TAB. XVIIL 
Asplenium delicatulum, Pr. 
Parvulum, caudice gracillimo longe repente filiformi nudo, 
frondibus sparsis brevi-stipitatis glaberrimis lanceolatis vel 
subtriangulari-ovatis acuminatis bipinnatis, pinnis remotis 
pinnulisve lanceolatis inciso-lobatis, laciniis angustis acutis 
submonosorosis. 
Asplenium delicatulum, Presl, Reliq . Hank. p. 47. t. 7./. 3, 
Linncea . v. 9. p. 70. 
Hab. Cordillera of Quito, and Trunks of Trees, Cuchaos, 
Pceppig. Casapi, Peru, Mathews , n. 1785. 
One of the smallest and most delicate of the Asplenia , not 
very unlike some species of Hymenophyllum or Trichomanes 
in general habit. Presl’s figure in the Reliquiae Hasnkeanse, 
is extremely unsatisfactory, especially in the tufted fibrous 
roots. Afterwards the author describes in the Linnsea, from 
more perfect specimens, the real nature of the caudex. It 
is singularly long, slender, and creeping. In both those works 
the affinity of the species with A fceniculaceum , H. B. K. 
(Hook, et Grev. Ic. FiL t. 92), is noticed, and we ourselves 
have intimated that it is probably a starved state of that 
species. The long creeping filiform root or caudex, would 
also appear to confirm this suspicion. The caudex, here, 
however, is naked and wiry ; in A. fceniculaceum tomentose. 
This may vary, perhaps, according to situation and moisture. 
Poeppig’s specimens, and those of Mr. Mathews, both in our 
possession, show no disposition to vary from the form here 
represented. Some of the specimens are indeed smaller, but 
none larger. It may be referred to the Darea or Ccenopteris 
group of Asplenium , having the segments and lobes so narrow 
as rarely to bear more than one sorus on each. 
Fig. 1 . Portion of the upper side of a pinna, f. 2. Fructi- 
fied portion of the same, seen from beneath : — magnified. 
