2. POLYPODIACEjE. [26. Acrostichum. 



25. STENOCHL^ENA, J. Sm. 



Rhizome stout or slender, scandent. Fronds simply pinnate with 

 the pinnae articulate on the rhachis, fertile contracted and very- 

 narrow, veins as in Blechnum simple or forked, fine close and parallel, 

 generally quite free to the margin and there entering a marginal vein, 

 rarely some forking and the two forks again uniting, or more rarely 

 two separate veins unite. Sori very many and spreading on to the 

 parenchyma between the nerves, finally covering the whole underside 

 of the frond except the costa and the often somewhat modified inrolled 

 margin. 



1. S. palustris, Mett. Syn. Acrostichum scandens, J. Sm. 



A very tall scandent fern with large pinnate fronds 3-5 ft. long, the 

 leaflets of which resemble those of the leaves of an Oleandra. Stipes 

 not articulate, about 2 ft. long, pale brown, mthout scales. Lflts. 

 about 20 each side alternate except at the top, mostly subequal, 

 uppermost smallest, barren oblong or oblong lanceolate, acuminate, 

 larger 7-9" long by 1 • 7-2" wide, base cuneate with short petiolule 

 articulate on the smooth yellow-brown rhachis, costa prominent with 

 few pale irregular scales and with very close numerous spreading fine 

 parallel simple nerves free to the margin where they unite in a mar- 

 ginal nerve ; rarely a few nerves bifurcate and then again often uniting ; 

 marginal nerve stout with distant appressed spinulose teeth. 



On tree-trunks in wet evergreen forest. Mais of Orissa ! Monghyr, Hara. ! 



Rhizome rather slender, up to "3" diam., with tufts of roots and few pale small 

 irregular scales, concolorous with the stipes. On either side of the costa of the 

 barren pinnae (and perhaps also in the fertile ?) and close. to it is a thick raised 

 nerve (or slender ridge or wing according to Beddome), which appears to correspond 

 with the similarly placed but slender nerve in Blechnum. A gland occius near 

 the base of the pinnae on the acroscopic margin. 



26. ACROSTICHUM, L. 



Large ferns with stipes inarticulate on the stout erect rhizome. 

 Fronds pinnate all similar and pinnse similar to one another, distinct 

 with strong costa, costules or principal veins not well marked but all 

 veins very reticulate, forming numerous subquadrangular areoles with- 

 out free included veinlets. Sori densely covering the whole under-surf ace 

 of the fertile pinnae except sometimes towards the base and the costa. 

 Indusium 0. 



1. A. aureum, L. 



A tall handsome very tough fern 3-6 ft. high with erect pinnate 

 coriaceous fronds tufted on an erect caudex. Stipes 1-2 ft. glossy. 

 Pinnse suberect lower 6-10" long by -7-1" broad, linear-oblong, base 

 shortly cuneate, tip rounded, the uppermost pinnae fertile and a ruddy 

 brown, venation very fine. 



In the swamps of the Cuttack delta ! Fr. April- June. 



1209 



