ii8 
BEAUTIFUL FERNS. 
Pteris subverticillata, Swartz, Syn. Fil., p. 103. — Willdenow, Sp. PI., 
V-, p. 375 - 
Hab. — Texas, Trecul, No. 1334, according to Fournier. New Mex- 
ico, Wright, according to Hooker in Filices Exoticce. The only specimens 
from Texas which I have of this species were collected by Dr. Sutton 
Hayes, near the headwaters of the Rio Colorado of Texas. It is a 
common Mexican species ; it is found as far South as Peru, and reap 
pears in the Hawaiian Islands. 
Description: — This belongs to ^he same group of spe- 
cies as P. Wrightiana, brachyptera and Ornithdpus. It has 
the same nodose and scaly root-stock, dark and polished stalk, 
glaucescent frond and mucroniilate pinnules. In Mexico, 
South America and the Hawaiian Islands it never occurs 
with more than trifoliolate pinnules, and this is perhaps the 
best reason for considering P. IVrightiana a distinct species. 
The pinnae are tripartite rather than trifoliolate, while in the 
other fern just referred to, when trifoliolate the odd pinnule 
is more distinct and usually stalked, a distinction indicated 
by Hooker, but for which I am more indebted to the accu- 
rate discrimination of Mr. Faxon. In more southern localities 
the fronds are considerably larger than Dr. Hayes’ specimens, 
and the segments of the pinnae ampler. In very dry seasons 
the pinnae are considerably deflexed. The spores are trivit- 
tate as in the related species. 
