FRAGMENTA PTERIDOLOGIAE—I

Abstract

SUMMARY The series of papers which I am undertaking to publish under the general title of Fragmenta Pteridologiae has the aim of bringing together some fragmentary observations on the taxonomy, nomenclature, geographical distribution and bibliography of some pteridophytes, which I have assembled during the study of the pteridological flora of Ethiopia and Somalia. These observations are published as parts of an independent paper, since they are not so intimately related to the species of that flora as to justify their inclusion in the accounts of the Adumbratio Florae Aethiopicae now in preparation. Several new combinations are established and they are listed in bold type in the index at the end of this paper. The principle of splitting the aggregate genus Lycopodium is adopted. Huperzia is regarded as an independent genus. The name Lepidotis being illegitimate, some species previously referred to it are transferred to Lycopodiella, which has been circumscribed in a broader sense than it originally was by its author, to include Lycopodium cernuum and related species in it. The genus Lepisorus is regarded as not taxonomically distinct enough from Pleopeltis and it is considered as a synonym of the latter. The nomenclature of Cheilanthes pteridioides, Loxoscaphe nigrescens, Pellaea adiantoides, Pellaea dura and Pellaea pectiniformis is studied and the reasons for adopting these epithets as correct names, instead of others often used for them, are given. The identity of Polypodium aubertii is established. It represents the correct basionym for the species known as Dryopteris setigera and Thelypteris uliginosa in the Floras of Madagascar. It is treated as a species of the genus Macrothelypteris together with Aspidium cruciatum, to which it is closely related. The differences between these two species are pointed out. The typification of Pellaea calomelanos, Sphaerocionium aeruginosum and Sphaerocionium capillare is studied and the type of each of these species is established. On the basis of the examination of the type, Ctenitis crinibulbon has proved to be specifically different from Ctenitis cirrhosa. Their distinctive characteristics are described. Huperzia dacrydioides, Lycopodiella cernua, Antrophyum mannianum, Ctenitis cirrhosa, Lastrea chaseana, Lastrea longicuspis and Sphaerocionium capillare are recorded in Ethiopia for the first time. The dates of publication of some fascicles of HOOKER and GREVILLE'S Icones Filicum are taken into consideration on the basis of the dates on the original wrappers and of a letter from Lowe to Hooker. They would prove that the publication of volume one was brought to an end within 1828, and that of volume two was completed within 1831. On the basis of the dates mentioned on the dedication of the books presented by Fée to De Notaris, we can establish that FÉE'S Histoire des Fougères et des Lycopodiacées des Antilles (11e Mémoire) was published before 17 Nov. 1866, probably in the first half of that month, and that FÉE'S Cryptogames Vasculaires du Brésil was published before 22 Dec. 1869, probably in the first or second decade of that month. The etymological origin of the name Pteris from πτερíσ, (gen. πτερíδoσ) or πτέρισ, (gen. πτέρεωσ) is pointed out and some remarks on the derivatives from these two forms are made.