184 34. BLECIINUM, EUBLECIINUM. 



rachis and both surfaces naked ; veins inconspicuous ; sori in a short line close 

 to the midrib, often on one side only. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 45. B. polypodioides, Kze. 

 & Mett. non Raddi. 



Hab. Tropical America from Panama and N. Granada to Brazil and Peru. A more 

 slender and narrower plant than B. unilaterale, with even the lowest pinnae connected and 

 much less copious sori. 



3. B. unilateral, Willd. ; caud. elongated, densely clothed at the crown with 

 linear pale-brown scales ; st. slender, erect, 1-4 in. 1., slightly scaly below ; fr. lan- 

 ceolate, 6-12 in. 1., 1^-2 in. br. ; pinnae numerous, spreading horizontally, linear, 

 f-1 in. 1., the central ones J-f in. br., the point usually mucronate, the edge 

 entire or nearly so, the lower part dilated to a broad base, the lower ones 

 broader, blunter, and short ; texture herbaceous, both surfaces and rachis naked 

 or slightly hairy ; veins inconspicuous ; sori in a line close to the midrib. 

 B. polypodioides, Raddi. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 45. 



Hab. Tropical America from Mexico and the W. Indies southward to Peru and 

 S. Brazil. This comes very near the small forms of B. occidentale, and we cannot, from 

 the description alone, distinguish B. triangulare, Link. 



4. B. cartilagineum, Swartz ; caud. oblique, densely clothed at the crown with 

 blackish librillose scales ; st. strong, erect, 4-6 in. 1., scaly and muricated in the 

 lower part ; fr. ovate-oblong, 1-2 ft. 1., 6-9 in. br. ; pinnae numerous, erecto- 

 patent, linear, 4-6 in. 1., %-^ in. br., narrowed gradually towards the point, the 

 margin finely toothed, dilated and connected at the base, the lower ones not con- 

 spicuously smaller than the others ; texture coriaceous ; rachis and both surfaces 

 naked ; veins fine ; sori in a broad line close to the midrib. Hk. Sp. 2. p. 43. 



Hab. Temperate Australia. Very like B. nitidum, from which it is best distinguished 

 by its muricated stipe. 



5. B. nitidum, Presl ; st. stout, erect, naked, 3-4 in. 1. ; fr. oblong-lanceolate, 

 1 ft. or more 1., 4-6 in, br. ; pinnae numerous, erecto-patent, subfalcate, linear, 

 3-4 in. 1., - in. br., narrowed gradually towards the point, dilated and con- 

 nected at the base, the edge undulato-dentate, the lower ones linear acute and 

 not much smaller than the rest ; texture coriaceous, both surfaces and rachis 

 naked ; veins fine ; sori in a continuous line close to the midrib ; invol. con- 

 spicuous. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 44. t. 55. 



Hab. S. Brazil, Philippines, Marianne Islands, Isle of Gaudalcomar and Mishmee, 

 N. Hindostan. Near B. brasiliense, but a smaller plant, terminating abruptly below, 

 and the involucre more conspicuous. In some of the specimens (var. contractum, Hook.) 

 the pinnae are contracted and the edge is much undulated. 



6. B. brasiliense, Desv. ; caud. erect, stout, subarborescent, 1 ft. or more 1., 

 densely clothed at the crown with dark-brown fibrillose scales ; st. short, stout, 

 densely scaly ; fr. oblong-lanceolate, 2-3 ft. 1., 1 ft. or more br., narrowing 

 downwards very gradually ; pinnae close, erecto-patent, linear, 4-6 in. 1., ^ in. br., 

 narrowed gradually towards the point, very finely toothed, connected at the 

 base, the lower ones short and blunt ; texture coriaceous, both surfaces naked ; 

 veins fine ; rachis naked ; sori in a continuous line close to the midrib ; invol. 

 narrow. Hk. Sp. 3. p. 43. t. 157. B. corcovadense, Raddi. B. validum, 

 F'ee. 



Hab. Brazil and Peru, 



