THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 737 



Plate XXXI. Plants isolated. Gaud, decumbent, slow-growing, throwing up a 

 few fronds from the apes annually, and perishing behind, densely clothed with 

 large, broad, acuminate scales. SUpes curving upwards to the vertical, 

 densely clothed at base with linear, subulate, conoolor, light-chestnut-coloured 

 scales, I in. 1., higher up with larger and broader scales up to 1 in. 1., veiy 

 acuminate, dark-chestuut-coloured, still higher up shortening to -J in. , with 

 pale edges, and becoming scattered and deciduous ; stiff but not thick ; iron; 

 6 in. in small to 23 in. 1. in large plants, — average of 25 large fronds 14 in. 

 Fronds from 8 to 23 in. 1., by 4 to 13 in. br., ovate-acumiaate : sometimes the 

 lowest pair, or the two lowest, sometimes the third and fourth pairs from base., 

 sometimes the middle pairs, the longest : bipinnate. Pinme. oblong-acu- 

 minate, generally broadest at base, occasionally at middle, pinnate to a slightly 

 winged rhachis, distant, pinnules generally set well apart. Pinmiles generally 

 sessile, but lowest often petiolate, broadest at base, slightly falcate and tapering 

 to a rounded apex, cut down more or less into distinct, blunt or tmncate, 

 sharply-toothed lobes, 4-6 in number according to length of pinnule, the toothed 

 margin thin in texture, almost hyaline, with a tooth to each veinlet. Veins 

 distmctly visible, pinnate in the lobes : veinlets curved, in lower lobes often 

 forked in the inferior half, running into the teeth but stopping short of the 

 margin, clubbed at the ends. Sori in a single row on either sider of costa 

 of pinnule, one in each lobe, but often two in each of the lowest pair ; lowest 

 3 —5 pairs of pinnte sterile. Textvn herbaceous ; colour of stipes and rhachises 

 pale-straw-coloured, or light brown : of lamina pale, dull, green. 



Afghan. — Griffith ; Kurram Valley — Aitch. Nos. 384 and 455, 1879. 



Trans-Ind. States : Chakdara, Duthie''s Colli. 1895 ; Baraul and Sioat — with 

 the Chitral Relief Expedition, 6 stations, 63-10,000', Harris 1895 ; Mirga 8000', Sir 

 W. Gatacre 1895. 



Kashmir :—" Kashmir and W. Thibet, J. E. Winterbottoin 1847, No. — , Habi« 

 tat Birik in Gilgit (Balti or Lower Thibet), elevn. 10,000 ft. " ; Eutton Pir 8000', C. B. 

 Clarke, No. 28310, 1876 ; Srinagar, Bamahama, and And'rbug .5-7000', " common " 

 MacLeod 1891 ; Jbelam Valley, 3000', Gammie 1891. 



Punjab: Deliradsmail Kkan — Pingul, Rev. J. Williams 1888; Hazara Dist. — 

 Black Mt., Akh and Baba Peak, and Kahim Gali 8-9000', Panj-Gali 6-7000', Duthie 

 Nos. 7622-23, 1888 ; Kagan Valley. 5-8500', Inayat (Sahar. Herb. Collr.) 1896-97-99. 

 Abbolabad toMurree 7-9000', Trotter 1889 ; Murree 5-7000', Hope 1882 ; Chamha State 

 MeDonell, Trotter, J. Marten 1898-99, Harsukh (Sahar. Herb. Collr.) 1899; Kangra Vy. 

 i?i5*.— Dharmsala 8000', Trotter 1887; Simla Reg. 5-10,000', Hope, Gamble, Blanford, 

 Duthie, Bliss. 



N.-W. P. : D. D. Djs^.— Jaunsar 45-8000', C. G. 1 sogers, Gamble ; Mussooree 

 6-7000' : the common Lastrea of Mussooree ; T. Garh.— King, Duthie, Gamble ; 

 B. Garh. — Mrs. Fisher ; Kumaun—B.o\)e, Davidson, Trotter, Duthie. 



DlsTRlB .—Asia— Cent r. : N. Ind. (Him.) Sikkim, Bhotan ; Assam— Khasia Hills, 

 Clarke, Maim; "not very common" (^Clarke in 'Rev.'); Kohima 4500', Clar'ke 

 S. Ind-— Nilgiri and Annamalay Mts., above 5000', Beddome^ Levinge, Gambel. 



