Asplenium trichomanes L. is an aggregate species of world-wide distribution. Diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid (in Australia and New Zealand) cytotypes are known, the first two of which are polymorphic. Only a few of these forms have botanical names. We use here the nomenclature and typification of Lovis (1964). Love and Kjellqvist (1972) and Love and Love (1974) suggested assigning specific rank to the diploid and tetraploid cytotypes, following Rothmaler (1966, p. 5) and So6 in Fuchs (1963). In principle this is acceptable, but it is very impractical because there are many cases in which even specialists are unable to differentiate between the cytotypes with confidence when dealing with herbarium material. According to Carvalho e Vasconcellos (1968), both the diploid A. trichomanes subsp. trichomanes (sensu Lovis, 1964) and the tetraploid subsp. quadrivalens D. E. Meyer (1962) are assumed to grow in the Azores, but Pinto da Silva in Palhinha (1966) was more cautious. He quoted Lovis' opinion of that time: However, the only form of A. trichomanes from Azores yet studied alive is a peculiar form, and requires more study before it can be given an accurate taxonomic treatment. Franco (1971, p. 23) did not differentiate between the subspecies. Wilmanns and Rasbach (1973, p. 326) stated that most specimens differ from Central European A. trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens by brightness, longer pinnae, and stronger teeth. Sjogren (1973, p. 85), Eriksson et al. (1974, p. 1), and Pinto da Silva and Pinto da Silva (1974, p. 14) reported only subsp. quadrivalens for the Of related species in the Azores, all authors mention A. monanthes L. The following also report A. anceps Lowe ex Hook. & Grev.: Bolle (1866, p. 215), Milde (1867, p. 64, sub A. trichomanes var. anceps f. azorica), Drouet (1866, p. 131), Sauer (1880, p. 43), Trelease (1897, p. 172, sub A. trichomanes var. anceps f. azorica), Palhinha (1943) and Benl and Sventenius (1970, p. 447). We suspect that all these reports are wrong because of confusion with A. azoricum. We have not seen the specimen that Bolle quoted, but he stated that the only specimen from the Azores he had seen, which was collected by A. Braun, showed a more pronounced dentation at the tip and acroscopic side of the pinnae. This is typical ofA. azoricum, and we suspect that his specimen was indeed that species. Milde's type and sole specimen is A. azoricum. Sauer did not mention any specimens, but cited only Azores. We have seen two specimens of Drouet (BM), 11 out of the 19 specimens cited by Trelease, and all five quoted by Palhinha. None is A. anceps. Benl and Sventenius based their record of A. anceps on the literature mentioned above (Benl, in litt.). So far we have been unable to detect any specimen of A. anceps from the Azores in any herbarium.