21. Pleopeltis.] 2. POLYPODIACEyE. 



2. P. simplex, Bedel. Syn. Polypodium simplex, Sw. 



With regard to this fern Beddome states that it is very like P. 

 lineare only the fronds are of thinner texture and much larger, up to 

 2 ft. long by 1-2" broad, the veins more distinct, the sori always more 

 or less deeply sunk and forming pustules on the upper side of the 

 fronds, sometimes quite sunk in a cyst with visible margins. 



A specimen from Parasnath called P. simplex in the Cal. Herb, (apparently the 

 one from Chota Xagpur in Beng. PL) appears to be P. lineare, but the two are 

 united by Hooker d: Clarke according to Beddome. Clarke does not mention simplex 

 in his Ferns of Northern India, though from his description of lineare he includes 

 it. According to Chrisiensen, P. simplex = Polypodium excavatum, Bory, and is 

 var. |3 of Polypodium lineare in Hooker & Baker's ferns, i. e. the larger variety with 

 fronds sometimes 18"-2 ft. long and 2" broad, texture thinner and veins more 

 distinct. In our P. lineare the venation is very obscure. 



3. P. membranacea, Bedd. Syn. Polypodium membranaceum, Don, 

 Rhizome short-creeping, the younger portion densely covered with 



dark grey lanceolate or ovate acuminate scales. Fronds scattered 

 or almost tufted, subsessile or with a winged stipes gradually passing 

 into base of the frond, the latter lanceolate or oblong, 6" to 15" (in our 

 area, sometimes much larger in the Central Provinces hills, etc.), 

 acuminate, rather suddenly narrowed at base, membranous with the 

 numerous subparallel veins or costules distinct, spreading at a Avide 

 angle from the costa and nearly reaching margin, which is entire, 

 undulate or sinuate ; veins between the costules very reticulate and 

 the areoles including many free venules. Sori -06- -07" diam. only, 

 rather scattered on the anastomosis. 



Singbhum, Saranda forests above 1000 ft. on trees in ravines ! Hazaribagh on 

 Parasnath ! Fr. Sept. Dries up in c.s. 



4. P. punctata, Bedd. Syn. Acrostichum punctatum, L. ; Polypodium 



irioides, Hook. 

 A Hart's-tongue-like fern with scarcely creeping rhizome with 

 brownish ovate or lane, scales. Fronds 9"-3 ft. long and 1-3" broad, 

 base gradually tapering to a very short stipes, apex acute or obtuse, 

 texture somewhat fleshy-coriaceous with the venation immersed when 

 fresh, visible when dry, weak with numerous branched free veinlets 

 in the areoles which have clavate apices. Sori compital, very small 

 or m.s. and up to '05" diam., often confined to the upper half of the 

 frond. 



Pumeah, J. D. H. & T. T. ! Balasore Hills. Blandford ! Very common on trees 

 near Calcutta and probably in the adjacent parts of Orissa. Fr. May. 



22. NIPHOBOLUS, Kaulf. 

 Usually rather small and mostly epiphytic ferns with widel}'' 

 creeping rarely short rhizome. Fronds simple entire, very rarely 

 lobed, densely matted beneath with a thick stellate tomentum. Veins 

 often obscured by the tomentum, pinnate from the costa with copiously 

 anastomosing veinlets Avith frequently free included veinlets in the 

 areoles ; fertile fronds often contracted and venation less developed. 

 Sori numerous, globose or elliptic, mere or less immersed in the 

 tomentum. 



1206 



