454 FiLiCES. [Aspidium. 



in a single row veiy near the margin. Indusium reniform, fixed at the deep 

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

 Spec. V. 232. Nephrolepis tuberosa/Vvesl; Hook, in Kew Jomii. Bot. ix. 

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

 phrolepis Jdrsidula, J. Sm. 1. c. 



In ravines, Hinds, Champion, TJrquhart. 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 pinnse lanceolate, acuminate, about 6 in. long, 

 the auiicle 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 ^lauritius, in tro- 

 pical Africa, and in tropical America. 



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

 zontal; fi-onds 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 pinnpe, the lower pair and the terminal 

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

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

 Veins 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, TJrquhart ; on rocks in the Happy Valley, Wilford. 

 In southernlndia, Ceylon, Chittagong, Silhet, the Malayan Peninsula, the Archipelago, and 

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

 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. Hook, in Kew Journ. Bot.\. 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 veiy 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 

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



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

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

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



5. A. falcatum, Sw. ; Hook. Fil. Exot. t. 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. — Polypodium falcatum, Linn. ; Thunb. Fl. Jap. 

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



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



