340 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURALHISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV III. 



On the question of creeping or erect rhizomes the attention of botanists in the 

 field is much needed. Is the difference always specific, or is a creeping rhizome 

 ever brought about only by such causes as very wet ground, or very rich loose 

 soil, etc.? 



Polystichum Duthiei (Hope). — This is Polystichum lachenense. Hook. Hope says 

 the pinnae are never spinulose as figured by Hooker. I have 2 specimens of 

 this, received from Dr. Duthie collected above Chimpul at 15,000' elevation ; in 

 one the pinnules are bluntly crenate as figured by Hope, in the other spinosely- 

 serrated as figured by Hooker. Mr. Hope would never allow for any variation 

 in ferns, but wished to make a new species where the slightest variation occurred. 

 Lastrea Gumblei (Hope).— This fern, which is common on the Nilgiris as well 

 as in the North, is atrata, Wall. Cat. 380, fully described by Kunze in Linnaea, 

 XXIV, part iii, p. 279, as Aspidium (Nephrodium S. Lastrea) atratum, Wall.. 

 Kunze stating that it is very closely allied to hirtipes. It is only a black-scaled 

 variety of that species, botanists of late not even considering it worthy of a 

 varietal name ; if such is necessary it should be hirtipes var. atrata, Wall. 



Lastrea repens (Hope). — This is the cana of Baker and of my hand-book though 

 not, I believe, of Wallich ; itisappendiculata, Wall. Cat. 349, type sheet, and eber- 

 neum, Wall. Cat. 389, type sheet. Until quite lately when it was found to have 

 a widely creeping rhizome, it has been confounded with ochthodes (prolixum. 

 Baker, in part) which is a very similar fern but with an erect caudex and 

 furnished with glands at the base of the pinnae. This cana was also figured by mc 

 pi, ccclxx, Supplement to the Ferns of Southern India and British India under 

 the incorrect name of Bergiana Schl. ; the lower pinnae are sometimes though not 

 always reduced to auricles. A new name as proposed by Hope is quite 

 unnecessary. 



Lastrei Kingi (Hope). — I cannot distinguish this from serrato-dentata ; the 

 very slight difference pointed out by Hope is not sufficient to constitute a 

 species. For me they are both only variations of the very variable filix-mas. 



Laxtrm Blaufurdi (Hope). — This is, I think, only a more simple form of the 

 fern Mr. Hope calls ramosa. Blanford and others never attempted to separate 

 it from that species. 



Lastrea ramosa (JHope). — This is the fern we have hitherto known as spinu- 

 losa var. remota. Mr. Hope may be right in separating it specifically from the 

 European form, but I should be sorry to give a decided opinion on the question. 

 It is one of those critical points on which botanists seldom agree. I myself 

 still keep this fern under remota, seeing only slight variation from the European 

 form. 



Nephrod urn papilio (Hope). — I have no hesitation in saying this is only a 

 form or variety of molle, as I have examples quite intermediate. It is var. 

 major of my supplement. 



Nephrodium oecultum (Hope). — This is the fern I have described as papyr- 

 aceum at page 69, supplement to hand-book. I am afraid it is scarcely specifi- 

 cally distinct from aridum. 



