274 BROADHURST: STRUTHIOPTERIS IN NORTH AMERICA 
laminae; and (2) the same collection number* has fronds with and 
also without the raised cartilaginous veins, which are but irregu- 
larly present in the plants possessing them. Several plants from 
Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica, however, show such veins; they are 
usually coriaceous in texture, the pinnae are longer and usually 
linear-falcate in shape, and the bases of the laminae are rather 
more abruptly reduced (type E) with occasionally distant pinnae. 
These same characters are, however, found in some fronds without 
the raised cartilaginous veins; and like the veins, they are not 
uniform in all the fronds of the same plant. 
The specimens from Costa Rica and Panama have very long 
and proportionately narrow sterile fronds, a form evidently com- 
moner in Jamaica than in other islands. These mainland plants 
differ also from most of the island specimens in having very narrow, 
acuminate scales, with very long, slender teeth, which are variously 
curved and often sharply recurved and hooklike. Separation of 
these plants is impossible, however, because of intermediate 
forms. Several Mexican plants (Finck 87) have similar fronds; 
the scales are also very like those of the Costa Rican and Panama 
plants, except that the black median line is often wanting. Among 
the specimens from Jamaica are several sheets (Underwood 558 and 
Maxon 2725) which have scale margins intermediate between 
those described above and the usual island type with short, 
straighter teeth. : 
Three sheets from Costa Rica (‘‘Vallée du Dignis,” epiphytic 
exclusively on trees, altitude 700 m., Tonduz 12005) are ee | 
tioned here chiefly because of their epiphytic habit. The black- 
centered scales are not long-toothed like the other Costa Rican 
plants. The entire, linear laminae with winged stipes suggest 
Kunze's Lomaria pteropus.t His plants had similar scales, but 
much shorter, broader laminae with fewer pinnae, 3-12-juga i 
probably, while these Tonduz specimens are 17-25-jugate- ig 
stipes of pteropus are bordered by straight-edged extensions: 7 
the Tonduz plants the wings are composed of several pails 5 
confluent, rounded lobes. Kunze describes his plant as bare'y 
covered with earth; Tonduz’s specimens are positively epiphy™® 
* This variation is shown in eight sheets of Wright 864, and in single derwoot! 
numbers of more careful collectors in recent years: Nash, Maxon, and Unde” 
+ Kunze, Farrnkr. 97. pl. 46. 1840; Raddi, Pl. Bras. 1: 5. pl. 17+ 1885: 
