THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA, 247 
PungAB: Peshawar Hills, Major Vicary, in Herb. Hort. Kew. Chamba—“common 
at 5000’,” McDonell ; Péngi—McDonell ; Kudiu, Edgew. ; Lahaul—10,000’, Watt. 
Distrisn —Hurope: Italy and Dalmatia. The Caucasus. Asia: Asia Minor 
Persia, Afyhan., Baluchistan, N. Ind.—Sind. Thibet 7-8000’ Afr. Algeria. 
Clarke says of this species—‘ Exceedingly like C. fragrans, and only to be 
distinguished by the indusial hairs. The hairs are really confined to the sori, 
which occupy a very large portion of the very small segments, so that the lower 
surface of the frond appears densely matted.” Bubtin the Synopsis C. frayrans 
is No. 16, and put under the subgenus Hucheilanthes, while C. Szovitzii is 
No. 39, and placed in Physapteris, which has smaller segments. 
Sub-genus—ALEURITOPTERIS, [ée. 
8. C. rufa, Don; Syn. Fil. 141; 0. R. 457; Bedd. H. B, 94, 
PUNJAB: Chanba—3500', McVonell. 
N.-W. P.: D. D. Dist.—In the Dun, andon the Himalaya 25-5000’; common 
low down; 7. Garh,.—Mussoorie and Chakrata Road 4500’, Hope ; Kwmawn--near. 
Phurka 6500’, S. and W., Kali Valley—2-4000', Duthie ; Gola Valley, about 4000’ 
Hope. 
DistRIB.— Asia: N. Ind, (Him.), Sikkim, 5,000’, “rare, as is limestone,’ Clarke. 
Assam—Khasia 4000’, “ plentiful wherever there is limestone.” Clarke. Burma— 
Mergui. China—Yiinnan 5400’, “ very rare,” W. Hancock, 1893. * 
Clarke days—“ I have collected much of this fern, but only on limestone ; 
is is geaevally closely procumbent, curling up on the rock, and easily recognised 
by its woolly hairiness. Scales often none, or undistinguishable fromthe hairs ; 
scales, when present on the stipe mixed with the hairs, are narrow-linear, 
uniform-coloured. Fronds above laxly flocculose or woolly, or almost tomen- 
tose.” I find that the scales, near the base of the stipe at least, though 
narrower and longer than those of C. albo-marginata, are quite as bi-coloured, 
The plan’ curls up only if withered, or in diy weather ; when growing, or in 
damp weather, its fronds are patent. I think that like some other ferns it is 
hygroscopic, and unsurls again in wet weather. The lowest pair of pinne are 
always shorser than ths next superior pair ave, and on them the lowest pinnules 
are produced, and sometimes pinnatifid ; and sometimes the frond diminishes 
in width gradually from the middle. The upper surface cannot be said to be 
tomentose, but there ars scatsered hairs on it : the stipe and rhachises and under 
surface are notably tomentose, and the involucres also, I think. The involucres 
are as rufous as is the tomentum. In the Dehra Dun the plant grows on sand- 
Stone, of Siwalik formation, and, on the slope of the Himalaya, on shale : 
higher up—perhaps on magnesian limestone. The dimorphism I have alluded 
to unter C. dubia. On again going over my specimens—the description of 
C. dubia having been written four or five years ago—I think that CG. dudia 
inclines rather to @, rufaé than to C. albo-marginata ; but if the two first. 
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