1888.] H. F. Blanford— J. List of the Ferns of Simla. 305 



36. AsPLENiUM YARIANS, Hook. and Grev. 



Not uncommon, but nowhere abundant. Ranges from 4,800 ft. up 

 to 10,500, at which elevation it was gathered by Dr. Watt on the top of 

 Hatu. 



37. AsPLENiuM (Athyrium) Atkinsoni, Clarke, var. Andersoni, 



Abundant in certain places on Hatu and Kumalhori at elevations 

 of 8,500 ft. and upwards. Grows on the ground under trees, not in 

 thick shade. 



38. AsPLENiUM (Athyrium) thelypteroides, Michx. 



Abundant about Nagkanda 18,500—9,500 ft , covering the hill-side 

 in the forest with circular tufts of fronds from 2 to 3 ft. in length. 



39. AsPLENiUM (Athyrium) macrocarpum. Hook. 



Very rare. I have never met with it myself. But it was col- 

 lected last year by a Simla resident a little below the Simla bazar, I 

 believe, about 7,000 ft. or rather lower. 



40. Asplenium (Athyrium) macrocarpum, var. Atldnsonl, Hkr. & Bkr. 



Also very rare. I have found it only at the Chadwiok tails at 5,820 '*' 

 ft., and not at all during the last two or three years. 



41. Asplenium (Athyrium) Schimperi, A. Br. 



A. filics foemina, var. 'polyspora, Clarke, 



This species, hitherto known as such only from Africa, is identical 

 with the fern described by Mr. Clarke under the above synonym, as 

 identified with his type in the Kew herbarium. It is one of the com- 

 monest and most abundant of the Simla ferns in the rains. It covers 

 the ground beneath the oak trees on Jako and Mashobra hill, and the 

 more open glades of the Elysium spur, and it ranges from the bottom 

 of the Jaru-ka-nal ravine (5,500 ft.) to the top of Hatu (10,500 ft.). Ifc 

 occurs also at Mussoorie, but I have seen no specimens from any place 

 further east. Mr. Clarke gives its range as from Kumaon to Chumba. 



Except in the width of the fronds, which vary from lanceolate to 

 deltoid lanceolate, the characters are very constant. Large specimens 

 from Nagkanda are 2-pinnate. It is readily distinguishable from 

 oihev Athyria by the creeping root-stock, combined with large horse -shoe 

 shaped sori, and by the basal portion of the stipe being of a deep purple 

 40 



