78 BUR}i[A, ITS PEOriE AXD PRODUCTIOXS. 



mass of tangled roots a foot or more higli ; they (the fronds) are simply pinnate, 

 1-2 feet long, and droop in a graceful curve outwards from a common centre. Tlie 

 pinnre arc long, narrow and acute, some of the middle or lower ones being fertile, 

 and thereby contracted into small bundles of sori on the costa. This fern affects 

 a peculiar habitat, rocks and stones just above the high- water level of mountain 

 torrents, in the rocky beds of which I have invariably found it. Among otlier 

 localities I recollect one — at the foot of the fine waterfall that descends from No-a- 

 la-bo, visible from Tavoy. Here it grows abundantly in company with fine specimens 

 of Cihotium ylauccscena. 



As our European Osmmula regalis is found in the Xilghiris, it may possibly 

 gi'ow also in Burma, though I never met with it. 



ScniZtRA ' DIGITATA, SlO. 



A singular little tei-restrial fern, with barren fronds just like a blade of grass, 

 8 inches to a foot long, g or J broad only. The fertile fronds have their fructifica- 

 tion at the end, which is divided into a number of narrow linear spikes about \h 

 inch long. As it grows in the ground among other vegetation, it may easily escape 

 notice. 



Loc. Madi-emacam, Mergui, near the top of Patau. 



LTGODirM,' 8w. 



A genus of climbing and twining ferns of elegant habit. I find three species : 

 L. acandtns, L. jniuKifiJiilnm, and L. polijsfticliyum. The first two are common and 

 must have attracted the attention of all persons of observation who have taken their 

 walks abroad in Burma. The last is a rarer plant. One locality is Madi'cmacam, 

 Mergui. 



ANCIOrTERIS^ EVECTA, Illjffm. 



A large smooth lively green fern, veiT common on the banks of streams througli- 

 out Burma. In the Synopsis it is described as having a caudex (or trunk) 2-6 feet 

 high, and fronds 6-15 feet long. As it has been found in many widely separated 

 parts of the world, this general description is no doubt correct ; but it certainly docs 

 not developc these large proportions in the Tenassorim Provinces. As I know it, it 

 has little or no caudex, the fronds spiinging from near the ground, and being 6 or 8 

 feet long. The stipites are round, smooth and swollen at the base, and have "two 

 largo leathery auricles," one on either side. The fronds are bipinnate ; pinnae 1-2 

 feet long, also swollen at their base; pinnules 6-8 inches long by 1 inch broad, 

 oblong and acuminate, the edge generally toothed. "Whole plant smooth and shiuing. 

 The sori consist of a few rather large sporangia, some dozen or so, arranged in an 

 oldong form, and are set in rows contiguous to the edge of the pinnules. I have 

 oliserved that when suffering from temporary drought, as in a hot midday sun, the 

 swollen parts, above mentioned, become relaxed, and allow the fronds and the 

 pinnules to fall back and droop in a flaccid manner ; but that they resume their right 

 position on the return of moisture to the air ; thus behaving in a directly opposite 

 manner to the swollen petioles of Banhinia, which allow the leaves to fall back and 

 fold in the damp night aii-, but are rigid in the daytime. 



' Scliizopa. irx'C" *" split, from the diaracter of the fructification. 



^ Lvffodium. I presume from A.1570S, a flexible twi<r, and eiSos, appearance, from the twisted or 

 tmninj; habit of the genus. Ulysses bound the Cyclops rams "together" \iyoiai, in his device to 

 escape from tliat interesting monster: 



"Toys aKfQ}V auv^^pyov eva'Tpetpeea'a'i \t'tyoi(TW,*^ .... 



^vvTp^is aivufievos." — Odyssey, is. 427. 



" These, three and three, with osier bands we tied." — Pope. 



' Angiopteris. &yyot, a vessel or pitcher ; and Trrepls, from the form of the sporangia, or spore- 

 cases. 



