CHRISTENSEN — FEENS OF SEYCHELLES AND ALDABEA 411 



8. Drtopteris parasitica (Linn.), O. Kuntze ; C. Clir. Ind. 2^-2.— Nephr odium molle, 

 Baker, Fl. Mtiur. 499. 



Mahe, Home, 202 ! 



The species taken in a broad sense is common in all tropical and subtropical regions. 

 The form growing in the Seychelles is scarcely conspecific with the common American 

 D. mollis (Jacq.), Hieron. 



9. Drtopteris cucullata (Blume), Christ, Philippine Journ. Sci. Bot. ii. 194, 1907. — 

 Nephrodium cucullatum. Baker, Fl. Maur. 498. Dri/opteris unita (Linn.), 0. Kuntze ; 

 C. Chr. Ind. 299. 

 Mahe, Silhouette, and Long Island, Gardiner ! Typical fern of open spaces, 

 1000-2000 feet. 



Distribution. Through tropical Asia and Polynesia, and common in the South-east 

 African islands. 



10. Drtopteris mauritiana (Fee), C. Chr. — Nephrodium elatiim, var. mcmrilianum, 

 Baker, Fl. Maur. 499. — Asjndiimi procerum, Bojer ; Kuhn, Bot. v. Ost-Afrika, 41 

 (with description). 

 Var. Gardineri, C. Chr. (var. nov.). 



A forma typica differt : pinnis brevioribus, ad 12 cm. longis 2 cm. basi latis, atro- 

 viridibus, tenuiter membranaceis, ad costas costulasque supra albido-setosis, infra 

 breviter et sparse hirtis, inter venas utrinque glabris, infra glandulis sessilibus 

 subdense glandulosis ; laciniis vix obUquis, obtusis ; venis 8-10-jugis, pellucidis, 

 basalibus 2-4 alternatim iinitis ; indusiis magnis, glabris. 

 Silhouette, Gardiner, Aug. 2, 1908. Mahe, R. P. Thomasset (this is more like the 

 type). 



The typical form of Z>. nmuritiana was found previously in the Mascarenes and 

 Comoros. Tlie species is new to the Seychelles. The single leaf collected measures 

 1^ m. in length on a stipe scarcely 10 cm. long ; it narrows downwards rather gradually 

 through about 15 pairs of auriculiform pinme, ^-2 cm. long and broad, and hastate. It 

 differs from the type mainly in the glandular underside and its patent, obtuse segments. 

 The pinnae taper from a broad base towards the acuminate apex. — I am inclined to 

 beheve that Aspidium elatum, Bojer, from Mauritius is specifically distinct. 



11. Drtopteris Wardii (Baker), O. Kuntze ; C. Chr. Ind. 301. — Nephrodium Wardii, 

 Baker, Trans. R. Irish Acad. xxv. (1875), tab. 30; Fl. Maur. 496. 



Mahe, ^Frtr(/! Home, 177 \ Gardineri SilhouMe, Gardiner \ 



Endemic. Rhizome horizontal, about 2 cm. thick, densely covered with glossy, brown, 

 narrow acuminate scales, 1-2 cm. long. Stipe about 25 cm. long, slightly scaly at the 

 base. Lamina about 50 cm. long, 40 cm. broad at thi; base, entirely glabrous. In habit 

 not unlike D. effusa (Sw.), Urban, of tropical America. 



