251 



1887, was between 400 and 500 ton.', of which, about half was exported. 

 About 15 tons were imported from Sicily ; this was the only import. 

 The acid is chiefly used by calico-printers; it is also om ployed in the 

 preparation of effervescing drinks and in medicine. — Thorpe's 

 Dictionary of Applied Chemistry. 



FERNS: SYNOPTICAL LIST— XL VIII. 



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

 maica. By G. S. J en man, Superintendent Botanical Garden, 

 Demerara. 



2. Vittaria lineata, Swartz. — Rootstock shortly repent, fasciculate, 

 densely clot hed with dark hair- 1 ike reticulated serrate scales ; fronds linear, 

 1-4 ft. 1. Jfh in. w., uniform, pendent in dense compact tufts, narrowed 

 gradually and thickened at the base, but with no distinct stipes, glossy, 

 deep green, thickly coria_c_aus_but pliant while green ; openly depressed 

 down the back, the under side rounded toward the base, margins as 

 thick, but the edges subrounded both above and beneath ; veins slender 

 immersed and concealed, oblique, distant, forming narrow longitu- 

 dinal areolae ; sori sunk in thread-like very narrow uninterrupted sub- 

 marginal grooves. PI. Fil. t. 143. Eaton's Fern N. Am. PI. 38. 



Very common on trees, especially on the banks of rivers at low 

 altitudes, and on rocks and trees in lorests from sea level up to almost 

 the very highest peaks Specimens from the mountain forests are 

 dwarf and not often over a foot long. The finest plants grow on the 

 branches of trees that overhang rivers among the lower hills. These 

 are horse' ail-like, in dense pendent tufts, 2-4 ft. 1. The grooves are 

 narrower and n arer the ■ dge than in the last species, the substance 

 thicker, and the margins not reduced, the corners being merely rounded. 



3 V. stipita' a, Kunze.- — Rootstock sub-repent, very short, clothed 

 with minute hair-like dark reticulated scales : stipites tufted, naked or 

 slightly scaly, dark purple, 1-3 in. 1. passing gradually into the dark- 

 green fronds, which are linear-ligulate, pendant, 1-3^ ft. 1. J-fths in. 

 w., firm, but pliant while fresh, very clear and translucent, the margins 

 slightly thickened, the edge on the underside not rounded ; veins 

 immersed very oblique, long, forming very narrow greatly elongated 

 areolae ; sori submargi' al, sunk in a narrow continuous thread like 

 gioove, falling short of the base and apex. 



Infrequent on the branches of trees over rivers, and in very wet 

 forests, chiefly among the lower hills, but ascending as high as 4,0 1)0 

 ft. altitude : most frequent on the banks of Ginger River. St. Mary, 

 gathered also at Old England, below the Government Cinchona 

 Plantations. It grows chiefly in peaty matter, which accumulates 

 about the roots of Bromeliads and on decaying wood. There are only 

 a few fronds to a single tuft, but the plants are generally aggregated 

 in a mass. In growth the fronds are exceedingly tramslucent so 

 much so that the venation ran be clearly seen a yard or two away, in 

 favourable light. The lateral veins are nearly as strong as the 

 midvein ; there being no distinct midrib as in the preceding species, 

 above the base of the fronds. 



