MR. C. B. CLARKE ON THE FERNS OF NORTHERN INDIA. 501. 
polypodioides, but the ultimate segments longer; rhachis of the primary pinna 
rough with small short scales; secondary pinne eut down nearly to the rhachis 
into close, oblong, regular obtuse segments, their rhachises pubescent not squamose; 
segments 4-2 in., crenate-serrate not pinnatifid; veins mostly forked, microscopi- 
cally pilose ; involucres very short, in two oblique rows quite close to the rhachis of 
the segment. (Pl. LXV. fig. 1.) 
Sikkim, Sir J. D. Hooker; alt. 500 feet near the Teesta, C. B. Clarke. 
This fern has been placed with <Allantodia sylvatica, Blume, has been further named 
A. brevisorum, has been then, with Blume's plant, reduced to A. wmbrosum, J. Smith. 
I doubt its being the same with .4. sylvaticum, Blume; I am quite sure that it is not 
closely connected with the Himalayan .4. wmbrosum (A. procerum, Wall.); and I can 
find no other example of 4. wmbrosum at Kew approaching it. In 4. sikkimense a few 
involueres are diplazioid, all open from the outer edge, ?. e. are not allantodioid. If the 
species is not good, I think it must be added as a var. to A. polypodioides. 
49. A. PoLyPODIOIDES, Mett, Hort. Fil. Lips. 78. Caudex stout, erect, standing out of 
the ground; fronds large, ovate, 2-pinnate; secondary pinne 2-4 in., cut down 
nearly to the rhachis; segments 1-3 in., short-oblong, obtuse, patent nearly at 
right angles to the rhachis, entire or crenate-serrate not pinnatifid ; veins forked or 
simple; involucres in two oblique rows in the segments, linear little curved, com- 
mencing near the midrib, rarely extending to the margin.—Hk. & Baker, Syn. Fil. 
238; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 751. A. polymorphum, Wall. Cat. 230, in part. 
Diplazium polypodioides, Blume, Enum. Pl. Jav. Fil. 194; Carr. in Fl. Viti. 357; 
Bedd. Ferns Brit. Ind. t. 293, not Ferns South. Ind. t. 163. - 
Himalaya, alt. 2000-9000 feet, from Kashmir to Bhotan, very common. Khasia, alt. 
2000-6000 feet, very common.—Distrib. Mts. of South. India and Ceylon, Malay Penin- 
. gula and Islands, Australia. 
Caudex sometimes making a trunk 3-4 feet high. 
Var. 1. typica. Stipe and main rhachis glabrous. 
This is the type of Blume, also in Australia and Ceylon, common in the Himalaya. 
A Himalayan example of this with linear sori is in the Herbarium marked Allantodia 
sylvatica, Blume, fide Mett. 
Var. 2. vestita. Stipe and main rhachis often also the partial rhachises paleaceous, as 
well as villous subtomentose. 
This var. seems confined to the Central Himalaya ; a large form. 
Var. 3. sublatifolia. Ultimate segments larger ; sori longer, often curved. 
North-western Himalaya, alt. 3000-7000 feet.—This series of plants distinctly 
approaches 4. latifolium. 
Var. 4. effusior. Segments of the secondary pinne larger, 
them subpinnated, and the sori not in two. rows but often long. 
Sikkim, Dr. Jerdon; Hast Nepaul, Sir J. D. Hooker. 
pinnatifid, hence the veins in 
