THE FERNS OF NICARAGUA. 



139 



Hemsley reports this species from Chontales under the name 

 P. quadrianrita. and Fournier reports it, from the same place, 

 as P. edentida Kze. Typical P. biaurita has not heretofore 

 been credited to Nicaragua. 



2. P. hirsuta (Z.) Hook. 



Smith., Hist. Fil., p. 297. 

 Lonckitis hirsuta L., Svs. Nat., vol. 11, p. 689. 

 P. laciniata Willd., — Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. 11, p. 176, pl.cxxxn; Eaton, Fil. 



Wr. et Fend., p. 203; Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 160; Hemsl., Biol. 



Cent. Am., vol. in,p. 623. 



This common species has long been known under the name 

 P. laciniata Willd. As it is synonymous with Lonchitis hir- 

 suta L., the specific name used by Linne should be retained. 



Quite common in the deep woods near Castillo, and like all 

 the species of Ptcris in this list, terrestrial in habit. 



The stipes, rachises. etc., vary from quite hairy to almost 

 smooth. 



The species has not heretofore been reported from Nic- 

 aragua. 



3. P. aculeata Szvartz. 



Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. 11, p. 224; Eaton, Fil. Wr. et Fend., p. 204; Hook, and 

 Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 171; Hemsl., Biol. Cent. Am., vol. 11 1, p. 621; Baker, 

 Jour. Bot., vol. xxii, p. 362. 

 P. propinqua Ag., — Hook., Spec. Fil., vol. 11, p. 223. 

 P.apicalis Liebm., — Fourn., Sertum Nic, p. 258. 



The Nicaraguan material answers in man}* respects to the 

 descriptions of P. -podophylla Swtz. The fronds are more or 

 less distinctly tri-partite. but the regularity of the division is 

 destroyed in some specimens by the fact that the two lateral 

 divisions do not spring from the same level, resembling in this 

 respect large compound pinnae, and that the lower pinnae of 

 the middle division are often compound, though always much 

 smaller than the two lateral divisions. In one specimen the 

 lower pinna? of the lateral divisions are also somewhat com- 

 pound. 



