tab xiv. 
Xiphoptekis Jamesoni, Hook. 
Caudice parvo (ut videtur) repentc, stipitibus giacilibus sub- 
semiunciam longis nudis, _ frondibus 4 polbces longis 
lineam latis erectis subcoriaceis pallide viridibus profunde 
ad rachin fere pinnatifidis apice in caudam longam i n _ 
tegerrimam soriferam terminantibus, lobis horizontalibus e 
basi latiore oblongis obtusis univeniis, venis internis simpli- 
cibus apice clavatis, soris in caudam terminalem linearibus 
venas totas tegentibus confluentibus, capsulis longe pedi- 
cellatis. 
Hab. Andes of Quito, Prof. W. Jameson. 
That the species of the Genus Xipliopteris are very vari- 
able, is notorious to every student of Ferns; and, I be- 
lieve that the X. myosuroides and X. serrulata are now gene- 
rally looked upon as forms of one species. It may, there- 
fore, be considered a bold step to constitute a species of the 
present singular and particularly neatly formed kind, which 
at first sight, and independent of its fertile caada, has more 
the appearance of some neckeroid moss, or some delicately 
pinnated Jungermannia, than a Fern. Instead of being only 
strongly “ toothed ” as is characteristic of Xipliopteris gene- 
rally, it is so deeply pinnatified, nearly to the rachis, that it 
might almost be called pinnate : and in an advanced state of 
the plant, these segments or pinnae, fall off partially or en- 
tirely, leaving the rachis like a long, stout, naked bristle. 
Mr. Moore, whose views always deserve attention, observes, 
that to him the son of the genus appear to be produced in a 
fine contiguous to the mid-rib, and seem little different from 
Pleurogramme. To me, they appear to be decidedly on the 
hnckened veins, extending from the costa to the apex, 
same e^ D ^ ?° c lfficult is fbr a11 to see with the 
Of the SSoZnot “ the sl ™ ture 
Cent. 2. t. 14. 
