92 



C(.'llent specimen does not show the trace of an involucre. The frond, however, 

 is very coriaceous and hairy, and the caiidex is stout l)ut sul)repent. 



54. N. (Lastrea) crinibnlbon. Hook. ; caudex stout ascend- 

 ing, stipites tufted dark brown 7-10 inches king subflexuose 

 thickening at tlie base glandidoso-pilose as well as the rachis 

 and crinite with blackish hair-like spreading scales which 

 arise from a minute tubercle or bulb, 10-1 G inches long dark 

 green meniliranaceous firm viscido-pilose especially beneath 

 and on the veins above pilose with long white pellucid hairs 

 ovate acuminate pinnate pinnatifid at the apex, pinnse rather 

 distant 2-4 inches long spreading lowest pairs deflexed and 

 distinctly petiolate the rest sessile oblong-lanceolate acumi- 

 nate deeply pinnatifid nearly to the costa, the acuminated 

 apex nearly entire, segments oblique scarcely falcate sub- 

 acute nearly entire, veinlets about five on each side the cos- 

 tule oblique each bearing a sorus near the apex and just 

 within the margin, involucres membranaceous brown reni- 

 form sometimes with a deep sinus and the lobes unequal. 

 (Tab. CCXLIV.) 



Ilal). Island of St. Thomas, West Coast of Tropical Africa, on mountains, alt. 

 2000 feet, Gmtav Mann. — A very distinct species, with fronds not much unlike in 

 general appearance Nephrod. ( LaslreaJ crinitum ; but the clothing of the stipes 

 and rachises, and of the costa; and veins, is very different. There is a short and 

 viscid puhescen'-e on the stipes and rachis of a yellowish hue, and longish black 

 hair-like scales arising from a little tubercle or minute bulb. 



55. iSi. (Lastrea ?) exiguum, Hook. ; "fronds pinnate linear 

 acuminate, stipes and rachis short villoso-tomentose, pinnae 

 ovato-falcate very obtuse shortly petiolate, lowest ones de- 

 flexed subcordate at the base auriculate above, veins slender 

 forked, sori round dorsal, receptacle none, capsules globose, 

 annulus of 1.3-14 articulations broad, spores short ovoid." — 

 Fee, 6me Mem. Fil. Nov. p. 13. t. 2./. 4 {under the name Phe- 

 gopteris nervosa). Lastrea exigua, /. Sm. in Hook. Bot. Joiirn. 

 \\\. p. 412. Aspidium exiguum, Kze. in Metten.p. 76. Phy- 

 sematium Philippinum, Pr. Epimel. Bat. p. 34. 



Ilab. Philippine Islands, Cuming. — Of Cum.ing's specimens, M. Fee (whose 

 figure shows what plant he means) quotes Cuming, "sine iiumero;" Mr. J. 

 Smith, "Cum. Luzon, n. 251 and 272." Dr. Mettenius the same, but he 

 makes two varieties, a and fi ; to the former he attaches Cum. XXI., and to 3 he 

 gives Cum. 251 and 272. Presl for his Physomatiiim refers to Cum. " n. 251, in 

 part." My own si)ecimens (among the first selected from Cuming's collections) 

 of 251, from S. Ilocos, and n. 274, Luzon, are, I suspect, like those of other au- 

 thors, in a very imperfect state of fructification, and have hence given rise to dif- 

 ferent views as to the genns ; yet I believe all are referable to one species, and 

 that one possessing no striking characteristic features. The general habit, size, 



