186 THE Lire HISTORY OF 
The systematic records of Vittaria lineata were also found to 
be very imperfect ; specimens were much mixed in our collections 
and several other closely allied species had been mistaken for this 
species. The types of several of these need to be restudied bua 
Scopically before we can reach a correct knowledge of the limits 
and distribution of the American species. The material in Ameri- 
can collections is necessarily incomplete, and the types are scattered 
through European herbaria. However, with what specimens and 
literature are available, we believe it will be helpful to give a brief 
survey of the history of Vittaria lineata, and to describe and hs 
the gametophyte of our specimens from Florida. It would be stil 
more helpful if collectors in the West Indies would make it a point 
to collect the prothallia and young stages of Vittaria, and preserve 
them in condition for study. 
The genus V aria is in need of revision, as there has been 
mone made since that of Fée,* and subsequent treatment in the 
Synopsis Filicum has largely disregarded the results attained in 
his memoir. Kunze and Fée were the first to recognize the: value 
‘of the spores and sporangiasters in specific distinctions, and Fée also 
figured the scales and sporangia, although in many spécies the lip 
cells were omitted. The venation is obscure in many species, and 
in consequence has been wrongly described. Taenitis has bere 
combined with Vittaria by some authors which tends to complicate 
the synonymy, and Taentopsis was founded on the type species 
of Vittaria.t 
| 
The most recent list given of the species is that of Salomon f 
from which the following has been compiled, but it will be found 
that a number of corrections have been made after consulting the 
original place of publication. 
CHRONOLOGICAL List OF THE AMERICAN SPECIES 
1753. Pteris lineata L.. Sp. PL. 1073. 
1801. Vittaria filiformis Cav. Praelect. 270 (671). 
1803. V. angustifrons Michx. Flor. bor. Am. 2: 261. 
1819. V. Schkuhrit Raddi, Fil. Bras. 51. 
* Fée, Mem. des Foug. 3: 1-24. 1851. 
tJ. Smith, Hook. Journ, Bot. 4 : 67. 1842, 
$ Salomon, Nom. Gefäss.-Krypt. 1883. 
