108 NEPHRODIUM § LASTREA. 



and on the rachis, frond 2-3 feet long oblongo-ovate acumi- 

 nate glabrous or nearly so firm -membranaceous full-green 

 pinnate, pinnse spreading sessile or subsessile 4-6 inches 

 long scarcely an inch broad from a nearly truncate base (des- 

 titute of gland) oblong-lanceolate finely acuminated deeply 

 pinnatifid about two-tliirds of the way to the costa (which 

 has a few appressed small lanceolate scales), segments broad- 

 oblong obtuse subfalcate entire or very obscurely subdentate, 

 sinuses very narrow, veirdets all simple 8-10 on each side 

 the costule, sori copious on the back of the veinlets rather 

 nearer the margin than the costule, involucre "very small 

 reniformi-orbicular soon deciduous" [Spruce). 



Hab. Near Tarapota, Eastern Peru, Spruce, n. 401G; and Montana de Canelos.. 

 near Rio Verde, foot of Chimborazo. — This, again, is one of many South Ameri 

 can lastreoid Nephrodia, which presents no very striking feature or distinguishing 

 specific character, and yet I cannot refer it safely to any described species. In habit 

 it partakes of N. patens and N. triste, nearer perhaps to the last, but is much more 

 paleaceous with very narrow scales, and the pinnae are not so much attenuated at 

 the base. 



85. N. (Lastrea) falciJohim, Hook.; caudex short thick 

 tufted copiously rooting, stipites tufted a span to a foot long 

 free from scales, fronds 1-H foot long firm rigid coriaceo- 

 membranaceous ovato-lanceolate finely acuminate pinnate, 

 pinnae 4-6 inches long numerous rather distant sessile linear- 

 lanceolate deeply nearly down to the costa pinnatifid, the 

 apex coarsely serrated, segments oblong-linear more or less 

 falcate acute the margin in fertile specimens generally revo- 

 lute when dry that of the superior base longer than the rest, 

 involucres small glabrous. — Lastrea, Hook, in Keiv Gard. Misc. 

 ix. p. 338. Benth. Fl. Hongkong, p. 455. — Var. /5, pinnae 

 small 2-3 inches long tapering at both ends and only pinna- 

 tifid halfway down in the middle. 



Hab. Hongkong, Harland, Bowrinff. Various parts of continental India, es- 

 pecially eastern Bengal to Sikliiin, Griffith, Hooker fil. and Thomson ; Nilghiri, 

 Beddome ; Ceylon, Gardner, n. 1.3G3, Tfnvaites, n. 3273; Moulmein, Parish 

 (some of the smaller specimens, I fear, passing into N. calcaratum). Feejee Is- 

 lands, Milne (larger, pinn<e 8 inches long, tapering at the base into a winged pe- 

 tiole).— Var. /3. Ceylon, Thwaifes, n. 3050. Malay Islands, Thos. Lobtj.— It is 

 not willingly that I retain this as a species, but because I do not know where else 

 to refer some of the specimens I have brought hither. Mr. Bentham very justly, 

 ]. c, throws doubts on the species, and observes, " very near the N. gracilescens,'^ 

 which he refers to the Em-opean N. Thehjpteris, but that is remarkable for a long 

 creeping root. I am more disjjosed to consider this a large form of N. calcaratum, 

 ■while some specimens I can almost imagine passing into the Lastrea attenuata, 

 Brack., and thus scarcely differing from jy.patens. — Var. j8 at first sight looks very 

 distinct, but I believe it to be only one of the protean forms, I will not say of 

 this species, but of this group. 



