THE UNCOMO-COMO OF NATAL. Sil! 
guish our present Fern from Dipteris (whether a genus or subgenus), 
there are assuredly none to separate it from the Phymatodes (or Dry- 
naria, Bory) group of Polypodium: for though there are numerous 
forms of venation in that genus or subgenus, it would be easy to point 
out species with almost exactly analogous venation: take the Polypo- 
dium tridactylum, Wall., for example (Hook. et Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 219), 
where too there is an approach in the frond to a digitate character, 
“ profunde digitato-tripartita ;” and in that group appears to me its 
proper place. 
Tas. XI. Plant :—wzat. size. 1. Portion of the upper side of a 
frond :—magnified. 2. Portion of the under side, with sori :—magnified. 
——— —— 
The Uncomo-como, or I’komo-komo, of Natal. 
[The following has just: been communicated to us by Mr. Moore: it 
would be a boon to science if all botanists would follow Mr. Moore's 
excellent example, and correct their often unavoidable errors as soon as 
discovered.—Ep.] 
In reference to the I’komo-komo, mentioned at page 227, Mr. D. 
Hanbury has called my ‘attention to a medicinal Fern, Uncomo-como, 
mentioned by Dr. Pappe in his Cape medical flora, as being used by 
the Zulu Caffres. This Fern is there identified with the Aspidium 
athamanticum of Kunze. On again turning to Kunze’s own description 
of that species (Linnea, xviii. 123), I find 7ncomo-como quoted as its 
native Caffre name. This had been previously overlooked in conse- 
quence of Kunze’s statement, that the Fern he was describing was a 
Nephrodium ; and notwithstanding some points of resemblance, I should 
still have considered the Aspidium athamanticum distinct from the Fern 
I have described as Lastrea Plantii (the latter not being a “ Nephro- 
dium,” not having a “lanceolate” frond, nor “very remote” lower 
pinnee, and none of them being “ oblong,” as Kunze describes his to 
have been), had not an authentic specimen of Kunze’s plant in Sir W. 
Hooker’s herbarium proved the two to be identical, as I learn from 
Mr. J. Smith, who has compared them. Such being the case, it only 
remains to cancel the name Lastrea Plantii, and to substitute that of 
Lastrea athamantica for the no. 313 of Mr. Plant's collection. 
T. MOORE. 
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