302 H. F. Blanford— ^ List of the Ferns of Simla. [No. 4, 



Stipes thick up to 8 ins. long, little longer or shorter than the 

 frond, dark chestnut to almost black, bearing, generally throughout, dark 

 linear lanceolate scales, with pale margins, which often extend to the 

 principal rachis, but not beyond. Frond lanceolate to oblong lanceolate^ 

 Under surface always thickly coated with white powder. Lowest two 

 or more pairs of pinnae subequal, rather distant. Involucres narrow, 

 with toothed or lacerate margins. 



Readily distinguished from the typical form by the shortness of the 

 ■lowest pair of pinnae, and the greater extension of the scales. In large 

 well grown fronds, the lower three or four pairs of pinnae are nearly 

 equal, and the form of the frond approaches that of GTi. subvillosa. 

 Specimens collected by Mr. Clarke in the Khasi hills present the same 

 characters as those of the N.-W. Himalaya. I have specimens also 

 from Mt. Abu, collected by Dr. King, and from the Nilgiris at 4,000 ft. 

 and 0,000 ft., collected by Mr. Gamble. 



19. Cheilanthes faeinosa, var. grisea^ nov. 



This is an alpine form which I have met with only between Nag- 

 kanda and Baghi at 8,300 to 8,500 ft. Mr. Gamble has collected it on 

 Sinchal near Darjiling at 8,000 ft. 



Stipes slender, 2 to 6 ins. long, light brown, naked or bearing a few 

 thin brown and translucent lanceolate scales (not white margined) near 

 the base. Fronds dimorphous. One form narrow lanceolate 4 to 6 ins. 

 long, IJ to 2 ins. broad, thin papyraceoas. Lower 3 or 4 pairs of pinnaa 

 sub-equal distant. Under surface thickly coated, upper surface sprinkled 

 with white powder. Segments narrow oblong. The other form ovate 

 lanceolate. Pinnae close, triangular. Lower two pairs equal. Both 

 forms fertile. Involucres as in typical variety. 



These last five forms of Gheilanthes form a natural group, probably 

 descended from the same parent form. C. Balhousice and G. albomar- 

 ginafa are sufficiently distinct to be regarded as species. The two last 

 enumerated approach the typical form more nearly and may convenient- 

 ly be treated as varieties. With respect to the dimorphism of var. 

 grisea, it would appear that the typical variety sometimes shows a 

 similar tendency, as Mr. Clarke has communicated to me specimens 

 from Shillong which he has noted as var. suhdimorpha. 



20. Onychium Japonicum, Kunze. 

 The type form is very rare at Simla. It has been found near Mas- 



* Originally described as Cheil. grisea, nob. 



