256 43. ASPIDIUM, POLYSTICHTJM. 



folium. Wall. ; more finely divided ; segms. copiously toothed, with lower lobes 

 distinct. y, A. Hamiltonii, Spr. ; texture more coriaceous ; lower pinnl. 3-4 

 in. 1., with large ovate-deltoid slightly lobed segments. Hk. Sp. 4. p. 27. 



Hab. Japan and Himalayas to Ceylon, Norfolk Island, Fiji, Samoa, N. S. Wales, and 

 Natal. A. Cornu-Cervi, Don, is a deformed state of y, which differs from capense prin- 

 cipally by its aristate teeth, whilst the other varieties more resemble amabile and 

 frondosum. Dr. Thwaites assigns to (3 an erect caudex, and regards it as a good species. 

 Arachniodes aspidioides, Bl., is this, with the involucre fallen away. 



38. A. (Polyst.) melanostictum, Kze. ; st. scaly below, 6-12 in. 1., greyish ; fr. 

 18-24 in. 1., 1 ft. br. ; lowerjpinnce 6-9 in. 1., 2-3 in. br. ; pinnl. close, lanceolate, 

 1| in. 1., \ in. br., regularly cut down to the rachis into close, linear-oblong 

 nearly entire slightly falcate segm.; texture herbaceous ; colour dark-green ; both 

 surfaces and rachis nearly naked ; sori 6-8 to a segm., placed in two rows filling 

 up nearly the whole space between midrib and edge ; invol, peltate, black in the 

 centre. Hk. Sp. 4. p. 34. t. 233. B. 



Hab. Mexico. 



39. A. (Polyst.) melanochlamys, Fee; st. tufted, 6-12 in. 1., erect, densely 

 clothed, especially below, with dark-brown fibrillose scales ; fr. 18-24 in. 1., 

 9-12 in. br. ; pinnce subdistant, erecto-patent, lanceolate, the lower ones 4-6 in. 1., 

 1^-2 in. br. ; pinnl. distant, f-1 in. 1., \ in. br., cut down to the rachis into close, 

 oblong-falcate, entire lobes ; texture herbaceous ; colour dark-green ; both 

 surfaces naked ; racMses fibrillose ; sori at the base of the lobes, principally in 

 the lower ones ; invol. peltate, black in the centre, the edge ciliated. Hk. Sp. 4. 

 p. 35. t. 233. A. Lastrea, Moore. 



Hab. Cuba, Linden, 1865, Wright, 830. This and the preceding have the habit of 

 Lastrea, but peltate involucres. 



40. A. (.Polyst.) multifidum, Mett. ; st. scattered, 6-12 in. 1., densely clothed 

 with large, ovate, nearly black scales; fr. 18-24 in. 1., 6-9 in. br., ovate- 

 lanceolate ; pinnce close, spreading, the lower ones deflexed, 3-4 in. 1., f-1 in. 

 br. ; pinnl. subdeltoid, close, unequal-sided, with ovate or spathulate segm., the 

 lower ones deeply pinnatifid, teeth not awned ; texture subcoriaceous ; rachises 

 densely fibrillose ; sori small, scattered. Hk. Sp. 4. p. 35. 



Hab. Chili, Lechler, 3060. 



41. A. (Polyst.) Sikkimense, Baker; st. 12-18 in. 1., stout, striated, with 

 dark-brown ovate scales throughout ; fr. 2-3 ft. 1., 12-15 in. br., subdeltoid ; 

 pinnce close, lanceolate, spreading, the lowest 6-8 in. 1., 2 in. br. ; pinnl. close, 

 lanceolate, unequal-sided, cut down nearly to the rachis into oblong deeply 

 pinnatifid lobes with mucronate teeth ; texture herbaceous ; rachis slightly 

 scaly ; both sides naked ; sori usually one on the base of eacli ult. lobe. Polyst. 

 Sikkirnense, Beddome, F. Brit. Ind. t. 127. Neph. Thomsoni, Hk. MSS. 



Hab. Mon-Lepcha, Nepaul, 10-11,000 ft., Dr. Tliomson. 



42. A. (Polyst. ) fceniculaceum, Hk. ; rhizome creeping; sZ. scattered, 6-12 in. 

 1., densely clothed below with lanceolate reddish-brown scales ; fr. 1-2 ft. 1., 

 9-12 in. br., lanceolate-deltoid^ 4-5-pinnatifid ; lower pinnce 6-8 in. 1., 3-4 in. br. ; 

 pinnl. subdeltoid, 2-3 in. 1. ; segm. close, cut down to the rachis, their lower 

 divisions sometimes again pinnatifid ; ult. divisions linear, 1 lin. 1., awned ; 

 texture subcoriaceous; surfaces glossy; rachis nearly naked; sori solitary. 

 Hk. Sp. 4. p. 36. t. 237. 



Hab. Sikkim, 7-10,000 ft., Hk. fil. and Thomson, 274. 



