OLEANDRA.

157

Hab. Tropical and subtropical Asia . Java , Thunberg, Blume, Reinwardt, Be-langer, Thos. Lohb, De Vriese and Teijsmann, n. 66, 342. Luzon , Ne'e. Mishmee,Assam , Griffith. Khasva and north to Sikkim , Hook. Jil. and Thomson. Nepal ,Wallich. Ovalau and Fiji Islands , Brackenridge, Milne, and Aneiteum, C. Moore,all with the sori quite costal. Ceylon, Gardner. Bourbon, Mauritius (Aspid.articulatum, Sieb. Syn. Fil. n. 3), Bojer. Macalisberg, South Africa , Burke, n.530 (an O. articulata, Pappe and Rawson?). Tropical West Africa: Fernando Po , G. Mann and Barter (normal state); Prince’s Island, Barter , in Baikie’sNiger Exp. n. 1928. South America : New Granada, Purdie (the same as theIndian form, hut petioles scaly), Karsten; Peru , Lechler (0. micans, Kze., costapubescent beneath.—£. Malay Archipelago and Islands , Griffith, Thos. Lohb, SirWm. Norris. — y. Luzon , Cuming, n. 94. “ Java ( Miquel ),” according to Kze. (I

possess what I consider the same from Miquel, marked “ 0. pilosa, Hook., fromSurinam ”). French and British Guiana, Le Prieur, Schomburgk , n. 416. NewGranada, Purdie. —Presl alone enumerates twelve species of Oleandra, and tothese M. Karsten has lately added another ; but if those species that I am un-acquainted with in an authentic form are no better than those I am able to verify,it is quite certain there are more species than there are good ones. It is impos-sible, with the extensive suites of specimens before me from Asia , Africa , Ame­ rica , and Polynesia , not to see that the individuals of this genus are peculiarlyliable to vary. One of the best characters to rely upon is, perhaps, the relativelength of the joints of the petiole, though this is not an unerring one. The pre-sent species is remarkable for the length and somewhat erect habit of the stoutcaudex, and the shortness of the petiole, especially of the lower joint.

2. O. nodosa , Pr.; caudex creeping scarcely so thick as agoose-quill moderately branched crinite with subulato-seta-ceous ferruginous flexuose or subsecund spreading scales,stipites distant 2-4-6 and even 8 inches long smooth andpolished nodoso-articulate below the middle, lower joint aninch or more long, fronds 8-12 inches long satiny-mem-branaceous lanceolate finely acuminate 2-2| inches broad,sori in two or more flexuose series with many scattered onesbut not extending to the margin, involucres dark-brown re-niform.— Pr. Tent. Pterid.p. 78. Aspid. nodosum, Willd. Sp.PL v. p. 211. Hook. Ex. FI. t. 117- A. articulatum, Schk.Fil. t. 27. Lingua cervina lucida, Plum. Fil. p. 118. t. 136.

Hab. West Indies , frequent: Martinique , Plumier; St. Vincent’s, Cuba , Tri­ nidad , Dominica , Jamaica , Guadeloupe , etc. Guiana , Sagot, Le Prieur, Schom­ burgk , Appun. Tropical West Africa : Fernando Po , on Oil-Palms, Barter ; onthe Peak, alt. 2000 feet, G. Mann (less satiny, but the costa beneath dark-brownand very glossy); Madagascar ?, in Herb, nostr. (petioles of O. nodosa, butfrond and fructifications of O. neriiformis ; the portion of the stipes, too, at-tached to the fronds, more resembles the latter species.)

3. O. hirta, Brack.; “caudex creeping paleaceous-hirsutearticulated in the middle, fronds membranaceous lanceolateacute attenuated at the base paleaceo-hirsute on both sides,costa sparingly paleaceous beneath, son almost biserial irre-gular, involucres reniform entire sparingly pilose. — Track.Fil. U. S. Expl. Exp.p. 214. t. 29.