124 



free all round the edge. Veins pinnate, the 

 lower pair of veinlets anastomosing. Fronds 

 bipinnatifid. 



Mesocklana polycarpa Bedd. 



Caudex erect. Stipes tufted, short, hairy. 

 Fronds 2-3 feet long, 12-18 inches broad, 

 pinnate ; pinnae up to 9 inches long, ^-inch 

 broad, oblong, lanceolate, dwindling down to 

 mere auricles towards the base, cut down deeply 

 into oblong linear lobes. Rachis hairy. 

 Lower surface hairy. [Fig. 41- a and b.] 



The fern has the habit and venation of 

 Nephrodium. 



Distribution : Bombay Presidency North 

 Kanara. Malay Peninsula. Malay Islands. 



GENUS XXVIII. POLYSTICHUM ROTH. 

 (Deriv. Gr. Poly, many ; stichos, order.) 

 Sori globose ; veins free ; texture leathery, 

 teeth awned. 



(a) Fronds simply pinnate, margin spinu- 

 lose-serrate. 



i. P. aunculatum. 



(b) Lower pinnae once pinnate, i.e. fronds 

 bipinnate. Margin with teeth awned. 



2. P. aculeatwn. 



