tab. xcvn. 



Polybotrya Lechleriana, Metten. 



Caudice crasso elongato scandente squamis ovatis acuminatis- 

 simis fuscis paleaceo, stipitibus fuscis nitidis approximatis 

 spithamteis 2-3 lineas latis inferne squamosis ; fronde sterili 

 ampla 3-pedali et ultra submembranacea firma ubique 

 (rachibusque squamulosis testaceis) villosa late ovata acu- 

 minata tripinnata, pinnis primariis subsessilibus spithamaeis 

 ad pedalem remotis ovatis acuminatis, secundariis approx- 

 imatis numerosis, pinnulis J-unciam longis copiosis ovato- 

 oblongis profunde pinnatifidis segmentis oblongis acutius- 

 culis vix subfalcatis univeniis, venis apice clavatis ; fertili 

 pinnulis linearibns obtusissimis lobato-pinnatifidis subtus 

 utrinque fere ad marginem soriferis. 



Polybotrya Lechleriana, Metten. in Hohenack. et Lechl. Plantce 

 Peruviana, n. 2156, et Fil. Lechl. Chil et Peru, p. 4, t. 1, 

 ff. 1-5. 



Hab. Shady places, St. Gavan, Peru, Lechler ; Mount Guay- 

 rapurime, near Tarapota, eastern Peru, sterile frond only, 

 sent by Mr. Spruce, 1856. Ecuador, sent by Dr. Jameson, 

 exact locality not stated. 



This is the finest and most copiously divided of any of the 

 Acrostichaceous group of Ferns. Fragments only were 

 known to its describer, Dr. Mettenius : but a magnificent 

 frond has come into my possession along with Lechler's own 

 collection of Ferns of Peru and Chili. The only other speci- 

 mens known to me are a fine barren frond with caudex, 

 gathered at Tarapota by Mr. Spruce, and the lower half of a 

 fertile frond sent from Ecuador by Professor Jameson. The 

 form of the sterile pinnae and segments a good deal resembles 

 some Darea among Asplenium, or our Davallia nigrescens, 

 represented at our plate XCIII. It will rank near Polybotrya 

 apiifolia. 



Tab. XCVII. Caudex and base of a sterile frond, and 

 primary pinna of a fertile frond of Polybotrya Lechleriana, 

 Metten. ; natural size. Fig. 1. Pinnule of a sterile frond ; f. 

 2. Fertile pinna seen from above, and f. 3. fertile pinna seen 

 from beneath ; magnified, f. 4. Transverse section of a fertile 

 segment ; more magnified, 



Ceitt. 8. 2. 97, 



