1888.] H. F. Blanford— -4 List of the Ferns of Simla. SO^ 



hobra at about 6,000 ft. I have gathered it also in the Ravi valley 

 near Chamba, a hundred miles further to the north-west. 



21. Onychium Japonicum, var. muUisecta, F. Henderson, 



This is one of the commonest Simla ferns, growing abundantly, on 

 the ground, both in forest and on the open hill side. It has a creeping 

 root-stock. Its range at Simla is from 6,000 to 9,000 ft. 



22. Cryptogeamme crispa, R. Br. 



On rocks by the roadside between Nagkanda and Baghi at about 

 8,300 ft. 



23. Pteris Cretica, L. 



Very abundant in certain parts of Simla, especially on the Sutlej 

 side of the spur, between 5,500 and 6,500 ft. It disappears above 8,000 ft. 



24. Pteris longifolia, L. 



This is a fern of the plains, abundant in and about Calcutta. I 

 have found it below Simla at 4,800 ft., but this is above its ordinary 

 range. 



25. Pteris quadri-aurita, Retz. 



Tolerably common in damp sheltered places up to 8,600 ft., which 

 is a higher range than that given by Clarke and Beddome (7,000 ft.). 

 The Simla form is pretty constant. It has 14 or 15 pairs of sub- 

 opposite pinnae ; either the lowest only, or the lowest 3 or 4 pair^ 

 bipartite. 



26. Pteris excelsa, Gaud. 



Very rare. Apparently restricted to well shaded spots by the mar^ 

 gin of streams. I have collected it in two places at 5,500 and 5,800 

 ft., but I have not met with it during the last four years, the orio-inal 

 sites having been devastated by wood-cutters and cattle, or exhausted 

 by collectors. 



27. Pteris (Piesia) aquilina, L. 



This world-wide fern occurs down to 5,500 ffe, below Simla, and it 

 ranges up to between 9,000 and 10,000 ft. Very common at 8,000 ft. 

 along the Great Tibet Road. 



