514 APPENDIX. 55. ASPLENIUM. 



towards the base, the apex abruptly short-acuminate, the base narrowly 

 cuneate. Pinnae sessile, numerous; terminal pinna shortly deltoid, deeply 

 pinnatifid at the base ; lateral pinnae subhorizontal ; central pinnae largest, 

 approximate, linear-lanceolate, to 9 cm. long, to 1 cm. broad above the 

 basal auricle, acuminate, the point bluntish or acute, the edge coarsely 

 obliquely serrate towards the apex, serrulate-crenulate towards the base, 

 the base obliquely cuneate, auricled on the upper side, the auricle bluntly 

 deltoid; lower pinnae very gradually reduced, nearly close, the lowest 

 obhquely roundish, auricle-like. Texture coriaceous; upper surface naked, 

 or slightly minutely squamulose on the costae; under surface squamulose 

 on the costae and veins, the squamules minute, deciduous, scattered, 

 black or castaneous, irregularly stellately branched; veins very oblique, 

 once or twice forked. Sori numerous, occupying the lower % — ^/j of 

 the veins; indusium firm, persistent. 

 Sumatra. 



4. DAREA. 



(80a) A. achiiBeli'oIlisiii, C. Chr., Ind. Fil. ; A. rutaefolium, Kze, 

 Hk. Bk., Syn. Fil., 222; A. prolong atitm, Hk., 2nd Cent, of Ferns, tab. 

 XLII; Adiantum achilleaefoUuin, Lam., (oldest name). 



Rhizome short, ascending, hardly scaly. Stipes aggregate, + 15 — 25 

 cm. long, subcompressed, naked, stramineous or greenish. Fronds elongate- 

 lanceolate, + 15 — 30 cm. long, truncate at the base. Pinnae 10—20 on 

 a side, somewhat remote, the lower and central horizontal or spreading, 

 the higher more ascending; lower or central pinnae largest, subdeltoid 

 to subrhomboidal, 2^1^— b cm. long or longer, cut down to the rachis or 

 nearly so. Segments linear-oblong, oblique, blunt, the upper side somewhat 

 narrowed at the base, the lower side decurrent ; lowest anterior segments 

 largest, rather spreading, sparingly pinnate or pinnatipartite on the 

 anterior side; lowest posterior segments suppressed. Texture coriaceous 

 or subchartaceous ; rachis often prolonged and proliferous; colour pale- 

 green; a single vein in each ultimate segment. Sori oblong; indusium 

 flrm-membranaceous. 



South Africa, Brit. India across Malaya to Japan and China, Polynesia 

 and New Caledonia. 



