422 MR. C. CHRISTENSEN ON THE FERNS OF THE 
64. ELAPHOGLOSSUM MARTINICENSE (Desv.), T. Moore, var. optusuM, C. Chr. (var. nov.).— 
Acrostichum simplex, var. martinicense, Baker, Fl. Maur. 510. 
Mahé, Horne, 676! Gardiner! Not uncommon in Mahé and Silhouette (Horne). 
Differs from the typical E. martinicense of the West Indies, which certainly 
is specifically different from Æ. simplex, by the shortly acute or rounded-obtuse apex of 
the lamina (not long and gradually acuminate) and by the long decurrent base of the 
sterile frond, the stipe being winged nearly to the base. Sterile lamina 10-20 em. long 
by 1 em. broad, very coriaceous; fertile lamina shorter but of the same breadth on a 
much longer stipe. This variety may be the same as <Acrostichum lineatum, Kuhn 
(Christ. Mon. Elaph. 146), from Madagascar, but that is said to have a stipe 10 cm. long. 
Other similar forms are found in tropical West Africa. The true E. martinicense is 
probably confined to the West Indian islands. 
65. ELAPHOGLOSSUM CONFORME (Sw.), Schott; C. Chr. Ind. 304.—Acrostichum conforme, 
Sw.; Baker, Fl. Maur. 511. 
Mahé and Silhouette, Gardiner! 
Through the tropical regions. 
66. ELAPHOGLOSSUM LATIFOLIUM (Sw.), J. Sm.; C. Chr. Ind. 309.—Acrostichum lati- 
Joliun, Sw.; Baker, Fl. Maur. 511. 7 
. Mahé and Silhouette, Gardiner ! 
I follow Baker in referring the fern in question to Z. latifolium, which by some 
authors is considered an exclusively American species. I really cannot see how the 
specimens can be safely distinguished from the American form. Christ, in his 
monograph of the genus, refers all the large glabrous forms of Elaphoglossum from 
the South-east African islands to E. Sieberi (Hook. & Grev.); but that species is said to 
have linear-subulate, almost black scales; our specimens have, however, light brown 
lanceolate scales, resembling those of the genuine Z. latifolium. I am inclined to 
believe that the form from the Seychelles is just the same as Acrostichum ellipticum, 
Fée, Acrost. tab. 4, referred by Baker to Æ. Sieberi; Fée describes the scales as 
“aurantiaco-rufidulis.” It resembles also very much the Javan Æ. callifolium (Blume), 
T. Moore. Kuhn (Bot. v. Ost-Afr. 69) lists E. Sieberi among the ferns of the Seychelles, 
but his 4. Sieberi is no doubt the same as E. latifolium as understood here. 
E. latifolium is widely distributed in tropical America; a form very much resembling 
that from the Seychelles is known from the Comoros. 
67. EnAPHOGLOssUM Honxzr, C. Chr. (sp. nov.). (Pl. 45. figs. 4-7.) 
Syn.: Acrostichum viscosum, var. glabrescens, Baker, Fl. Maur. 512 (non A. glabrescens, Kuhn). 
Rhizoma breviter repens, paleis rufis crispis anguste linearibus subintegris dense 
. onustum. S¢ipites dense fasciculati, stricti, parce paleacei denique nudi, 13-2 mm. 
crassi, 5—7 em. longi. Lamina sterilis lanceolata, usque ad 35 em. longa, medio 
TURN lata, apice breviter attenuata, acuta, basi longe cuneata, papyracea vel sub- 
coriacea, przeter costam paleis minutis rufis laceratis subtus parce instructam ubique 
