nent in drying, veinlets forking usually twice, and rarely anasto- 

 mosing; the tip of the frond long acuminate (as in P. falcatum), 

 crenulate, dentate, then serrate as it gives rise to the pinnae ; sori 

 round, far apart, often irregularly disposed. 



In general appearance the plant is very different from ordi- 

 nary vulgare ; but in diagnostic characters sufficient to warrant 

 its separation from that species it seems to be lacking. It is with 

 considerable misgiving that I refer this plant to the variety acutum 

 described by Moore, f although the apical form and the shape of 

 the pinnae appear very similar, except that the West Virginia 

 fronds are rather longer and scantier. The latter circumstance 

 added to the fact of meagre fructification suggests a variation due 

 to unusual environment. The ferns grew well shaded, in con- 

 siderable abundance, forming a good sized tuft upon some slop- 

 ing rocks on the bank of Laurel creek, at Ouinnimont; and, though 

 no especial observation was made at the time, I should take them 

 to represent the common form of the locality. 



In the Underwood Herbarium is contained a sheet of speci- 

 mens from Virginia, communicated by Prof. W. A. Murrill, which 

 bear considerable resemblance to the Ouinnimont specimens, es- 

 pecially in the shape of the pinnae, but are rather smaller. Per- 

 haps both are to be referred to a southern form not yet under- 

 stood. I shall be glad to know of other collections of a form of 

 this description. 



Washington. D. C. 



MONG the interesting ferns and fern allies which Mr. Clute 



found in Jamaica is a Botrychium of the ternatum group of 



which I had previously seen only a single specimen at Kew, 

 collected by Mr. Nock, and communicated to the herbarium by 

 Mr. Jenman, for whom I had already given the plant a name in 

 my manuscript notes. It is fortunate that Mr. Clute, who is 

 familar with our eastern species, has had the opportunity to ob- 

 serve this plant in the field and add something to our knowledge 

 of its habital and seasonal characters. 



Botrychium Jenmani sp, now Root fleshy, from a short axis 

 i-2cm. long; sterile lamina separating at a height of i-2cm. and 



tMoore: Nat. Pro. Br. Ferns, 1:63. pi. II. fig. a. 1859. 



A NEW BOTRYCHIUM FROM JAMAICA 



By Lucien M. Underwood. 



