219 
der stem is but a few inches in diameter. No class of ferns is as 
yet so poorly described as the tree-ferns; description should be 
from the living specimen and at the locality ; the only such in 
English are those in Thwaites’ Flora of Ceylon. Jamaica is re- 
markable in particular for its numerous Filmy Ferns, 26 species 
(out of 280 known); these are all in the three eastern parishes. 
In the east part Blechnum occidentale is the common fern of the 
roadsides ; Polypodium reptans was seen everywhere, now growing 
erect; one bank 30x25 feet, was completely covered with Gleichenia 
pectinacea. The great number of endemic species is surprising; as 
if the work of differentiation had gone on there with greater ac- 
tivity and vital power than anywhere else in the world; every genus 
in Jamaica shows one or more endemic species. 
Mr. Gilbert closed by exhibiting specimens of three new spe- 
cies from Jamaica, belonging to Asplenium, Dryopteris and Polypo- 
dium, and also of a number of rare species as Eutomosora Camp- 
bellii, Gymnogramma schizophylla and Adiantum Candolle. His 
Paper was discussed by President Brown, Prof. Underwood and 
Dr. Rusby, the latter referring to the uses made of tree-ferns in 
New Zealand, as compared with the use for timber and for posts 
in Jamaica. 
Index to recent Literature relating to American Botany. 
Barnes C. R., and Heald, F. de F. Analytic Keys to the Genera 
and Species of North American Mosses. Bull. Univ. Wisc. 1: 157- 
368. 1897. 
Bockeler, O. Diagnosen neuer Cyperaceen. All. Bot. Zeit. 1: 186— 
187. O. 1895; 2: 143; 17-215 33-353 53-595 29-793 933 7°9- 
1135 141-143; 1553; 157-160. 1896. 
Carleton, M. A. Variations in dominant Species of Plants.—Il. 
Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. 14: 45. 1896. 
Dietel, P., et Neger, F. Uredinaceae chilenses.—I. Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 
22: 348-358. 22 My. 1896. 
Durand, T., et Pittier, H. Primitiae Florae Costaricensis. Bull. 
Soc. Bot. Belg. 35: 151-297. 17 N. 1896. | 
