Ferns of British India and Ceylon. 363 



Prod.Fl. Nep.$. Hook. Syn. Fil. 363. Pleopeltis malacodon, Bedd. 

 F.Sup.t. 387. 



Young rhizomes often produce only very small fronds, which are 

 simple or trilobate only; (var. Thunbergii, Clarke). This fern 

 can at once be known from malacodon by the base of the lowest 

 pair of pinna (i.e., base of the frond) being always a little decurrent 

 on the apex of the stipe, (not scooped out and subcordate) and in 

 being subentire or only a little denticulate instead of acutely serru- 

 late ; Mr. Clarke, however, is wrong in saying that it is always quite 

 entire, my specimens (looked at under a lens) are always more or 

 less toothed. 



Throughout the Indian region on the mountains ; in South 

 India between 5,000-8,600 feet elevation ; in the North 2,000 to 

 10,000 feet. 



23. Pleopeltis malacodon. {Hook.) In all respects like 

 hastata, only that the base of the frond is scooped out and subcordate 

 (instead of being a little decurrent), and the margins are acutely 

 serrulate, the teeth mucronate or spinescent. Hook. Sp. Fil. v. 87. 

 P. Stewartii, Clarke, F. N. I. p. 563, a variety less serrated. Mr. 

 Baker and Mr. Clarke both protest against this being considered a 

 variety only of hastata, otherwise I should have so placed it, the 

 differences being those of a variety rather than of a species. 



Himalayas, Nepal to Ehotan, 10,000-13,000 feet elevation. 



Var. /3 MAJUS. {Hook. Sp. Fil. v. 88.) Base of the frond 

 cordate or sometimes decurrent ; pinnae (or rather segments) narrower 

 and longer, and much more erect {i.e. pointing upwards) ; margins 

 less prominently serrated, scales of rhizome blacker. Pleopeltis 

 Stewartii, Bedd. F. B. I. t. 204, and Baker, Syn, Fil. 513 {not 

 Clarke). Pol. propinquum, var. Wall. P. crytolobum, J. Smith, 

 MS. Clarke, F. N. I. t. 83. 



Nepal to Bhotan, 9,000-12,000 feet elevation (pendant from 

 trees;. I think that Sir W. Hooker may be safely followed in con- 

 sidering this only a variety of malacodon. 



24. Pleopeltis ebenipes. (Honk.) Rhizome stout creepiug, 



