§0§ H. F. Blanford— ^ List of tie Ferns of Simla. [No. 4, 



colour^ with brown lanceolate scales. Also by the greatly reduced pair 

 of basal pinnae. 



42. AsPLENiuM (Athtrium) nigripes, Mett. 



The typical form of this fern is common on the partially shaded 

 banks and hill sides, on the northern face of Kumalhori and Hatn, at 

 elevations between 8,000 and 9,500 ft., but not nearer Simla. There are 

 rarely more than 2 or 3 fronds on the rhizome, and they are firm in 

 texture and, in general, nearly as broad as long. 



43. AsPLENiuM (Athtrium) tenuifrons. Wall. 



Mr. Clarke regards this as merely a form of A. nigripes. In this 

 view I cannot agree with him ; differing as it does so greatly in habit 

 and habitat, while neither exhibits a great range of variation. It is 

 restricted to well shaded ravines, growing in the beds of streams at 

 elevations below 7,000 ft. The fronds, numbering 4 or 5 or more, form a 

 circular tuft on the short erect rhizome. They vary in form from ovate 

 lanceolate to acute lanceolate, and the width of my broadest specimen 

 is less than half the length of the frond ; in the narrowest it is less than 

 one-fourth. The texture is thin and the upper surfaces of the partial 

 rhachises and costee bear long glandular filaments. The colour of the 

 frond in the fresh state is bright green, forming a beautiful contrast 

 with the delicate pink tint of the rhachis and stipe. It is no doubt 

 near A. Clarkei, and apparently grows in similar situations, but the 

 fronds are broader and never root at the ends. 



44. AsPLENiUM (Athtrium) filix pcemina, Bernh., var. dentigera, Clarke. 



Abundant on the northern face of Hatu and Kumalhori between 

 8,500 and 10,000 ft. The fronds grow in a circular tuft from an erect 

 rhizome, attaining a length of 2 or 3 feet. 



45. A. FILIX F(EMINA, var. retusa, Decne., subvar. elongafa, Clarke. 



I name this form from Mr. Clarke's type in the Kew herbarium. 

 Many of the sheets so marked by him are from the neighbourhood of 

 Simla. This fern is abundant on Kumalhori above Matiana up to 

 10,000 ft. Also on the roadside between Theog and Martiana at 8,000 

 ft,, growing chiefly in rock crevices. The stipes are densely tufted on a 

 decumbent root- stock ; the fronds generally drooping. In mode of growth, 

 and indeed in most of its characters, it differs so greatly from the preced- 

 ing that it should, I think, be distinguished as a species. 



