234 POI.YPODIUM, § PIIEGOPTERIS. 



densely squarrose with large ovate acuminate pale-brown 

 glossy scales mixed with very slender linear-setaceous ones 

 which latter continue up the stipes and the rachis, fronds 2^ 

 and more feet long G-8 inches and more wide firm coriaceous 

 (dark-brown when dry) paler beneath oblong-lanceolate pin- 

 nated throughout or gradually shorter coadunate and pinna- 

 tifid only at the very apex, pinnae suberecto-patent 5-6 

 inches long ^ an inch to 1 inch and more broad long-petio- 

 late especially the lower ones lanceolate obliquely cuneate at 

 the base the margin more or less (but never deeply) lobato- 

 pinnatifid rarely subfalcate, lobes (the largest of them) ovate 

 acute, veins copious approximate fasciculato-pinnate, sori 

 dorsal upon the veinlets rather sparse forming two or more 

 rarely three lines or series between the costa and the margin, 

 (scales or paleaceous hairs on the rachis and even stipes very 

 deciduous) . 



Hab. Ceylon, Adam's Peak, alt. GOOO feet, Mrs. Genl Walker, Gardner, n. 

 1256, T/iwaites, n. 3276. — A noble and most distinct species, witli the texture 

 and venation of Polystichum. I have reason for believing that the species is pe- 

 culiar to Adam's Peak, and from nearly its highest point. 



157. P. (Phegopteris) elongaium,V^s\\.; caudex?, stipes 

 1-1 5 foot and more long stout tawny-brown very palea- 

 ceous below with dark castaneous glossy falcato-subulate 

 long-acuminated scales, fronds ample 2 feet and more long 

 6-10 inches and more broad thin firm-coriaceous ovato-ob- 

 long acuminated pinnated to the very apex, pinnse numerous 

 more or less patent and distant 5-10 inches long h an inch 

 broad subpetiolate from an obliquely cuneate but not dilated 

 (rarely subauricled) base linear or elongato-oblong finely 

 acuminated the margin pinnatifid subduplicato-serrated, ser- 

 ratures subspinose, terminal pinna like the rest but more 

 petiolate, veins copious fasciculato-pinnate, veinlets each of 

 them bearing a dorsal sorus and thus copious and irregularly 

 scattered over the back of the frond or in irregular series. — 

 Wall. Cat. n. 309. Aspidium cuspidatum, Metten. Aspid. 



p. 92. 



Ilab. Nepal, WalUch. Khasya, Hooker fil. et Thomson. Ceylon, Gardner, n. 

 1256. — Mettenius places this in Aspidium, but he puts a mark of interrogation 

 to the word (indusium?). On my numerous specimens I am not able to trace 

 the presence of an involucre. 



*** Fronds pinnate. PinncB usually deeply pinnatifid, rarely less than halfway 

 down to the costa. 158-176. 



158. P. (Phegopteris) Diance, Hook.; caudex stout short 



