138 POLYPODIACEJS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



tomosing, with copious branched included veinlets; fertile frond about 15 

 cm. long, 1 cm. broad. 



Tonglon and Arayat, Loher; Baguio, Topping 153, Elmer 5844; Mount 

 Mariveles, Copeland, Whit ford 331. 



Java to Formosa and New Guinea. 



(62) PLATYCERIUM Desvaux. 



Fronds articulate into a depression in the short rhizome, remarkably 

 dimorphous; "basal fronds," reniform in general form, sessile, closely 

 applied to the substratum, imbricate, sheltering the roots; and "normal 

 fronds," standing oul from the substratum, dichotomously branched, fertile 

 in definite parts; pubescence stellate; main veins dichotomous, veinlets 

 anastomosing, with free included veinlets, the mesh especially fine under 

 the fertile surface. A most natural genus of tropical epiphytes, whose 

 extraordinary appearance has made them universal favorites in cultivation. 



(1) P. grande J. Sm. Basal frond very large, suborbicular, convex, 

 or the upper ones erect, deeply laciniate with spreading or inflexed 

 divisions; normal frond 1 to 2 m. long, pendent, in pairs, each with a 

 single fertile region on the broadly cuneate base, to which the two 

 repeatedly dichotomous appendages are attached; glabrous. 



Luzon, Cuming 157 (fide J. Sm.) ; Albay, Ticao, and Masbate, Baranda; 

 Davao, Loher. 



Singapore to north Australia. 



(2) P. biforme (Sw.) Blume. Basal fronds imbricate, very thick 

 especially toward the base, margin irregularly lobed; normal fronds 1.5 

 to 5 m. long, repeatedly dichotomous from a small subcuneate base, the 

 .sterile division 2 to 3 cm. broad, continually forking, the fertile distinct, 

 stalked, reniform, entire, 15 to 20 cm. broad. (See frontispiece.) 



Luzon, Cuming 156; Albay, Ticao, and Masbate, Baranda; Davao, 

 Warburg 14147. 



South India across Malaya. 



