23. Drynaria.] 2. POLYPODIACEJE. 



or lobed, soon turning brown. Fertile 2-3 ft. long, pinnatipartite 

 with oblong acuminate entire segments 5-9" by 1-1-5", costules dis- 

 tinct, veins very reticulate, sori on the anastomosis, small, in two 

 series between and parallel to the costules. 



On the branches of trees. Singbhura ! Sambalpur, Griff. ! Puri ! 



24. GYMNOPTERIS, Bernh. 



Rhizome usually creeping and sometimes epiphytic. Stipes not 

 articulate on rhizome. Frond simple or simply pinnate, often dimor- 

 phic ; fertile fronds usually much contracted, if similar to the barren 

 then often with the sori on a contracted apex. Veins copiously 

 anastomosing with free veinlets in the areoles. Sori usually com- 

 pletely hiding the surface of the fertile frond and coalescent. Indu- 

 sium 0. 



The occasional presence of fronds similar to the barren ones but dotted all over 

 Mith large distinct sori render the position of this genus, assigned to it by Diels, 

 near to Aspiclium very probable. It is distinguished from the Polypodium-aencs 

 by the stipes not being articulate. 

 Fronds all simple ......... 1. variabilis. 



Fronds all pinnate ......... 2. costata. 



1. G. variabilis, HooJc. Syn. G. axillare, Cav. 



A very variable fern in the size of the fronds, always with a slender 

 creeping rhizome of variable length, with blackish lanceolate acuminate 

 scales.* Fronds in some forms reminding one of the Harf s-tongue fern, 

 sometimes very small, always simple. Barren fronds 5" by • 1" to 

 15" by 1-5", linear-lanceolate to oblong, rarely broadly lanceolate or 

 ovate-lanceolate and up to 2" wide, base tapering into the l-5"-long 

 stipes which has sometimes a few scales near base. Veins usually 

 raised and distinct, soon branched and forming many rectangular 

 areoles with free included veinlets, of which the apices are marked by 

 a pit on the upper surface, very rarely with scattered large sori below. 

 Fertile fronds very narrowly linear (under • 1" wide) with narrow 

 incurved margins and the sori covering the whole under-surface. 



Grows on rocks in shady nalas or sometimes creeping up trees. Singbhum, 

 frequent ! Kanchi 2-3000 ft. ! Fr Jan.-March. 



Var. axillaris, Bedd. Syn. <. axillare, Cav. 



This is a form with slender tortuous elongate nearly naked rhizome which ascends 

 trees and is said also to differ by the more diaphanous fronds. 



2. G. costata, Bedd. Syn. Meniscium deltigerum, Hool\ ; Acro- 



stichum costatum, Wall. 

 Rhizome creeping, with subulate scales. Stipes up to 1*5 ft. long, 

 fronds up to 2 ft. or more, pinnate, pinnae up to 14" by 3", petioluled, 

 acuminate with entire sinuate or crenate margin, veins very prominent 

 aiid generally much raised, close together, areoles numerous, costal 

 ones small or obsolete, empty, several excurrent veinlets from all the 

 other areoles which are irregular, free or anastomosing. 



Mahuagarh, Santal Parganahs, Gamble (the specimen however not examined 

 by me) ! The description of the species from Beddotne. 



* The scales are hyaline, but with very black cell-walls. 

 1208 



