34 



THE FERN BULLETIN 



reach very nearly clown to the rachis, the lower grow- 

 ing smaller gradually and sometimes distinct; texture 

 sub-coriaceous, both surfaces are opaque greyish- 

 green; veins free, subllabellate ; sori copious." 



It will be noticed that in the description of A. Fer- 

 rissi the scales of the stipe are not mentioned, though 

 they are present and under the microscope are indenti- 

 cal with those of A. altemans. Hooker does not note 

 the lobes of the blade, as alternate as does Clute, 

 though Wallich probably based his name on this char- 

 acteristic. A. Fcrrissi impressed me as having some- 

 what yellowish rather than dull-green fronds, though 

 age probably effects a change in color. "Opaque 

 greyish-green" and "dull green" may mean the same. 

 A further comparison of the two ferns readily proves 

 them identical. 



Though A. Fcrrissi is thus not a new species, the 

 discovery of a fern heretofore known only from the 

 Himalyas and Abyssinia, in even such a land of unique 

 discoveries as Arizona, must be considered as of more 

 than usual interest and deserving greater study than 

 a new species. We expect Mexican species to cross 

 our border, but scarcely one of Asia and Africa. 



Unfortunately, my library gives me scant informa- 

 tion as to the habitat of Asplcniuin altemans. Accord- 

 ing to Hooker it ascends the northwestern Himalayas 

 to 0,000 feet and I would place it in about 35° North 

 Latitude. Schimper gathered it in Abyssinia and as 

 a mountain species I would say at 5° to 15° North 

 Latitude, and probably ascending higher than in In- 

 dia, due to the proximity of the equator. Williams 

 ("Select Ferns and Lycopods," London, 1873) sug- 

 gests that it may, in many localities (England?) prove 

 hardy, and further states "A good kind for the crevi- 

 ces of rocks in the fern house." These comments 



