161 



pinnae 2-3 inches long, - inch broad, acute 

 at the apex, margin entire or crenate ; base 

 auricled, the upper auricle the larger. Rachis 

 and surfaces scaly when young, but naked in 

 age. Texture almost leathery. Sori near the 

 margin. Indusium firm, kidney-shaped. [Fig, 

 4X4J 



Distribution : Bombay Presidency North 

 Kanara, Jog, Kyga Ghat, Sumkund, Sirsi, 

 Tyagli, Honowar, Kasurgode, Devarayi, Ger- 

 soppa Falls (on rocks in river-bed) ; Bombay 

 Island, Sion and Rowli Hills. 



South India, mountain forests of the Eastern 

 and Western sides ; East Bengal from Assam 

 to Chittagong, up to 1,000 feet ; Ceylon ; 

 Malay Peninsula. In the tropics of nearly the 

 whole world. 



Common in cultivation. Specimens occurring 

 at Sion and Rowli Hills are probably escapes 

 from cultivation. On Malabar Hill this fern 

 has run wild. 



5. Nephrolepis rufescens Presl. 



This is probably a variety of Nephrolepis 

 acuta. It has laciniated pinna? covered with 

 ferrugineous hairs. 



Cultivated. 

 11 



