96 



in thickened ends. Sori continuous on the 

 lower two-thirds of the segments. 



Cultivated. 



Distribution : Ceylon- common about Galle 

 and the Central Provinces ; Madras Presidency 

 much cultivated, and said to be found wild in 

 the Cochin forests. ; Malacca. West Tropical 

 Africa; East African Islands ; Queensland ; the 

 Philippines ; Polynesia. 



GENUS XVIII. CERATOPTERIS BRONG. 



(Deriv. Gr. Keras, Keratos, a horn ; pteris, a 

 fern. The horned fern -in allusion to the stag- 

 horn looking fronds.) 



A true water fern. Fronds fragile ; fertile 

 fronds decompound with the segments forked 

 and pod-shaped. Sori linear, marginal, almost 

 parallel. Veins of sterile frond transversely 

 elongated and distantly anastomosing. 



A very anomalous genus. 



Ceratopteris thalictroides Brong. 



A water plant growing in stagnant pools, 

 tanks and marshes. Stipes somewhat quad- 

 rangular, thick, inflated, filled with air spaces. 

 Fronds of two kinds. Barren ones, simple or 

 slightly divided or 2-3 pinnate. Fertile ones 



