2. POLYPODIACEjE. [15. Cheilanthes. 



hairs (as in Cheilanthes), veins pinnate or forked or both, free, or with 

 an occasional union. Sori linear occupying the whole length of the 

 veins but leaving the ends free. 



1. G. calomelanos, Kaulf. Syn. Neurogramme calomelanos. Diets ; 

 Ceropteris calomelanos, Unci. 



A pretty fern with 2-pinnate fronds 2-3 ft. long, lanceolar in outline 

 with lanceolate pinnae up to 3-4" long and narrow linear-lane, pinnules 

 cut at the base into small oblong lobes and crenate towards the apex. 

 Under-side of fertile fronds white and mealy with intermixed black 

 sporangia. Stipes dark shining chestnut with linear acuminate 

 brown scales towards base. Veins close oblique, often twice forked. 

 The sporangia have a golden annulus but appear black before bursting 

 from the black spores. 



Ditches and banks, Purneah (near Thakiirganj) ! Fr. Dec. One of the " Gold 

 and Silver Ferns." This is a native of America, tropical West Africa on the islands, 

 and has also been reported from Samoa ! Its distribution is therefore remarkable, 

 and it is remarkable that it should occiu near Thakurganj with every appearance 

 of being wild as, although it is sometimes cultivated, there are no signs of its being 

 so in that locality (a small village withoiit gardens). It has also been collected iu 

 a gully above Tika bridge near Pashok {Herb. Lacaita, 21.4.13). 



14. HEMIONITIS, L. 



Small ferns with erect or prostrate rhizome. Stipes not articulate. 

 Frond simple or lobed, rarely pinnate, usually hairy, veins copiously 

 anastomosing and forming numerous areoles with rarely a free veinlet 

 in them, which when present is also soriferous. Sori continuous 

 along the veins and copiously reticulate. Indusium 0. 



1. H. arifolia, Bedd. 



A small tufted fern with cordate ovate or hastate fronds ; barren 

 ones 2" by 1 • 5" to 6" by 3 • 5" with lobes rounded at the apex, fertile 

 fronds often as broad as long, more hastate and with acute lobes, 

 stipes of fertile frond 8-12" long, chestnut brown, fibrillose towards 

 the base, young hairy all over, of barren frond only 2-4" long. Blade 

 coriaceous, with thin long hairs beneath, venation obscure. Sporangia 

 densely covering under-surface but following the reticulate veins, the 

 costa of the lobes alone more or less bare. 



Growing in the crevices of bare rocks. Ranchi (Horhap forest, etc.) ! Piui, on 

 Khandabolo Mnt. ! Also Chilka Lake Islands, C. & N. Fr. Oct.-Jan. 



15. CHEILANTHES, ^'ty. Silver-fern. 



Usually small ferns with short erect or creeping scaly rhizome. 

 Stipes not articulate, generally clustered. Frond 3-4-pinnate or 

 pinnatifid, rarely only once pinnate and i^innatifid, more or less hairy 

 or papillose, the hairs or papillae often white-waxy and mealy, veins 

 free. Sori terminal on the thickened ends of the veins, roundish or 

 extending into a linear form and more or less confluent. Indusium 0, 

 but the sori often more or less covered by the somewhat modified at 



1199 



