308 H. F. Blanford— J Lif^t of the Ferns of Simla. [No. 4, 



52. ASPLENIUM (DiPLAZIUm) MULTICAUDATDM ? Wall. 



This identification is open to some doubt. The only specimens I 

 have were collected in 1877 and 1882, at elevations of 4,500 ft. and 5,000 

 ft , and are without rhizomes. Both Dr. King and Mr. Clarke are of 

 opinion that they are probably this species, and it certainly occurs no 

 farther off than at Mussoorie. I include it therefore provisionally in 

 my list. 



53. AspiDiUM (Poltstichum) auriculatum, L., var. ccespitosa, Wall. 

 Very rare within my limits of elevation and area, though Mr. 

 Clarke gives its range as from 4,000 to 8,000 ft. I have found it but 

 once at 4,800 ft. 



54. AspiDiuM (Poltstichum) ilicifolium, Don. 



I am very sceptical as to the claim of this fern to specific rank. Ifc 

 appears to me to be an alpine form of A. aculeatum, which grows on 

 rocks, and graduates into var. rufo-barhata. I believe Mr. Clarke and 

 Col. Beddome hold the same view. Very characteristic specimens of the 

 simply pinnate form occar on the rocks about Nagkanda between 8,000 

 and 9,000 ft., and small specimens may occasionally be found at Mahasu 

 and Mashobra at about the same lower level. The bipinnate form, which 

 forms the first step of the passage into A. aculeatum, is common at the 

 same elevation. 



55. AspiDiUM (Poltstichum) Thomsoni, Hook. 



This is rather a rare fern. Col. CoUett has collected it as low as 

 7,500 ft., and I have met with it myself at two or three localities from 

 8,000 to 10,000 ft. 



56. AspiDiUM (Poltstichum) aculeatum, Swartz. 

 Common ; ranging from the lowest to the highest level visited 

 (4,500 to 10,500 ft.). The low level forms differ from the higher in 

 having the stipe and rachis clothed with dark hair- like scales, without 

 pales ; whereas those above 8,000 ft. have thin pale linear scales sparely 

 intermingled with dark brown pales. 



57, Aspidium (Poltstichum) aculeatum, var. lohata, Hook. 

 At all levels, but not common. 



58. Aspidium aculeatum, var. rufo-harhata, Wall. 

 From 5,000 to 9,500 ft. Common from 6,000 to 8,000 ft. 



