— A most distinct and well defined, apparently exceedingly rare species, and for a 

 long time supposed to i)e peculiar to Jamaica. Recently I have received beautiful 

 specimens from Mr. C. W^right, gathered in Cuba. 



2. A. (Polystichum) Plaschnichianum, Kze. ; caudex small 

 erect, stipites tufted slender laxly paleaceous 4-6 inches lonir, 

 fronds from a broad cuneate base lanceolate gradually acumi- 

 nate 4-5 inches long rooting at the obtuse apex subcoriace- 

 ous entire cuneate at the base or more or less pinnatifid with 

 the lobes rounded subcrenate rarely with the lowest pair free 

 sessile and decurrent, sori scattered or in two series one on 

 each side the costa (Tab. CCXL). — Kze. in Linnea, xxiii. 

 p. 302. 



Ilab. Jamaica, Wilson ; wet shady places, St. George's parish, Purdie. — This 

 is a very rare plant, only known to the author, Kunze, l)y a solitary cultivated 

 specimen. I have been more fortunate in possessing specimens direct from Jamaica. 

 It is the most simple-fronded of all the Polystichum group of Aspidium, and is 

 certainly naturally nearly allied to A. rhizophyllum, L., but truly distinct (see our 

 No. 3). The veins are fascicled, and we have seen some veinlets anastomosing, 

 the superior one soriferous. 



** Fronds pinnate, or suljhipinnate ; pinnae often deeply pinnatifid. 



.3. A. (Polystichum) rhizophyllum, Sw. ; caudex small almost 

 none copiously fibrous, stipites tufted ^ an inch to 2 inches 

 long paleaceous, fronds spreading 3-6-7 inches long sub- 

 membranaceous lanceolate pinnated, pinnae 6-8 pairs oval 

 or suborbicular nearly entire superior ones coadunate and 

 terminating in a longer very gradually and finely attenuated 

 extremity often proliferous at the narrow point, sori irregularly 

 scattered, rachis winged. — Sw. Si/n. Fil. p. 44. IVilld. Sp. 

 PL V. p. 219. Hook, et Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 59. Polypod. Sw. 

 Prodr. p. 132. Nephrod. Pr. Reliq. Hank. p. 31. Polyst. 

 Pr. Tent. Pterid. p. 82. Asp. reptans, var. 3. radicans, Met- 

 ten. Aspid. p. 99, Jide specim. Peep. 



Hah. Jamaica, Wiles, Wilson, Purdie ; Cuba., Pwppiff. — This, with much the 

 general hal)it and proliferous apex of ^. Plaschnichianum, may at once be known 

 by its smaller size, thinner frond, the lower half or more pinnate, with the pinnae 

 often petiolate and by the very long and finely attenuated ultimate pinna. 



4. A. (Polystichnm) T/iotnsoni, Hook.; caudex short thick 

 scaly, stipites tufted 1-3-4 inches long paleaceous with large 

 scales, fronds 6-8 inches long lanceolate acuminate chartaceo- 

 membranaceous pinnate, pinnie subsessile 3-4 inches long 

 deltoid-ovate or semiovate acute subauricled and deeply pin- 

 natifid (especially at the superior margin), lobes small ovate 

 inciso-serrate, teeth setoso-spinulose, sori solitary on each 



