16 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
enough to distinguish it an^^where. There are first 
certain round-ended or spatulate fronds for purely vege- 
tative functions, oftenest seen in ^^oung specimens ^ 
second, there are other lanceolate tapering fronds vv^hich 
do the walking" and which are manifestl}- later leaves 
like the first form, but Avith prolonged, slender tips, and 
lastly there are the paddle-shaped fertile fronds which are 
like neither of the others. The margins of all are entire. 
This species grows on springy banks in the open sun 
or partial shade and in certain localities is very plentifuL 
The rather thick and leathery sterile fronds spread out in 
the form of a rosette and the slender tips rarely fail to 
produce new plants which, in the genial climate of their 
habitat, soon reach the size of their parents. The fertile 
fronds are erect and their manner of fruiting, though 
allied to the wood -ferns, differs enough to cause the 
species to be placed in a separate genus. On each side of 
the mid-rib is a single row of horse-shoe-shaped sori 
pointing toward the tip, covered by oval indusia fixed 
by the center and base and open all round the outer 
margin. The sori have a general resemblance to those 
of the wood-fern (Nephrodium) tribe, and as might be 
surmised the genus is placed with them in the tribe 
Aspidieae, which also includes the sword ferns {Nephrole- 
pis). The sori are unusually large and occupy most of 
the space on the narrow fronds. 
The fronds of the Jamaican walking fern are scarcely 
longer than those of our familiar native species, but the 
sterile are much broader and the plant appears much 
larger in consequence. By many it is supposed to grow 
only in Jamaica, but it has been reported from Cuba, 
also. Jamaica, however, appears to be the only laud 
where it is abundant.— VFiViarc/ N. ClutCy in The Fern 
Bulletin, 
