ICONES FILICUM SINICARUM 
PLATE 106 
ARTHROPTERIS OBLITERATA (R. Br.) J. Smith 
POLYPODIACEZ 
ARTHROPTERIS OBLITERATA (R. Br.) J. Smith, Cat. Cult. Ferns 62 (1827); C. Chr. Ind. 
Fil. 63 (1905); v.A.v.R. Handb. Mal. Ferns 155 (1908); Bonap. Notes Pterid. 
Pt. 14: 103 (1923); Merr. Enum. Hainan Pl. in Lingnan Sci. Journ. 5: 11 
(1927). 
Nephrodium obliteratum R. Br. Prod. Fl. Novae-Holl. 148 (18z0). 
Aspidium obliteratum Spr. Syst. Veg. 4: 99 (1827). 
Nephrolepis obliterata J. Sm. Journ. Bot. 4: 197 (1841); Hk. Sp. Fil. 4: 154 (1862); Bedd. Ferns 
S. Ind. t. 251 (1864). 
Nephrolepis ramosa Moore, Ind. Fil. 105 (1858); Hk. et Bak. Syn. Fil. 301 (1867); Bedd. 
Handb. Ferns, Brit. Ind. etc. 285 (1883). 
Arthropterts ramosa Mett. Novora Exp. Bot. 1: 214 (1876); Diels in Engl. u. Pratl: Nat. Pflan- 
zenfam. 1: 4. 208 (1899). 
Rhizome slender, wide-creeping on the trunk of trees, to several m. tall, 
sparcely scaly; frond far apart, alternate, stipe 1-2 cm long, articulated to a pro- 
minent pseudopodium, lamina lanceolate, 20-40 cm long, 4-6 cm broad, simple 
pinnate under the distinct smaller end-pinna; pinnx# numerous, alternate, 3-4 cm 
long, 1 cm broad, the lower ones smaller, deflexed, lanceolate-oblong, with deltoid 
auricle at the anterior base, obliquely cut away at the posterior base, apex bluntish 
or roundish, margin undulate-crenate towards apex, subsessile and articulated to 
the rachis, which is densely pustulately hirsute above with thick rod-like unicel- 
lular clear hairs, the same type of hairs also sparcely present on the midrib above; 
texture herbaceous; veins distinct, forked, ended some distance below the margin; 
sori round, terminating the anterior basal veinlet of each group, indusium reniform, 
reddish-brown, persistent. 
Hainan: Nodoa, Sha Po Shan, F. A. McClure 8157 (1921). Kwangsi: Bako 
Shan, south of Pei-seh, R. C. Ching 7530 (1928). 
Tonkin: Cao-Bang, Bourret 132. 
Also Malesia-Polynesia, Ceylon, the Philippines, Australia and tropical 
Africa. 
A very variable fern in respect to the shape and size of pinne; very rare 
on the mainland, R. C. Ching No. 7530 and Bourret No. 132 are the only specimens 
seen by me. 
The genus Arthropteris now comprising about 10 species chiefly in the 
tropical Asia, has been generally considered as closely related to Nephrolepis 
Schott; and this is true only in so far as the articulated pinne, type of venation 
and soral conditions are concerned, but in point of anatomical features, and par- 
ticularly, the type of stelar structure in rhizome, it Shows a marked difference from 
that genus, nor is it comparable with Oleandra Cav. in this respect, to which it is 
also held as a close relative by workers to-day. Meanwhile, I consider it one of 
the fern genera incertxz sidis. 
Plate 106. Fig. 1. Habit sketch (natural size). 2. Pinna, showing venation and sori (x 2). 
3. Sorus with indusium (x 16). 4. Scale from scandent rhizome (x 40). 
