TAB. XXIV. 
Aspidium (Nephrodium) Skinneri, Hook . 
Subhumile glaberrimum, fronde lanceolata tenui-acuminata 
pinnatifida basi pinnata, lobis approximate pinnisque ob- 
longis sursum subfalcatis acutiusculis, soris copiosis, involu- 
cris longe ciliatis, stipite brevi nudo, caudice crasso repente 
squamoso. 
Hab. Guatemala, G. U. Skinner , Esq. 
Half a score specimens of this pretty Fern, for which I am 
indebted to Mr. Skinner, uniform in their character, would lead 
to the inference that such is the normal condition of the plant, 
and not an imperfectly developed state of some more com- 
pound Nephrodium. If I am right in this conjecture, it is a 
very distinct species, and not likely to be confounded with 
any other. The caudex is stout, repent, and scaly. The sti- 
pites, several arising from near the apex of this caudex, short, 
two inches or more long, rather slender, naked, except a few 
scales where the base joins on to the caudex. Frond six to 
eight inches long, somewhat membranous, not opaque, very 
much tapering at the point, and then the lobes gradually be- 
come serratures : the base is not much contracted, but it is 
truly pinnate with about two pairs of rather remote pinnae, 
above them the frond is of one piece, lanceolate, cut into many 
approximate lobes more than half way down to the costa; 
lobed like the pinnae, oblong, with a slight curvature upwards, 
rather acute. Main rachis slightly pubescent. Fructifications, 
when present, copious on the centre of every vein. Venation, 
that common to Nephrodium. Involucre reniform, membra- 
nous, reticulated, and bearing long ciliae on the margin. 
Fig. 1. Upper side of a portion of the fertile frond, f. 2. 
Underside of ditto, f. 3. Involucre : — magnified. 
