Ferns of British India and Ceylon. 33 



Var. texuifrons. ( Wall. Cat. 206.) Very like the type, but 

 fronds gradually attenuated towards the base, intermediate 

 between the type, and Clarkei, not nearly so narrow or elongated 

 as the latter, and not rooting at the apex ; the channelled secondary 

 rachis, the channelled midrib of the pinnae, and sometimes the 

 veins furnished with weak setae on the upper surface, as in the 

 type and in Clarkei (which distinguishes this species easily from 

 some of the varieties of filix-fcemina). Referred in the Synopsis 

 to filix-fcemina, and by Mr. Clarke as a synonym of Clarkei. 

 Considered a species by some pteridologists. 



Var. stramineum. (Moore, Index Fil. p. 188.) Stipe and 

 rachis pale yellow, pinnae distant, very narrow, scarcely I inch 

 broad, not attenuated at base, texture rigid, pinnules distant. 



Khasia, 4,000-5,000 feet alt. (Hook, and Thomson.) Shillong, 

 Khasia Hills, 5, coo feet alt. (G. Mann), Min Sardan, Sikkim, 

 12,000 feet alt. (King.) 



8. Athyrium solenopteris. Kashmir, Khasia, Kohima, 

 6,000 feet alt. (Watt.) Kunze's name is solenopteris (not selen- 

 opteris). 



8a. Athyrium atratum. (;/. sp.) Rhizome erect, furnished 

 with numerous long, stiff, wiry roots, crown furnished with 

 narrow, linear, glabrous, pale-coloured scales ; stipes aggregate 

 glabrous, 1-3 inches long ; fronds 6-12 inches long, 2-4 inches 

 broad, lanceolate, attenuate at both ends bipinnate, turning quite 

 black in drying ; pinnae oblong acuminate (the lower pinnules 

 being the largest), about f inch broad ; pinnules (the lower ones 

 distinctly stalked) dimidiate, being always more or less cut away 

 at the base and more developed on the upper side, cut down £-£ 

 towards the midrib into several small lobes which have 2-4 sharp, 

 unequal serratures at the otherwise rounded apex ; veins forked or 

 pinnate in the lobes ; sori very small, about the centre of the 

 veins ; indusium athyrioid, fugacious, 



Munipore. (Wall, No. 6,159.) Easily recognised by its nearly 



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