272 Broadhurst: Struthiopteris in North America 



Blechnum polypodioides Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 92. 1868. 



Spicanta polypodioides O. Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 2 : 821 . 1891 . 



Spicanta attenuate O. Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 2: 820. 1891. 



Lomaria Feei Jenm. Bull. Bot. Dept. Jamaica 43: 7. 1893. 



Lomaria attenuate Willd. (as used by Jenman, loc. cit.). 



Blechnum attenuatum Diels (in part), in E. & P. Nat. Pfl. i 4 : 

 249. 1899. 



Plants epiphytic. Rhizome wide-creeping, often 10-12 meters 

 above the ground, 1-2 cm. thick, the scales linear, 7-14 mm. long, 

 maroon to dark chocolate brown, usually with a black median line. 

 Sterile fronds 25-95 cm. long; stipes scattered throughout 10-20 

 cm. from the apex of the rhizome, 6-28 cm. long, rarely angulate, 

 without vestigial pinnae, bicolored with dark brown or blackish 

 brown; lamina 20-80 cm. long, 4-15 cm. wide, shape either (1) 

 narrowly lanceolate or else very narrowly oblong or linear with 

 the greatest width the same for about half the length (15-30 cm.), 

 gradually reduced at each end, the lower usually contiguous pinnae 

 becoming triangular or more or less semicircular (type F base 

 and approaching G) or (2) lanceolate in shape, gradually reduced 

 at the apex, the lower sinuses becoming wider and the lower pinnae 

 more abruptly reduced and sometimes distant (type F and ap- 

 proaching E, but rarely E), the pinnae mainly alternate; pinnae 

 25-75-jugate, falcate, the apex acute to acuminate, the base the 

 widest part, but not very prominently dilated, 2.2-8 cm. long, 

 9-12 mm. wide; margins entire or sometimes subentire at the apex; 

 leaf tissue rigid-herbaceous to coriaceous, without scales; veins 

 usually indistinct above, usually appearing below as distinct, dark 

 lines, or in the heavier plants often raised and cartilaginous, the 

 apices somewhat glandular, the vein spaces 9-12 to 1 cm. Sporo- 

 phyls 20-70 cm. long; stipes 8-24 cm. long, often with a few 

 vestigial pinnae, usually bicolored; lamina 16-60 cm. long, ab- 

 ruptly reduced at the base, gradually reduced at the apex; pinnae 

 22-45-jugate, 3-8 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, with or without a 

 contracted sterile tip 1-4 mm. long, not dilated at the base; 

 indusium entire, not becoming lacerate; sporangia brown to dark 

 brown. 



Type locality: Jamaica. 



Distribution: Mexico, Central America, Panama, West 

 Indies, and the Lesser Antilles. 



Specimens included: Mexico: State of Vera Cruz, County of 

 Cordova, Finck 87 (Y, N). Costa Rica: Vicinity of Coliblanco, 

 altitude about 1,950 m., climbing on trees, Maxon 251 (Y, N). 



