296 H. F. Blanford— ^1 List of tie Ferns of Simla. [No. 4, 



Of these, T. auriculattcin, Ft, longipinnula, Asp. heterocarpum, A. 

 temiifoliurn, Neph. gracilescens, N. setigerum^ Pol. appendiculatum, and 

 P. hiemiontideum are not known from the N.W. Himalaya, and Aspl, 

 Hohenackerianum not from Northern India, and some at least probably 

 rest on erroneous identifications. Cyst, fragilis, Cheil. rufa, Neph. cochlea- 

 turn, N. Brunonianum, and N. harhigerum are quoted either from higher 

 or lower levels than those of my list. The others may either have dis- 

 appeared of late years, or, if still existing in the neighbourhood of Simla, 

 they have escaped my notice. 



In the nomenclature of my list, I have generally followed Mr. 

 Clarke's review of the ferns of Northern India, read before the Linnaean 

 Society in June, 1879, and published in their Transactions ; and I am 

 indebted to Mr. Clarke and Dr. King for the identification of some forms, 

 especially the Diplaziums, three of which I give on Mr. Clarke's authority. 

 I should myself have considered these as mere forms of Asp polypodioi- 

 des, or perhaps rather Aspl. umhrosum. In a few cases, I have ventured 

 to depart from Mr. Clarke's views, dividing specifically forms which he 

 has associated, and associating others which he has, although with doubt, 

 enumerated under different specific names. The following are the 

 principal instances : — 



Adiantum Edgeworthii is recognized as specifically distinct from A, 

 caudatum. Col. Beddome has suggested the separation, and I fully 

 concur with him. 



Two varieties of Gheilanthes farinosa are separated from the type 

 and so named. And Gheilanthes Dalhousioe, as well as Gheilanthes alho- 

 marginata, are recognized as good distinct species. I have collected both 

 largely and find them to be constant forms with no tendency to gra- 

 duate into Gh. farinosa. 



Wallich's Asplenium {Athyr.) tenuifrons is separated from ^. nigripes, 

 the habit, elevation, range, and character of the habitat of the two being 

 quite distinct. 



Mr. Clarke's Aspl, filix fcemina, var. polyspora has since been recog- 

 nized as identical with A. Brongniart's Athyr. Schimperi, to which I have 

 therefore referred it. 



Wallich's Athyr . pectinatum, which Mr. Clarke treats also as a variety 

 oi A, filix fcEmina, is bIso separated. It has a creeping root-stock and 

 in other characters is sufficiently distinct and characteristic. 



Mr. Clarke's Neph. filix mas, var. normalis passes by such indefinite 

 gradations into the form which he identifies with N. rigidum that it is 

 impossible to separate them. This appears to have been more than sur- 

 mised by Mr. Clarke himself. 



The Simla fern which has been referred to Neph. canum, J. Smith, 



