5. 8CHIZMACE.E. [1. Lygodium. 



rhachis with broadly-linear lobes; median lobes -6-1 -5" long, apex 

 of lobes emarginate (in our specimens, " usually entire," Beddome). 

 Veinlets usually three branched from the base, the centre one being 

 again forked or pinnate. Sori under -05" diam., usually one only 

 on the acroocopic branch of each veinlet, sometimes also one en another 

 branch. 



Not very common, bxit where it does occur sub-gregarious in large patches, 

 usually in open forest on hill slopes of white clay-schists and in the vicinity of a 

 stream. Purneah, in the plains, on river banks ! also on the Nepal boundary ! 

 Singbhum, 1000 ft. ! Mayurbhanj, 2500 ft. ! 



FAM. 5. SCHIZiEACE^. 



Ferns of various habit (scandent in our species). Stipes with one 

 collateral, concentric or almost radial bundle. Fertile segments 

 almost always modified by the addition of small fertile lobes or 

 different from the barren segments of the frond. Sporangia not com- 

 bined into sori (although they may be very close, they are not on a 

 common receptacle), 1-locular, dehiscing vertically, annulus a small 

 close ring of special cells situated near the top (not encircling the spor- 

 angium). Spores numerous. Indusia or sometimes represented 

 by a bract-like outgrowth of the frond or by its recurved margin. 



1. LYGODIUM, Siv. 



Scandent ferns climbing by means of their twining rhachis, with a 

 creeping rhizome and 1 -seriate fronds, the older with a twining 

 rhachis of unlimited growth. Primary pinnae abbreviated and ending 

 in a bud-like tip, with one pair of divaricate secondary pinnae 

 which are either dichotomous or pinnate or merely lobed. Sporangia 

 spicately 2 -seriate and dorsal on specially developed lobes of the 

 fertile pinnules, one sporangium on each vein embraced by a bract- 

 like indusium, the several indusia imbricate. Annulus very small, 

 coronate. 



A. Pinnules linear-oblong (palmate in young plants), margins 



acutely serrulate : — 



Some or most of the fertile pinnules 4-6" long by 'i-6" wide 

 in middle (without the soriferous lobes). Soriferous 

 lobes mostly close in a straight line rarely borne on 

 lobules of the pinnule ...... 1. flexuosum. 



Fertile pinnules always under] 3" long, mostly under "J:" wide, 



usually forming an uneven line on lobules of the pinnule 2. japonicum. 



B. Pinnules mostly lanceolate with cordate base in barren, 



mostly broadly ovate in fertile pinnae, rarely 1" long, 



margins minutely crenulate . . . . .3. microphyllum. 



1. L. flexuosum, Sw. Syn. L. pinnatifidum, Sw. 



A graceful climbing fern. Primary pinnae abbreviated to a small 

 knob with hairy apex and bearing a pair of 1-2-pinnate divaricate 

 secondary pinnae on well-grown fronds (pedately dichotomous on 

 young fronds) 6-18" long. Ultimate pinnules shortly stalked, linear- 

 oblong with or without a cordate or 2-lobed base, barren attain- 

 ing 6-7" long by -7-1" wide in the middle, serrulate, with many 



1211 



