454 filices. [Aspidium. 



in a single row very near the margin. Indusiura reniform, fixed at the deep 

 sinus or sometimes becoming regularly peltate. — A. hirsutulum, Sw. ; Willd. 

 Spec. v. 232. Nephrolepis tuberosa, Presl; Hook, in Kew Journ. Bot. ix. 

 339 ; J. Sm. in Seem. Bot. Her. 429, but not Asp. tuberosum, Willd. Ne- 

 phrolepis hirsutula, J. Sm. 1. c. 



In ravines, Hinds, Champion, Urquhart. Common in the tropical regions of the New 

 and the Old World ; the American specimens usually more glabrous than the Asiatic ones. 

 The tubers, which are said always to be present in the Indian variety at least, are often 

 eaten. 



2. A. biserratum, Sw.; Willd. Spec. v. 231. Nearly allied to the last, 

 but glabrous or nearly so ; the pinnae lanceolate, acuminate, about 6 in. long, 

 the auricle on the inner side of the base more obtuse than in A. exaltatum, 

 the sori not so near the margin, and the indusium more frequently peltate. 



Among rocks on the hillside near the Happy Valley, Wilford. In the Mauritius, in tro- 

 pical Africa, and in tropical America. 



3. A. trifoliatum, Sic; Willd. Spec. v. 213. Rhizome thick, hori- 

 zontal ; fronds erect, from a few inches to 1\ ft. high including the slender 

 stipes, the smaller ones cordate, oblong, and 3-lobed, more commonly with a 

 broader outline, pinnate with 3 or 5 pinna?, the lower pair and the terminal 

 one 3-lobed, the middle lobe and intermediate pinnae (when present) broadly 

 lanceolate and irregularly pinnatifid, 4 to 6 in. long, pubescent or glabrous. 

 Yeins pinnate, the smaller ones anastomosing. Sori rather large, dispersed 

 over the frond, but usually at some distance from the midrib. Indusium 

 usually peltate. — A. variolosum, Wall. Catal. n. 379. A. intermedium, J. Sm. 

 in Seem. Bot. Her. 428 (a very luxuriant specimen). 



Hongkong, Champion ; in ravines, Urquhart ; on rocks in the Happy Valley, Wilford. 

 In southern India, Ceylon, Chittagong, Silhet, the Malayan Peninsula, the Archipelago, and 

 S. China ; also in tropical America. The American specimens have most frequently 3 pinnae, 

 the Asiatic 5, but both forms are met with in both districts. Many of the Hongkong speci- 

 mens pass from the one to the other. 



4. A. podophyllum, Book, in Kew Journ. Bot. v. 236, t. 1. Ehizome 

 thick, horizontal, with dark brown or black subulate scales. Fronds 1 to 2 ft. 

 high, including a rather long stipes, glabrous, simply pinnate. Pinnae usually 

 9 to 13, lanceolate, often slightly falcate, obtuse or acuminate, 3 to 5 in. long, 

 entire or crenate, lobed, rounded or truncate at the base, and very shortly pe- 

 tiolulate, of a firm consistence; the pinnate veins rarely conspicuous. Sori 2 

 to 5 to each set of veins, rather large, distant both from the margin and the 

 midrib. Indusium peltate, with a central or slightly eccentric attachment. 



Common in ravines, Champion and others. Also Foochowfoo and Chusan. It is referred 

 by J. Smith to the Japanese A. Sieboldi, Mett. ; but I cannot but agree with Hooker (Fil. 

 Exot. t. 31) in considering that species as quite distinct. 



5. A. falcatum, Sic. ; Hook. Fil. Exot. ^.92. Fronds tufted, stout, 1 

 to 3 ft. long, simply pinnate, with large brown scales at the base of the stipes. 

 Pinnae numerous, ovate, falcate-acuminate, 2 to 4 in. long, entire or slightly 

 crenate, firm and rather thick, with a prominent midrib and irregularly forked 

 and anastomosing veins. Sori rather large and numerous, scattered over the 

 surface. Indusium peltate. — Poly podium falcatum, Linn. ; Thunb. Fl. Jap. 

 t. 36. Cyrtomium falcatum, Presl ; Hook, in Kew Joum. Bot. ix. 340. 



Near Tytatn Bay, Hinds. On the Chinese continent and in Japan. 



