2. POLYPODIACE^. [1. Nephrodium. 



mostly minutely pubescent, and rhachis pubescent or hairy. Lobes 

 of pinnse with about 10-12 lateral venules or veins of which the 1-2 

 lowest meet in an intermediate venule. Sori one median on each venule 

 down to the basal one, sometimes nearer the apices of the basal 

 ones, -04" diam., with a Iddney-shaped indusium, or indusiura 

 caducous. 



A very common fern near streams in the forest in the dryer districts or along 

 ditches in the open in the moister districts. Pm-neah ! Santal Parg., Gamble I 

 Singbhum, common ! Angul, common ! 

 Probably in aU districts. Fr. all the year round in places. ^ ,, . ^ 



Basal scales where present narrow, pointed, brown. Fronds rather tlnn tor a 

 Nephrodium. Pinnae alternate, median 4-5" by -7- -8", sometimes lobed as much 

 as four-fifths way down, lowest distant often very short and sometunes reflexed, 

 nervation never entirely glabrous. Indusium usually pubescent or pilose. Some 

 Angul specimens are shortly hairy above. 



Var. procurrens, Baker (sp. ?). 



Root widely creeping with scattered fronds only 1-2 ft. long, oblong or lanceo- 

 late. Pinna? soft close alternate 2-3" long only, those at base short and deflexed 

 or not pilose with long white hairs both sides, cleft about fths down into falcate 

 oblong segments ; veins 5-7 each side of costule, only 1 uniting. Rhachis villose. 

 Stipes with Unear-lanceolate finely pointed scales at the base. . 



Often gregariously covering the ground under partial shade in Purneah, and is 

 I think distinct from molle ! Not in fruit. 



2. N. unitum, B. Br^- 



Rhizome widely creeping. Stipes 1-1-5 ft. long, glabrous, black 

 at base. Fronds about 1-5-2 ft. long with numerous very close 

 pinnse 3-5" long by -3- -5" broad, cut down about one-third or a little 

 more into triangular or ovate acute entire or subentire lobes, texture 

 coriaceous, veins 4-8 each side of which lowest unites some distance 

 below sinus and the next pair curving upwards sometimes unites 

 with the excurrent vein ; upper surface glabrous, under-surface 

 generally very hairy. Sori medial on the veins, sometimes nearly 

 coalescent and forming a continuous sinuous line round the pinna, 

 indusium reniform, hairy. 



A specimen named this in the Cal. Herb, from Sarguja. Wood, but it is poor and 

 not in fruit and is possibly aridiim. Abundant in tanks and places permanently 

 wet in Bengal and probably in Purneah. 



3. N. pteroides, J. Sm. 



Resembles forms of molle and unitum. Rhizome wide-creeping. 

 Stipes slender slightly scaly below up to 2 ft. Fronds 2-4 ft. long 

 with larger pinnse about 8" by -6" (up to 12" by \", Bedd.), lobed one- 

 third to half-way down into rounded-falcate or triangular lobes, 

 hirtellous on the nerves beneath ; veins 7-10, of which lowest and 

 sometimes also the next pair unite in an intercostal vein running to 

 the sinus. Rhachis and both surfaces nearly naked. Sori terminal 



* This is N. unitum according to Beddome & Clarice, i. e. Polypodium unitum, 

 (in their opinion) of Linceuus. But Christensen says this plant equals N. gongy- 

 lodes and that N. cucidlatum. Baker, is the P. unitum, L. In N. cucullatum the 

 sori are at tlae apex of the veins, lower pinnse dwindle to auricles and 3-5 

 veins tmite. 



76 1187 



