FERNS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 601 



formation as to the locality of a species The material that was at 

 my disposal cannot, of course, be compared with that of the great 

 botanical centres of Europe, but being of comparatively recent 

 origin it is distinguished just by that advantage which is very often 

 missino- in old collections, viz., accurate data as to the habitat of the 



species. 



In order to facilitate the ready formation of a general idea regard- 

 ing the plant-geographical position of our Fern-Flora I shall add to 

 each species its distribution in the Indian and Extra-Indian regions, 

 as o-iven in Beddome's " Handbook." For practical reasons I shall 

 follow the nomenclature and classification as laid down in the same 

 work, though the modern treatment of the subject would recom- 

 mend a good many changes. 



As regards the Rhizocarpece {Marsileacece and Salviniacece) I am 

 not able to give any reliable information, as the Herbaria contain 

 no specimens belonging to either of these Orders. Dalzell and 

 Gibson mention three species : Marsilea quadrifoliata, Isoetes cov<>- 

 mandelina, and Salvinia cucullata, but no habitat is given. I can 

 scarcely believe that so many industrious collectors and able 

 botanists that visited the different parts of the Presidency entirely 

 overlooked these interesting plants, and I feel sure that the European 

 Herbaria are able to supply the necessary materials. 



FILICINE.E. 



I. — Gleicheniace^e. 



1. Gleichenia linearis (Burm.) N. Kanara : above ghats : Tyagli, Yellapur, 

 Bareh, Idagoongi, Nuji, Sumkund, Nilkund, Sirsi, Jog, Hoolgeri, Harshikuta ; 

 below ghats : Herigooti, Katgal, Honswur, Kasurgode, Bhatkal, Hebunkerri ; 

 perennial, climbing to a good height over banks, (Macpherson) ; Southern 

 Mahratta Country : Castle Rock (Gammie) ; Konkan (Gray). — Mountains of 

 Southern India and Ceylon, up to 6,000 feet ; Sikkim ; Bhotan ; Nepal ; 

 Kumaon ; Khasya, etc., up to 5,000 feet ; Malay Peninsula. — Japan ; Tropical 

 Australia ; America ; Polynesia. 



II. — POLYI'ODIACEiE. 



1. — Cyathece. 



2. Cyathea spinulosa, (Wall.) N. Kanara : above ghats : Anmode, Cooesi, 

 Hoolgeri ; a tall tree fern, caudex 10-15 feet, in damp shady places, (Macpher- 

 son). — Wynaad at 3,000 feet ; South Kanara ; Coorg ; Jeypore Hill ; Nepal ; 

 Jaintea Hills. 



3. Alsophila latebrosa, (Hook ) N. Kanara : above ghats ; a lofty tree fern, 

 (Macpherson). — Nilgiris and all the Western mountains of the Madias Presi- 



