SLosson: NEW FERNS FROM TROPICAL AMERICA 689 
Nipe, Oriente, Cuba, altitude 450-550 meters, December 22, 1909, 
J. A. Shafer 3262. The label reads: ‘‘Shaded rocks near water.” 
This plant is closely related to both Polystichum ilicifolium 
Fée and P. triangulum (L.) Fée, and very likely may be a hybrid 
between the two. Numerous specimens have been seen, all 
Cuban, and excepting Wright’s specimens, all from the Province of 
Oriente. Wright’s specimens bear the indefinite inscription of 
‘“‘Cuba’’ and ‘‘Cuba orientale,’ but are dated 1859, 1860, and 
1865. During the first two years Wright is known to have collected 
in the Province of Oriente, but in 1865 he is believed to have 
collected only in the western part of Cuba.* | 
Polystichum machaerophyllum in a mature state is easily dis- 
tinguished from P. triangulum by the peculiar apices of the fronds, 
varying from long-drawn-out to flagelliform, non-proliferous to 
proliferous. It is more likely to be confused with P. tlicifolum, 
but may be known by the proportionately broader and shorter 
laminae; their darker olive-green color, resembling that of P. 
triangulum; and the larger and longer pinnae, distinctly biauricu- 
late at base, with the part above the basal auricles not short and 
margined with large sharp oblique spinescent teeth, as in P. ilici- 
folium, but more or less extended and subentire or very slightly 
toothed or crenately lobed, the lobes entire or minutely mucronate. 
The indusia are peculiar, varying from only slightly erose to 
markedly so with a few cilia. The indusia in P. triangulum are 
entire, and in P. ilicifolium vary from markedly erose to con- 
spicuously long-ciliate. P. decoratum Maxon, the only other 
Cuban Polystichum known with fronds flagelliform at apex, may 
be readily recognized by its pinnae widely excised, not auricled, 
at base on the lower side. 
The following specimens of P. machaerophyllum at the New 
York Botanical Garden and in the U. S. National Herbarium in 
Washington have been examined: 
Cusa: Camp La Gloria, south of Sierra Moa, Oriente, Dec. 
24-30, 1910, Shafer 8096; bank of river among stones, Camp La 
Barga, Oriente, altitude 450 meters, February 22-26, 1910, 
Shafer 4127; on moist rocks, Cooper’s Ranch, base of El Yunque 
Mountain, Baracoa, March, 1903, Underwood & Earle 1179, 1180; 
* See L. M. Underwood, A Summary of Charles Wright’s Explorations in Cuba, 
Bull. Torrey Club 32: 298, 300. 1905. 
