The Natural Hiflory of Jamaaica. 
71 
Book, make my acceptance of them fo plain, that there can be no doubt 
about them. As to the Etymology of the, Word Surculus, its Definition 
from Feflus, Ge, 1 take them not to be material Arguments, and could 
prove my Senfe of it to agree very well with what he and the beft Authors 
fay. were it needful to infift on this matter. | 
All thefe forts of Ferns, no queftion, may be made ufe of for the fame 
purpofes, as thofe of the fame Kinds in Europe, 
V. Lunaria elatior Adianti albi folio duplici fpica. Cat. p. 14. Ofmunda Ameri 
cana filicule folio Tournefort. El. bot.p 437. Ofmunda filicale folio major. Ejufd. 
Lnft.p. 547. An filix faxatilis ruta muraria folits Americana few adianthum 
album folio filicis ex infula Famaicenft. Plukenet. Alm: p. 150? | 
. This is fometimes about a Foot, but moftly fix or feven Inches high, 
having a very flender green Stalk, at coming firft out of the Earth, being 
of a dark colour. At about four Inches from the Ground, out of one fide 
of the Stalk goes one Branch, to which are alternatively fet on Twigs, which 
have feveral broad irregularly figur’d roundith Pinuule, {ometimes deep cut, at 
other times alittleindented on theedges, being of a pale green colour, like to 
adiantum album, and having many Furrows appearing radiated. Out of the A/a 
or bofom of this Branch rife two round, {mall, green, two Inches long Stalks, 
towards the tops of which are feveral {mall Bunches of firft green, afterwards 
ferrugineous Duft, like to. that of Lunaria, Ofmunda Regalis, or the other 
Ferns. The Root is like that.of Polypodium, and is covered with a blackifh 
Hair, having feveral Fibrils like the Roots of other Ferns. 
It grew on a Rock by the Banks of Rio-Cobre, below the Town, on the 
fame fide of the River. | | 
. This Plant is perfectly differing in all its parts from the Filix non ramofa 
pinnulis crebris obtufis crenatis. Cat.p.r1. As onemay eafily fee by comparing 
their Deferiptions and Figures, {o that one would wonder how Dr. Piukenet 
came to doubt whither they were the fame in his Mantiffa, p. 78. 
I]. Lunaria elatiot matricaria folio {pica duplici. Cat.p.14. Tab.r5. Fig. 6. 
Lunaria racemofa cicutaria foliis Famaicana, Plukenct. Alws. p. 208. 
This is much higher than.the former, rifing a Foot or more from the 
Ground. . In its higher Spikes, which are-double, ic exa@tly agrees with the 
former, only the Leaves or Pinnule, ate longer, narrower, not quite cut in to 
the middle Rib or Twig, and of a paler green colour, fomething in their 
Divifions, like the Leaves of Matricaria. 
It grew with the former. 
Il. Phyllitis non finuata minor apice folii radices agente, Cat.p.14. Tab. r6. 
Fig.1. Filicifolia phyllitis parva faxatilis Virginiana per {ummitates foliorum 
yadicola breviore ey tatiore folio, Plukewet. Alm. 2 
.. This has a fmall, fcaly black -Root;.with many long Fibers drawing its 
»Nourifhment, of a dark brown colour. The Leavesare many, rifing from the 
fame Root, of a different magnitude, having no Foot-Stalks, the largeft be- 
ing two Inches and a half long, and about half an Inch broad near the mid- 
dle where broadeft, increafing from the Root thither, and thence decreafing, 
growing very narrow, and ending in a point. This point bows down its 
felfte the-Ground, ftrikes Fibers, takes Root, and fends out rounder 
Leaves, in time growing longer, and with their ends taking Root, and fo 
propagating its felf. The Seed lies in round fpots on the back of the Leaf 
of cach fide of the middle Rib. 
Ie 
