THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 259 



N.-W. P. : D. I). i)i«*.— Jaunsar 6-7500', Gammie, Gamble ; Mussooree 55-6500" 

 common; T. G'ar/^.— 4500'-12,000', Duthie, Gamble ; Brit. <9a?-A.— 7-8000', Duthie ; 

 Eumaun — 4—8000', common. 



DiSTRiB.— J.sifl : N. Ind, (Him.)— Nepal 1 ; Sikkim and Bhotan, 2000' and upward, 

 very common; Assam— Khasia 2-6000', very common; Koliima 5500', Clarhe. S, 

 Ind,— W. Forests up to 6000'. Ceylon. Malaya. Australia. 



This fern varies much in size and outfcing, and also in len2;th of sori but 

 I think all the N.-W. Indian plants are the same. On seeing them growing 

 in many places, in the Simla Region, Mussooree, and Kumaun, it never 

 struck me that there was any difference. Gamble has named his " No. 2§097, 

 Jaunsar 7000','' Diplaziim latifolium ; but the venation is quite different in 

 the two species, and attention to that distinction should prevent any con- 

 fusion. In all the specimens of A. latifolium I have seen the veinlets are 

 simple, though Beddome says simple or forked ; the veinlets of A. polypodioides 

 are always forked. The venation of Gamble's plant from Jaunsar is that of 

 A. polypodioides. Specimens from Simla, marked var. 3, siiUatifolia, Clarke, 

 also have the venation of the type. This being so, I cannot understand why 

 Clarke says—" This series of plants distinctly approaches A. latifolium "; nor 

 why Beddome says—" His (Clarke's) variety siiblatifolia runs into latifolia, and 

 rather belongs to that species, if the two are really distinct, which is very 

 doubtful. " 



The involucres of A. polypodioides are very fugacious, and I believe they 

 are sometimes absent in an early stage of growth. Both Levinge and Trotter 

 were tempted by this to think of Gymmgmmme. The Mackinnons have 

 shown me plants in cultivation which were quite exuivolucrate. The youno" 

 fronds are edible. Trotter says the Punjab Hill people eat them like spinach 

 and call them Kasmor. About Mussooree, also, the fronds are eaten, and called 

 liiigra. 



37. A. squamigerum, Mett., in Miguel's Annales, Vol. II. 239; Syn. 

 Fa. 237. Plate XXVI. 



Kashmir : Kishenganga Valley, Keran Nala 8000', McDonell, 3rd September 

 1891; Kajliban, in moist forest, Duthie, No. 12630, 1892 ; below Gurais 8-9000', 

 Duthie No. 14100, 29th September 1893 ; Kachal 8000', and Donari Nala 7000', 

 McDonell 1894. 



Punjab: Chamla State 8000', J. Marten 1897; Simla Rey.—G^ivi Valley, in 

 Eaiengarh Forests 6500', Gamble, July 1898. 



N.-W. P. : Eumaitn—MQ&r Kathi 7800', S. & W, 1848 ; Dipl, No. 4 on ticket; Pindar 

 Gorge— Khati 7000', Trotter, 9th September 1891. 



DiSTRiB.— J.im : China- Patung District, Henry ; Szechwan (Omei) Faber, Japan 

 Siebold, Oldham, Robinson, Bissett, Maries, Hancock, Dickins, Faurie. 



