174 



Smith referred this group to Goniophlehmm (§ Lepicystis) [Jour. 

 Bot. 4: 56. 1841.] and to genus Lepicystis in 1857 [J. Sm. 

 Cult. Ferns 2]. The latter genus has been adopted by Diels 

 [Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. i^ ; 322. 1899] but in a 

 wider sense. In both instances, the scales on the surface of the 

 frond serve as the principal distinguishing character. 



The geographical range given for this species extends from the 

 southern United States to Chile and Argentina, and in Africa 

 from the Cape of Good Hope to the Zambesi region. The Afri- 

 can plants do not seem to differ sufficiently from ours to merit a 

 distinct specific name. The character upon which Polypodinin 

 Eckloni Kunze [Linnaea 10 : 498. 1836] was founded do not 

 seem to be constant, the frond being described as having the 

 lowest pinnae longer than the upper ones and the upper surface 

 of the frond devoid of scales {^" supra niidis''). In our American 

 plants the absence of scales on the upper surface of the frond is 

 very uncommon. A few specimens collected in the United States 

 agree perfectly with the description of P. Eckloni. In typical 

 plants there are some differences, but apparently not sufficiently 

 marked to warrant segregation. Perhaps when we have more 

 material at hand and know the plants better, the African plant 

 may prove to be a distinct species. 



Specimens collected in Brazil and deposited in U. S. National 

 Museum agree with the description o{ Marginaria viiiiiiiia Bory. 

 In these the fronds are at the most 8 cm. high with the pinnae, 

 except the uppermost, nearly of the same length [6 mm., more 

 or less] and subopposite. There is also a marked difference in 

 the scales, those of M. iniiwna being acuminate. 



Dr. Lindman [Arkiv for Botanik i : 243. 1903] describes 

 two forms of P. incanum from Brazil ; one " plantac parvae " from 

 Rio Grande do Sul, the other ''plantac maximac'' from Matto- 

 Grosso. There is, therefore, some indication that typical plants 

 are found at least at far south as Central l^ra/.il. 



Mr. A. Ernst [Jour. Bot. 3 : 323. 1865] reports P. incamnn 

 growing " o)i roofs of houses" in Caracas, Venezuela. In Costa 

 Rica it grows on coffee-trees \fPonduz, 1904]. Mr, W. R. 

 Maxon reports it from Jamaica, as common on rocks and trees 



