144 PELL.liA. 



pinnules short subcylindrical-terete sessile (rarely subpetio- 

 lulate) niucronate reflexed (when dry) ultimate ones solitary, 

 sori continuous, involucres formed of the revolute margins 

 of the pinnules scarcely thinner at the edge, stipes and ra- 

 chises dark purple somewhat glaucous scarcely glossy. (Tab. 

 CXVI.A.) 



Hab. California, Ilarttreg, n. 2042. " Between the Mississippi and the Pacific 

 Ocean, near the 35th parallel of lat., in 1853 and 4 :" the specimens marked by 

 Dr. Asa Gray " Pferiti anchomedo'foUa, Kaulf., var., Cohon Pass " (most likely 

 gathered within the limits of California), Dr. J. M. Biyelow. Dry hills about 

 ^lonterey, W. Lobb. — That this plant belongs to the same group with P, Wright- 

 iana and P. mucronata and P. teniifolia no one can doubt who has the opportu- 

 nity of comparing them, for they all have cliaracters in common : but the present 

 ditt'ers from the rest specifically, if I may judge from the several specimens in my 

 possession, and from three different collectors. The fronds are from a span to a 

 foot high, bipinnate : the secondary pinnaj all trifoliolate, except the ultimate ones, 

 which are simple and solitary, all opposite, and the pinnule so formed and so 

 arranged in the tritoliolate pinna; as to resemble the claws of the foot of a small 

 bird, each terminated with a distinct mucro. I have never received any speci- 

 mens but from California. The terete appearance of the pinnules is caused by 

 the strongly revolute margins, completely enclosing the fructifications, with a deep 

 line or furrow, formed by their approximated margins, at the back of the frond, 



20. P. rigida ; caudex scarcely any, roots tufted very 

 wiry, fronds ovate or deltoid-ovate bi-tripinnate, pinnee op- 

 posite, pinnules sessile subopposite or alternate deltoid-lan- 

 ceolate rather obtuse, the margins crenate and ciliate, decur- 

 rent at the base, inferior ones often with an acute lobe on 

 the upper base, sori contiimous formed of the revolute mar- 

 gin subcrenate, stipes and rachis purple-ebeneous glossy very 

 paleaceous, scales spreading. — Allosorus rigidus, Fresl, Kze. 

 Si/n. Fil. Peep, in Linncea, ix. p. 55, and in Lin?icEa, xiii. p. 

 137. Liebm. Fil. Max. p. 70. Pteris rigida, Sw. Syn. Fil. 

 jjp. 104 and 299. Willd. Sp. PL v. p. 3S4. Pteris cartilagi- 

 nea, Presl, Reliq. Hank. p. 67, t. 9, /'. 3. Pteris acutangula, 

 Ntes in Linncea, xix. p. 684. 



Hab. Peru; Chalma (an prope Chalcua.', Kze.), L. Nee. Sterile rocks, near 

 San Rafael and Ambu, Pmpiny. Mexico (Prexl), Liebmann, Aschenboni. C. Ehren- 

 bery, Liebold in Herb. J. Smith. — Presl seemed to suspect that his PL cartila- 

 yiiica might prove a glaljrous fronded variety of the Pt. riyida of Swartz, and 

 Kunze confirmed this suspicion. The only specimens that have come under my 

 notice are in Mr. J. Smith's Herbarium, from Mexico, and of these Presl's is a 

 very faithful representation, as to general outline; and, as may be seen by his 

 figure, the general form and composition are not very unlike exceedingly small 

 siiecimens oi Pier is (Allosorus, Pr.) aquilina ; not so near however as to justify 

 the opinion o. Link, of whom Kunze says, "Qua ratione ductus cl. Link (Hort. 

 liciui. ii. p. 33), P.cartilagineam, Presl, aju/Vma; varietatem autuniare possit, non 

 intelligo." 



Mr. Smith's specimens are very perfect. The largest specimen is a foot high. 



