31. PTERIS, EUPTERIS. 159 



Hab. Hindostan (ascending in the Himalayas to 2-4,000 ft.), Malayan Peninsula, 

 Borneo, and Japan. Very doubtfully distinct from the preceding. 



24. P. excelsa, Gaud. ; st. stout (- in. thick), erect, naked, glossy, pale-brown ; 

 fr. 5-6 ft. 1. ; terminal pinna 1 ft. or more 1., 3 in. br., with numerous closely- 

 placed falcate linear lobes on each side, which are sometimes more than 2 in. 1., 

 - in. br., narrowly obliquely decurrent and slightly serrated on the barren 

 part ; lateral pinnae several, 'similar to the terminal one, the lowest several 

 inches apart at the base, sometimes bipartite ; texture subcoriaceous ; rachis and 

 both surfaces naked ; veins once forked, in. apart at the base ; sori not reaching 

 the apex of the segments. Hk. Sp. 2. p. 183. t. 136. 



Hab. Hindostan (ascending in the Himalayas to 7-8,000 ft.), Ava, Philippine and 

 Sandwich Islands. Like P. quadriaurita on a larger scale. 



25. P. pungens, Willd. ; st. 1 ft. or more 1., naked, distinctly prickly, glossy, 

 pale or brownish ; fr. 1-2 ft. 1., 12-18 in. br. ; terminal pinna sometimes 1 ft. L, 

 more than 2 in. br., with a long entire point and numerous close, parallel, linear- 

 oblong lobes, which extend down nearly to the rachis (1-1^ in. 1., Jin. br.), and 

 are finely toothed towards the point when barren ; pinnae several on each side, 

 similar to the terminal one, the lowest 2-3 in. below the next above it, once forked, 

 with a smaller similar pinnule ; texture subcoriaceous ; rachis and both surfaces 

 naked ; veins conspicuous, once forked, ^ in. distant at the base ; sori not reaching 

 the apex of the segments Hk. Sp. 2. p. 182. 



Hab. West-Indian Islands. If the muricated stipe be not of a permanent character, 

 this cannot be regarded as distinct from P. quadriaurita. Poppig's Peruvian plant, called 

 P. edentula, Kunze, has a smooth stipe, and is normal quadriaurita. 



26. P. scabra, Bory ; st. 1-2 ft. 1., strong, erect, glossy, dark chesnut-brown ; 

 fr. 2 ft. 1. or more, 12-18 in. br. ; terminal pinna 6-12 in. 1., 1^-2 in. br., made up 

 of numerous linear erecto-patent lobes, which are often 1 in. 1., Jin. br., cut down 

 regularly within about in. of the rachis, and suddenly dilated to the wing 

 within a short distance of the base ; lateral pinnce several in number on each 

 side, similar to the terminal one, the lowest 2 in. apart at the base, with 1 or 2 

 similar smaller pinnl. on the lower side ; texture very coriaceous ; rachises rigid 

 and glossy like the stipe ; both surfaces naked ; veins conspicuous on both sides, 

 simple or once forked, 1 line apart at the base ; sori narrow, continuous along 

 nearly the whole length of the segment. Hk. Sp. 2. p. 187. 1. 138. A. 



Hab. Mauritius and Bourbon. The texture is so coriaceous that the specimens can 

 scarcely be fastened down on paper. Capt. Carmichael's Bourbon plant with a strami- 

 neous stipe, mentioned in " Species Filicum," is evidently P. flabellata. P. angusta of 

 Bory seems to be a smaller form of this, which resembles P. quadriaurita in outline, but 

 differs in texture. 



27* P. paleacea, Roxb. ; st. 2-4 ft. 1., strong, erect, straw-coloured or reddish- 

 brown, clothed throughout with large lanceolate brown scales, which fall off and 

 leave it densely muricated with hard raised points ; fr. I ft. or more each way ; 

 terminal pinna 6-9 in. 1., 1^ in. br., made up of numerous contiguous falcate linear 

 lobes, which are 1 in. or more L, 2 lin. br., blunt at the point, and not at all ser- 

 rated ; pinnce several in number on each side, similar to the terminal one, closely 

 placed (not 1 in. apart at the base) and imbricated, the lowest with several large 

 similar pinnl. from its under side ; texture coriaceous ; rachises scaly and asperous 

 like the stipe ; veins faint, full in. apart at the base, usually once forked ; sori 

 extending along the whole length of the edge. Hk. Sp. 2. p. 186. 



Hab. St. Helena, in the upper exposed part of Diana's Peak. 



28. P. Novw-Caledonice, Hk. ; st. 1 ft. or more L, erect, polished, naked, bright 

 claret-brown \fr. ample ; terminal pinna 6-9 in. L, \\ in. br., made up of numerous 



