PTEBIS. 183 



acuminata, Desv. {fide Ag.). Pt. biaurita, /3 edentula, Kze. 

 in Linn(Ba, \x. p. 75 ? Plum. Fil. t. 13 ayid 14 [Ag.). 



Hab. Martinique and Hispaniola, Plumier. French Guiana, Leprieur. Trini- 

 dad, Sir Ralph Woodford. Porto Rico, Baron de Shack. Peru ? Poeppig. — Tliis 

 is a large handsome-growing plant, of which the figures in Plumier are perhaps 

 less exaggerated than usual, yet, except the greater size, I do not see how it is to 

 be separated from our Pt. quadriaurita. Willdenow says it is distinguished 

 from its allies by the aculeated stipes (our plant from Porto Rico, referred to by 

 Agardh, has the stipes quite smooth), and by the lower pinnae, not the lowest 

 only, being bipartite. Agardh, on the other hand, who has examined Plumier's 

 original plant, as well as other specimens, remarks that he has only seen the low- 

 est pinna; bipartite, as in our specimens. The name {"pimffens") is given by 

 Willdenow, no doubt from the presence of the spinules seen at the union of the 

 costule with the costa, represented, but much exaggerated, by Plumier, tab. 14; 

 but they are common to most, if not all, of this group. My original specimens 

 of Kunze's Pteris biaurita, fi, are very different from our Pt. biaurita, and may 

 perhaps be referred here. They have nothing of the venation of Campteria, to 

 which genus or section that species is now referred. 



40. Pt. (Eupteris) deltea, Ag. ; frond a foot long ovate- 

 acuminate membranaceous pinnate, pinnae (about 13) sub- 

 petiolate lanceolate acuminate caudate lowest pair with two 

 unequal pinnae at their base all of them pinnatifid even to 

 the rachis so as to be almost pinnulate, segments lanceolato- 

 triangular sharply acuminate subserrate decurrent at the 

 base, veins obscure forked near the middle, sori elongated, 

 involucres narrow, stipes and main rachis brown, secondary 

 rachises stramineous. (Tab. CXXXV. B.) — Ag. Sp. Gen. 

 Fterid.p. 33. 



Hab. Otaheite, Menzies (not Mathews, as in Agardh). The form of the seg- 

 ments, so deeply cut indeed as to be almost distinct pinnules, is very peculiar ; 

 nevertheless it may possibly prove to be an abnormal form of Pteris quadriaurita. 

 Our specimen, described by Agardh, is unique as far as we know. 



41. Pt. (Eupteris) excelsa, Gaud.; frond ample 5-6 feet 

 long submembranaceous light green pinnate, pinnae large re- 

 mote 6 inches to a foot long numerous ovato-lanceolate cau- 

 date sessile, lower ones long-petiolate, lowest pair of pinnae 

 bipartite all deeply pinnatifid nearly to the costa, segments 

 (2-4 inches long) from a broad base linear-lanceolate obtuse 

 serrated subfalcate lower base decurrent, veins free forked at 

 or near the middle, involucres continuous from the base al- 

 most to the apex rather broad, stipes very stout and flexuose, 

 rachises bright castaneous glossy. (Tab. CXXXVI.) — Gaud, 

 in Freijc. Voij. Bot. p. 388. ^Ag. Sp. Gen. Plerid. p. 21. 

 Brackenr. Fil. of the U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 115. Pt. terminalis, 

 Wall. Cat. n. 101. Ag. Sp. Gen. Pterid. p. 20. Brackenr. 



