31. PFERIS, § EUPTERIS. 1 o'J 



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

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



24. P. excelsa, Gaud. ; st. stout (J-§ in. thick), erect, naked, c:loss.y, pale-brown ; 

 fr. 5-G ft. 1. ; tcnnmal phma 1 ft. or more 1., 3 in. br., witli numerous closely- 

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

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

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

 inclies 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. f. 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. imngcns, Willd. ; st. 1 ft. or more 1., naked, distinctly prickly, glossy, 

 ])ale or brownish ; fr. 1-2 ft. 1., 12-18 in. br. ; terminal pinna sometimes 1 ft. 1., 

 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 ; 'pinna; 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 tlie 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. qiiadiiaurita. Poppig's Peruvian plant, called 

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



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

 //•. 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., j in. br., cut down 

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

 within a short distance of the base ; lateral pinnw 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. t. 188. 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. flabello.ta. P. angusta of 

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

 differs in texture. ^ 



27. V.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. 1 ft. or more each way ; 

 terininal pinna Q-Q in. 1., \\ in.br., made up of numerous contiguous falcate linear 

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

 rated ; pinnoe 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 />m??/. from its under side ; texture coriaceous ; rachises scaly and asperous 

 like the stipe; wins 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. Novce-Caledonice, Hk. ; st. 1 ft. or more 1., erect, polished, naked, bright 

 claret-brown ;fr. ample ; terminal piniia 6-9 in. 1., \\ in. br., made up of numerous 



