162 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM, 
The Linnean species name aculeatum, published under Adiantum, has been applied 
very generally to two distinct species of this alliance and might with almost equally 
good reason be applied toa third. It was published originally with reference to three 
plates, mentioned in the following order: (1) Plumier’s plate 94, representing a plant 
from the island of Santo Domingo; (2) Petiver’s plate 11, figure 6, which isa copy of the 
former; (3) Sloane’s plate 61, representing a Jamaican plant which subsequently was 
described by Swartz under the name /umarioides, which it has since retained and ought 
toretain. From the historical standpoint, therefore, as well as from the order of cita- 
tion, the name aculeatum should be associated with the Santo Domingo plant. In 
some way, probably because the several species have not been very carefully col- 
lected or studied closely, the name aculeatwm has been applied not only to the Santo 
Domingo plant, but also to a related Jamaican species which is not that figured by 
Sloane in plate 61. This Jamaican plant is well described by Jenman, and is amply 
distinguished from the true O. aculeata of Santo Domingo, eastern Cuba, and Porto 
Rico, by its simpler and coarser pinnules and by the character of its spines, these 
being short, stout, and retrorse in the Jamaican plant, whereas they are long, acicular, 
and spreading in true aculeata. Jenman’s characterization is so excellent that there 
is good reason for dedicating this excellent species to him. 
As to the Jamaican plant of Sloane, we have not only Sloane’s plate (pl. 61), but also 
Jenman’s testimony ' that Sloane’s specimen in the British Museum is the species 
known properly as O. fumarioides. 
There exists among individuals of 0. aculeata a great deal of variation in the degree 
of dissection, differences which apparently are due to habitat and altitude and partly 
to geographic considerations. Other factors which to an unusual extent affect the 
form of the individual are the age of the plant, the degree of fertility, and the seasonal 
condition of the plant when collected. Judging from the series at hand this species 
reaches its best development in eastern Cuba at about 600 meters elevation. The 
stout congested form shown in Plumier’s plant is found in very few plants. 
The following specimens are in the U. 8. National Herbarium: 
Santo Domineo: Without locality, Wright, Parry & Brummel 33. Near Con- 
stanza, alt. 1,190 meters, von Tiirckherm 2995. 
Cusa: Lower open slopes of Gran Piedra, Oriente, alt. 500 meters, Mazon 4090a. 
Upper slopes and summit of Gran Piedra, alt. 900 to 1,200 meters, Mazon 
4073; Shafer 9066. Santa Ana, near Jaguey, Oriente, on steep banks in the 
open, Mazon 4131. Cooper’s Ranch, base of El Yunque, near Baracoa, 
Underwood & Earle 817. Slopes and summit of El Yunque, alt. 300 to 600 
meters, Pollard & Palmer 170. Loma Menquara, Oriente, alt. 680 to 1,000 
meters, Shafer 3833. Alluvial valley of Rio Yamaniguey, Oriente, Shafer 
4197. Without locality, Wright 960. 
Porto Rico: Near Rio Piedras, alt. 60 meters, Hioram 108; Mr. & Mrs. A. A. 
Heller 126. Near Mayaguez, alt. 120 meters, Britton & Marble 505; Heller 
(without number). Near Utuado, Underwood & Griggs 25; Britton & Marble 
1074. Beatriz de Caguas, Goll 402, 403, 433. Maricao, Sintenis 169. Cayey, 
Sintenis 2172 (in part). Without locality, Fisher 71. 
CULTIVATED SPECIMENS: Ex. herb. Hort. Bot. Lips. (as Microlepia aculeata). 
3. Odontosoria jenmanii Maxon, sp. nov. PLATE 2. 
“ Davallia aculeata’’ Jenman, Bull. Bot. Dept. Jamaica I. 23: 6. 1891 (excluding 
reference to Plum. pl. 94 and Hook. pl. 54. B), not Adiantum aculeatum L. in any 
part. 
Fronds distichous, ascending, scandent, 2 to 6 meters long, intricate; rhizome 
slender, terete, wide-creeping, freely branched, densely clothed with lance-attenuate 
imbricate bright brown scales; lamina greatly elongate, quadripinnate throughout; 
1 Journ. Bot. Brit. & For. 24: 41. 1886. 
