I40 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 



That there has been more or less confusion in the concep- 

 tion of this species is evident. Baker 1 places the species among 

 the Bipinnatce, while Smith 2 includes it in the division of Lito- 

 brochia which has the fronds "deltoid tri-partite." 



Baker, however, on p. 172, under P. luschnathiana Bak., a 

 species which belongs to the Tripartita, says that it " seems 

 a variety of aculeata" — a practical admission of the variation 

 in the division of the frond in the latter species, of which P. 

 luschnathiana is probably a svnonym. 



The variation in the extent to which the division of the frond 

 is carried will probably necessitate the union of P. aculeata and 

 P. -podophylla under the former name. 



The Nicaraguan specimens have rather small terminal pin- 

 nae measuring 4 to 6 inches in length, the divisions closely 

 resembling Mexican forms of P. propinqua in the University 

 Herbarium. The stipes are mostly smooth. A fine series 

 was collected. The fronds were solitary, growing rather 

 abundantly in damp soil in the deep woods near Castillo. 



Reported from Chontales by Hemslev [ibid.), and from 

 Nicaragua without locality as P. apicalis by Fournier. 



4. P. incisa T/ut nb. PI. v, Figs. 1,2. 



Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. n, p. 230; Eaton, Fil. Wr. et Fend., p. 204; Hook, and 

 Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 172; Hemsl., Biol. Cent. Am., vol. m,p. 623; Bak., 

 Biol. Cent. Am., vol. iv, p. 115 (from Costa Rica): Johow, An. de la 

 Univ. Rep. de Chile, vol. lxxxii, p. 982, fig. 6. 

 P. aurita Bl., — Hook., Sp. Fil., vol. 11, p. 231. 



The fronds average about three feet in total length, and are 

 glaucous beneath. The rootstock is creeping, and covered 

 with brown scurfy scales. The venation, as represented in the 

 figures, is rather constant in the material which was collected, 

 but is generally very variable in the species. This species, 

 like P. biaurita, shows the comparatively slight value of the 

 generic and specific characters based upon venation which have 

 been recognized by many authors in the genus Pteris. 



Collected on the volcano Ometepe at an altitude of about 

 3,000 feet. Not common. 



1 Hook, and Bak., Syn. Fil., p. 171. 

 * Historia Filicum, p. 291. 



