2. POLYPODIACEM. [6. Humata. 



a smaller rounded one ; margin entire or crenate or sub-serrate, 

 glabrous both sides or very scaly when young or lower surface hairy. 

 8ori in a line quite close to the margin with firm reniform (or orbicular 

 but attached on one, the inner, side), -04" diam. 



Bonai, Grieve ! Very frequently cultivated in pots. Fr. May-July. Grieve 

 described his specimen as climbing, but it appears to be ezaltata (which is common 

 in some of the Central Provinces' hills !) with rather more rambUng fronds than 

 usual. 



Young unfolded fronds covered with dense dark subulate scales. 



2. N. cordifolia, Presl. 



A tufted fern developing long rooting stolons especially in wet 

 places on which are produced stalked hairy and scaly brown bulbils 

 or tubers up to -5" diam. or more. Fronds 1-2 ft. long, linear or 

 linear-oblong A^ith a wiry slightlj^ scaly or hairy stipes 1-4" long. 

 Pinnae very crowded, with the acroscopic auricle often overlapping 

 the top of the rhachis and the base of the next pinna, attaining 1-1-3" 

 long by -3- -6" broad but usually much smaller and the basal ones 

 reduced to broadly oblong or orbicular superiorly lobed auricles, apex 

 of pinnse mostly rounded, margin entire or slightly crenate, base 

 truncate or cordate, surfaces nearly glabrous, the cretaceous dots 

 often conspicuous as small discs. Sori nearly equidistant from margin 

 and midrib, •04"-- 05" diam., indusium persistent, nephroid with 

 broad sinus or attachment base. 



On moist shady banks and hillsides. This occurs often in association with 

 N. exaltata in the Central Province's mountains and will probably be fotmd in the 

 western mountains of our area. It is very frequently seen in cultivation in grass 

 greenhouses and verandahs. Fr. April-July. 



6. HUMATA, Cav. 

 (Includes Leucostegia, Presl.) 



Ferns with creeping rhizome, growing usually on trees and rocks. 

 Stipes scaly, articulate to the scaly rhizome. Frond coriaceous 

 (Humata) or membranous (Leucostegia) 1-4-pinnate or -pinnatifid ; 

 veins simple or forked with free venules. Sori terminal marginal on 

 the underside of the margin with a sub-orbicular or reniform thin or 

 coriaceous indusium attached by a broad base but free at the sides 

 and apex. Receptacle minute. 

 Scales slender. Frond 2-3-pinnate. Ultimate segments obovate, 



lobulate crenate or dentate . . . . . . .1. immersa. 



Scales broad rounded. Frond 3-4-pinnate. Ultimate segments 



lanceolate deeply cut into few short linear lobes . , . .2. pulchra. 



1. H. immersa, Dlels. Syn. Leucostegia immersa, Hk. ; Davallia 

 immersa. Wall. ; Davallia multiflora, Roxb. (Beng. PL). 

 A very pretty fern with the rhizome mostly underground, creeping, 

 on the exposed parts covered with slender scales or fibrillse. Fronds 

 2-pinnate and pinnatifid or 3-pinnate, ovate in outline, 4" by 2" to 

 9" by 4-5" with a polished glabrous erect pale brown stipes 6-8" long. 

 Secondary pinnae with slender stalks, in our specimens only pinnatifid 



1193 



