A C R O S T I C H UM S U B D I A P H A N U M .
F IL IC E S .—G ïEA T iE . B r . P o i y p o d i a c e j e . K a u lf . F i l i c e s veræ. Willd.
G i n . C h a e . A C R O S T IC H U M , Limi. Sori amorphi, seu Capsulx per totam paginam inferiorem
frondis (interdum diversæ) vel ad ejns partem sparste. Irubmwn nullmn (nisi squa-
inulæ vcl setæ in quibusdam capsulis intcrstinctæ). B r.
A c r o s t ic h u m subdiaphanum-, f r o n d i b u s o b lo n g i s s u b s n c c u l e n t i s a c u t i s m a r g i n a t i s a r e t e p a r a l l e l im
v e n o s i s s u p r a s q u a m o s i s s u b t u s f e iT i i g i iic o - p u n c ta ti s , f e r t i l i b u s l in e a r ib u s , s t i p i t e c o s t a q u e
s u b t u s p a l c a c c o - s q u am o s i s .
H a b . Insula Sanctæ Helenæ. Alex. Walker, olivi Insulæ Præfectus ; D . Dallas. Prope
Madras. G. JFight, M .D .
Caudex repens, crassus, densissime paleaceo-squamosus; p a le is Iaxis, lanceolatis, membranaceis, nitidis, fuscis,
puicherrime et tortuosim reticulatis basi cordatis, subtus radices filiformes emittens.
S tip ite s digitales et ultra, erecti, hinc sulcati, squamis numerosis magnis Iaxis fuscis obsiti.
Frondes 5 - 8 uncias longoe, coriaceo-succulentæ, subdiapbanoe, siccitate undulatæ, oblongæ, acutæ, margmatoe,
costatæ, oblique et arete dichotome parallelim venosoe, supra squamis subcordato-rotundatis, laceratis soepis-
sime peltatis sparsim obsitoe, subtus minute ferrugineo-punctatæ. Costa supra plana, nudiuscula, subtus laxe
paleaceo-squamosa, squamis ut in caudice et stipite. Frondes fe r til e s lon gius stipitatæ lineares.
Capsulæ totum dorsum frondis tegentes, fuscæ, g lobosæ, lato-annulatæ, longiuscule stipitatæ.
S emin a subreniformia.
F ig . 1 . Portio frondis sterilis cum squamis. f. 2 . Po rtio frondis subtus •
f. 5. Squama e stipite :— magn. auct.
f. 3. Capsulæ. f. 4. Semina.
This i.s the second new species of Aci-ostichum which wc have tigurcd from the island of
St. Helena; and it is not a little remarkable, that in both instances we have received the same
species also from Madras, throiigli Dr. Wight. That now given is no less distinct than the former
one {A . dimorphum) from all others which are known to us, and is remarkable for its tliick and
somewhat flesliy texture, causing it to shrivel to a certain extent in drying, and for its subpelliicid
frond. The nerves arc closely placed and very conspicuou.s; and while the upper side is partially
covered with small somewhat peltate scales, the under is marked witli rush-colourcd dots.
i ;