2. FOLYPODIACE^. [23. Drtnaria. 



Fronds mostly dimorphous, fertile, longer under 9", sporangia 



mixed with stalked stellate scales. Costules very obscure . 1, admscens. 



Fronds uniform, mostly over 9", sori not mixed with scales. 

 Costules distinct 2. sUgmosus. 



1. N. adnascens, Kaulf. Syn. Polypodium adnascens, Siv. 



A small fern with extensively creeping slender rhizome densely 

 covered with imbricating narrow linear light-brown scales. Fronds 

 scattered dimorphic, fleshy-coriaceous, covered beneath with a dense 

 stellate silvery tomentum, upper surface with thinner tomentum or 

 glabrous, green, obscurely showing the close oblique primary venation ; 

 barren fronds 1-3" only, oblanceolate or spathulate obtuse tapering 

 into a short slender stipes. Fertile fronds up to 6" by • 7" lanceolate 

 or linear-lanceolate tapering into a slender stipes 1-1-5" long. Sori 

 usually on the upper half of the frond only, dense, mixed with long- 

 stalked stellate scales. 



Closely clinging to the surface of mossy rocks and frees. Monghyr (near Jamal- 

 Vm), Cal. Herb. I Ravines in Singbhum ! Hazaribagh, on Parasnath, Praia \ 

 Angul ! Fr. Sept.-March (probably all the year round). 



Beddome says fertile fronds 6-8" long, costa subcarinate, costules sunk obscure, 

 their areoles Including 2-4 free veinlets with clavate apices, though they sometimes 

 anastomose, sori deep sunk, arranged 5-6 in obliquely transverse series. Some 

 Angul specimens have all linear fronds and none of the shorter form. 



2. N. stigmosus, Bedd. Syn. Polypodium stigmosum, Sw. 

 Rootstock short or Avide-creeping, stout, clothed especially round 



the base of stipes with very slender linear scales. Fronds sub-clustered 

 <J-18" long (1-5-2 ft. in districts outside our area) by -7-1-7" wide, 

 linear-lanceolate tapering both ends and decurrent on the short stipes, 

 densely stellate tomentose beneath but distinctly showing the numerous 

 parallel oblique costules. Sori very numerous and small occupying 

 the whole space between the costules and immersed in the tomentum. 

 On trees. Parasnath, Clarke ! Mayurbhanj Mnts. above 2500 ft. ! Fr. May- 



Clarke says the tomentum is reddish-brown ; in my specimens the dense sori 

 gave a reddish-brown appearance to the fertile fronds beneath but the tomentum 

 was grey. 



23. DRYNARIA, Bory. 



Epiphytic ferns with the fronds articulate to the caudex or rhizome 

 and very dimorphic. Barren fronds broad-oval sessile with cordate 

 base, concave or spoon-shaped, strongly nerved, poor in chlorophyll 

 and their mesophyll soon dying. The normal or fertile fronds are 

 stipitate and altogether resemble those of the Pleojieltis section of 

 polyjoodium, t. e. the veins are copiously anastomosing forming quad- 

 rate or hexagonal areoles. Sori round or oval, small, numerous. 



The barren fronds collect a great deal of humus in which adventitious roots 

 from the plant find nutriment. 



1. D. quercifolia, Bory. Polypodium quercifolia, L. ; Garur, Beng. ; 

 Garur-panki, Or. 



Rhizome creeping, short, with lanceolate-subulate cordate-based 

 scales -2- -5" long. Sterile fronds 3-12" by 7-8", glossy, pinnatifid 



1207 



