ASPIDIUM, § POLYSTICHUM.

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—A most distinct and well defined, apparently exceedingly rare species, and for along time supposed to be peculiar to Jamaica . Recently I have received beautifulspecimens from Mr. C. Wright, gathered in Cuba.

* l C* 2 - A. (Polystichum) Plaschnichianwn, Kze.; caudex smallerect, stipites tufted slender laxly paleaceous 4-6 inches long,fronds from a broad cuneate base lanceolate gradually acumi-nate 4—5 inches long rooting at the obtuse apex subcoriace-ous entire cuneate at the base or more or less pinnatifid withthe lobes rounded subcrenate rarely with the lowest pair freesessile and decurrent, sori scattered or in two series one oneach side the costa (Tab. CCXI.).— Kze. in Linnea, xxiii.p. 302.

Hab. Jamaica , Wilson ; wet shady places, St. George’s parish, Purdie. —Thisis a very rare plant, only known to the author, Kunze, by a solitary cultivatedspecimen. I have been more fortunate in possessing specimens direct from Jamaica .It is the most simple-fronded of all the Polystiolmm group of Aspidium, and iscertainly naturally nearly allied to A. rhizophyllnm, L., but truly distinct (see ourNo. 3). The veins are fascicled, and we have seen some veinlets anastomosing,the superior one soriferous.

** Fronds pinnate, or subbipinnate ; pinnm often deeply pinnatifid.

( C , ' 3. A. (Polystichum) rhizophyllum, S\v.; caudex small almost

none copiously fibrous, stipites tufted £ an inch to 2 incheslong paleaceous, fronds spreading 3-6-7 inches long sub-membranaceous lanceolate pinnated, pinnae 6-8 pairs ovalor suborbicular nearly entire superior ones coadunate andterminating in a longer very gradually and finely attenuatedextremity often proliferous at the narrow point, sori irregularlyscattered, rachis winged.— Sw. Syn. Fil. p. 44. Willd. Sp.PI. v. p. 219. Hook, et Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 59. Polypod. Sw.Prodr. p. 132. Nephrod. Pr. Reliq. Hank. p. 31. Polyst.Pr. Tent. Pterid. p. 82. Asp. reptans, var. 3. radicans, Met-ten. Aspid.p. 99,,/ide specim. Peep.

Hab. Jamaica , Wiles, Wilson, Purdie; Cuba , Peeppiy. —This, with much thegeneral habit and proliferous apex of A. Plaschnichianum, may at once be knownby its smaller size, thinner frond, the lower half or more pinnate, with the pinnreoften petiolate and by the very long and finely attenuated ultimate pinna.

( C . 4. A. (Polystichum) Thomsoni, Hook.; caudex short thick

scaly, stipites tufted 1-3-4 inches long paleaceous with largescales, fronds 6-8 inches long lanceolate acuminate chartaceo-membranaceous pinnate, pinnae subsessile 3-4 inches longdeltoid-ovate or seniiovate acute subauricled and deeply pin-natifid (especially at the superior margin), lobes small ovateinciso-serrate, teeth setoso-spinulose, sori solitary on each