Dalhousian(E. N. O. Filices 



TAB. CCIIL 



NiPHoBOLus Penangianus. 



Fronde late ensifornii-lanceolata submembranacea breviter acu- 

 minata niargine sinuata integerrima, venis internis incon- 

 spicuis, supra glabi'a subtus fusco-stellato-tomentosa, soris 

 prominentibus copiosis discum versus apicem frondis occu" 

 pantibus. 

 Hab. Pulo Penang. Lady Dalhomie, 



This extremely fine species of Niphoholus will rank near to 

 N. albicans of Blume {FL Jav. FiL t. 25); but that has a much 

 narrower^ much more acuminated and coriaceous frond, with 

 the margins revolute, a more compact tomentum, with nerves 

 conspicuously prominent ; whence Dr Wallich had called that 

 plant by the much more appropriate name o^ N. costatm. 



What may be the nature of the venation of many of the 

 Niphoboli of Presl, we are ignorant, since, as that author justly 

 observes, "venae venulseque in plurimis speciebus invisibiles.'* 

 The present species, however, when held up between the eye and 

 the light, exhibits a nervation very different from that figured by 

 Presl of Niphobolus costatus^ Wall. ; and indeed very similar to 

 that of his Genus Catnpyloneurum. To us the Genus Niphobolus 

 has always appeared an artificial one, depending on the presence 

 of the copious stellated down, clothing the underside of the 

 fronds, and in which the sori are more or less immersed. Our 

 figure, let it be observed, represents the primary and secondary 

 veins much stronger than they are in nature, except when seen 

 against the light. The sori are very much crowded towards the 

 apex of the frond, but not approaching the margin : between 

 the primary nerves they are beautifully arranged in dense trans- 

 verse lines, of 3 or 4 sori each. These are abundantly fhixed 

 with stellated hairs. 



