28 



FERNS: SYNOPTICAL LIST.— XXV. 



Synoptical List, with descriptions of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of 

 Jamaica, by G. S. Jenman, Superintendent Botanical Gardens, 

 Demerara, ( continued from Bulletin No. Jfi, Old Series.) 



24. Asplenium Serra, Langsd. & Fisch. — Rootstock repent, woody, 

 densely clorhed with fine reticulated dark scales ; stipites tufted, strong, 

 erect, J-l ft. 1. brown or dark, naked or puberulous ; rachis similar, 

 channelled, sparsely deciduous on the upper side ; fronds pinnate, 

 coriaceous, glabrous, dark cloudy green, glossy above, pendent or pros- 

 trate, 1-2 J ft. 1. f-lj ft. w. not reduced downwards, the acuminate 

 apex lobate-serrate ; pinnae horizontal, subdistant, 4-8 in. 1. f-1 in. w. 

 numerous, base stipitate and obliquely cuneate, broader on the superior 

 side, gradually tapering outwards to the long linear-acuminate often 

 much attenuated end ; margins incised and lobate-serrate, the teeth 

 usually grouped, becoming gradually single and distant in the outer 

 part ; veins twice or thrice forked, very acutely long-curved ; sori 

 about \ in. 1. forming a continuous series close against and almost 

 parallel with the midrib ; involucres narrow, fragile. A. erosum, Sw. 



Infrequent in forests from 4,000-6,000 ft. alt. chiefly on the 

 higher ridges and peaks ; distinguished by the parallel costal 

 lines of sori, and its larger size amongst allied species. Occa- 

 sionally an attempt is shown to form a second line of sori on each side, 

 but oblique to the primar} r normal lines. Small forms, only a few 

 inches high, fully fertile, have been gathered at lower elevations, in 

 St. George's, Portland. The serration is interrupted in groups in the 

 larger states, and evenly uniform in the smaller. 



25. A. bisnectum, Sw. — Rootstock elongated, woody, sub-repent, 

 densely clothed with small acuminate, reticulated dark scales; stipites 

 sub-tufted, rather slender, 4-8 in. 1. dark glossy brown, rachis similar, 

 slender, fragile, channelled, slightly cilated at first ; fronds pinnate, 

 pendant or prostrate, 1-2 ft. 1. or more, 4-6 in. w., not, or hardly at 

 all, reduced at the base, tapering at the top to the inciso-serrate linear 

 point, light bright yellowish-green, glabrous, stiff ; pinnae sub-hori- 

 zontal, 20-60 or more to a side, apart, the lower sub-distant, or distant 

 '3-4 in. 1. 4-6 li. w. base stipitate and obliquely cuneate, deeper on the 

 superior side, tapering outward to the finely attenuated end, incised and 

 serrato-lobate, the teeth sharp, grouped within, gradually becoming 

 single and distant in the outer part ; veins very oblique, forked ; sori 

 1J-2 li. 1., a like space apart, close to and in line with the costa, on 

 each side of which they alternate ; involucres thin narrow. — Hook. Sp. 

 Fil. Vol. 3. t. 192. 



Infrequent in forests above 5,000 ft. alt. chiefly on the slopes of the 

 highest ridges, in peaty soil or leaf-mould and in the forks or on 

 branches of trees ; a very fine species, but the very slender rachises are 

 so brittle, though stiff that the larger fronds are rarely found unbroken. 

 The pinnae are similar in form and arrangement of the sori to those of 

 Serra but are much smaller and of a beautiful light bright yellowish 

 green colour. The margins have a very jagged aspect. 



26. A. prcemorsum, Sw. — Rootstock short, woody, erect or ob- 

 lique, wry densely clothed with blackish fine reticulated scales; sti- 

 pites tufted, erect, <> 9 in. 1., at Hi st densely tomentose, later nearly or 



