THE FERX BULLETIN 



105 



student have been explored various other Mexican 

 species will be found. 



This idea is further supported by the fact that in 

 1907 Mr. Ferriss collected specimens of Nephrodium 

 Mexicanum in Long Park, Chiricahua Mountains, 

 Arizona, about twenty miles north of the Mexican 

 boundary. This species has not been previously re- 

 ported from the United States. It was growing in a 

 small grove of aspen on the banks of a stream in com- 

 pany with the bracken and a peculiar form of Cystop- 

 teris which I have since named C. fragilis teiiui folia. 



There is considerable difference of opinion regard- 

 ing the status of the species called Mexicanum. In 

 the "Index Filicum" Christiansen says it is the same 

 thing as Nephrodium patuhim of Swartz, but Jenman, 

 who spent twenty years studying Jamaican ferns 

 claims both species for the fern flora of that island, and 

 gives their contrasting characteristics. Swartz. who 

 collected extensively in Jamaica appears to be the first 

 to have given the name patuhim to a fern, and Hooker 

 later made the name. Mexicanum. The whole ques- 

 tion, therefore hinges upon whether there are two dif- 

 frent plants concerned. Underwood who transferred 

 the name patuhim from the genus Aspidium to Dry- 

 optcris reported patula from Arizona. This species 

 has also been collected by Mr. Ferriss on various oc- 

 casions, but it is quite a different plant from the speci- 

 mens here reported as Mexicanum and since the tend- 

 encv of fern students is toward making more, rather 

 than fewer, species it is very likely that this will con- 

 tinue to be regarded as a species distinct from patuhim. 

 Whether Mexicanum is maintained as distinct or not. 

 the specimens here referred to that species certainly 

 are, but there seems to be no need of giving them a 

 new name. 



