 

 or ascending densely paleaceous above with dark brown su- 



