2. POLTPODIACEJE. [1. NephbodifIc. 



adjacent segments. Indusium round-cordate, persistent 

 (except in moulmeinense). 



1. Veins quite free. 



Fronds nearly or quite 2-pinnate. Fertile uidike 

 the barren . . . . , . . .1. cochlentum. 



Fronds pinnate and pinnatisect, with narrow 

 falcate segments . . . . . .2. falcilobum. 



2. One or more of the veins uniting with those of 



the next segment or costa. 

 Pinnae pinnatilobed, lobes oblong • • .3. molle. 



Pinnae toothed. Indusium evanescent . . 4. moulmeinense. 



1. N. cochleatum, #o». 



Barren fronds larg^, snb-2-pinnate, or pinnate and pinnati- 

 sect, old glabrous, reaching 3J ft. by 15". Fertile smaller, 

 thickly covered on the somewhat concave under-surface of 

 the pinnnles with the brown indusia of the large sori. 



On shady banks and near streams, common in Sal forests etc. Sing- 

 bhnm ; common on Parasnath (Hazaribagh) ; and on the Tundi Hills 

 (Manbhum) 1 ; Sant. Par. ; Fr. Nov.-Dec. 



Rhizome horizontal stout thickly covered with the old leaf -bat os and 

 with large light-brown shining scales at the apex. Fronds tufted. Stipes 

 up to l?ft. in barren and 2 ft. in fertile fronds, base scaly and hairy. 

 Pinna of barren frond 12-17 pairs sub-opp. lanceolate-acuminate," basal 

 not parallel to the others ; pinnules f-lf " lobed or orenate and distinctly, 

 serrate ; sec. rachis usually with a narrow wing. Fertile frond sometimes 

 with long soft brown hairs on the firm round rachis ; pinnules i-1" 

 eerrate. 



2. N. falcilobum, Booh. Syn, N. calcaratum, var* 



falciloba, Bedd, 



A very elegant tnfted fern with pinnate tufted fronds 

 abont 18" long, with close linear lanceolate deeply pinnatifid 

 pinnsa, and remarkable for the bract- like appendages on 

 the stipes and also at the base of many of the lower 

 pinnsa. 



Along streams in the forest. Fr. March-April. 



1 Campbell under Lastrea Filix-mas. 

 131 



G% 



