80 



F I L I C E S. 



nature of the venation and texture of the fronds are also not very dis- 

 similar in the two plants. 



3. POLTBOTRTA OSMUND ACE A, H. B. K 



Folylotrya osmundacea, H. B. K Nov Gen. & Spec. 1, p. 28, t. 2; Willd. Spec. 

 PL 5, p. 99 ; Kaulf. Enum. Fil. p. 56 ; Hook. Gen. Fil. t. 78, B. 



Hab. Organ Mountains, and Corcovado, near Rio Janeiro, Brazil. 



Specimens of this from the vicinity of Rio have the rhachis, costa, 

 and veins sparsely pilose underneath ; while in those from the Organ 

 Mountains the hairs are confined to the rhachis and costa. 



4. POLYBOTRYA WlLKESIANA, Sp. Nov. (Tab. 10.) 



P. rhizomate scandente; stipite semitereti superne sidcato vix piloso , 

 frondibus glabris bipimiatis; pinnis oblongo-lanceolatis ; pinnulis ste- 

 rilibus submembranaceis sessilibus lanceolatis margine serratis bad 

 oblique cuneatis integris, fertilibm rninoribus subpetiolatis linearibus 

 obtusis subtus sporangiferis ; rhachi squamoso-ldrsuta. 



Sterile and fertile fronds bipinnate, about equal in size, 2 to 2i feet 

 long, exclusive of the stipe, which is smooth, somewhat angular, 

 sulcate in front and of a pale straw colour ; the fertile one stout and 

 sparsely pilose. Pinnae on both subalternate, oblong-lanceolate, arti- 

 culate with the rhachis, rather distant and spreading ; the rhachis of 

 the sterile with a narrow margin ; that of the fertile together with 

 the main rhachis, squamose-hirsute. Pinnules 8 lines long ; sterile one 

 sessile, 2b lines broad, lanceolate and serrate, with an oblique ivedge- 

 shaped base; the fertile smaller, linear, obtuse, entire, and petiolate, 

 petiole compressed, the margin slightly reflexed, entire, and sporan- 

 giferous beneath. Rootstock climbing. 



We are not acquainted with any species to which this is closely 

 allied. 



Plate 10.— Fig. 1. 1. Fronds, of the natural size. 1 a. Fertile 

 pinnule. 1 b. Sterile pinnule. 1 c. Scales, from the rhachis. 1 d. 

 Sporangium. — Magnified. 



