South African Ferns and their Distribution. 297 



183. Ophioglossum lusitanicum, Linn. 



Schlechter's 989, mentioned above, does not, however, belong 

 to 0. Bergianum, the barren and fertile fronds being 

 united at the base, and the barren frond wider than in 

 that species. It belongs to 0. lusitanicum, L., being 

 one of its smaller varieties. Fertile frond f- 1^ inches 

 high, including the spike, which is ^ inch long, with 

 about 6 pairs of capsules, and surmounted by a flattened 

 leafy point. Barren frond rising from the fertile above 

 the base, shortly petioled, -|— f inch long, 2 lines wide, 

 linear-lanceolate. Eoots few, fleshy ; rootstock not 

 descending. Mediterranean, West Africa, India, Aus- 

 tralia, and New Zealand ; probably often overlooked. 



Western Province : — Constantiaberg, near Hout Bay, altitude 

 250 feet (Schlechter 989). 



184. Ophioglossum nudicaule, Linn. f. 



Eootstock descending, fleshy ; roots numerous. Fronds 

 several, the barren segment ovate, f-1 inch long, ^ inch 

 wide, shortly stalked, rising from the lower portion of 

 the fertile peduncle which is 1-1J inches long, slender, 

 and bearing a ^--inch spike of 6-7 pairs of capsules 

 surmounted by a small acute point. 



Differs from 0. vulgatum in its small size, in having the 

 fertile and sterile segments united near the base, and in 

 the barren segment being more distinctly stalked. 



0. nudicaule, L. fil. ; 0. capense, Schl. ; var. /3. nudicaule, 

 Schl. Adumb. 9. 



Widely distributed in America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. 



Western Province : — Lammkraal, Clanwilliam, 1,000 feet, 

 August, 1897 (E. Schlechter 10842). 



185. Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. 



West, East, Kaffraria, and Natal (F. of S. A.). 

 Transvaal: — Magalisberg (Burke). 



186. Ophioglossum reticulatum, Linn. 



Natal (F. of S. A.). 



Ehodesia : — Zambesiland (Kirk). 



Fern Allies. 



187. Equisetum ramosissimum, Desv. 



West, East, Kaffraria, Natal (F. of S. A.) : — Centocow, Natal 



(T. E. Sim). 

 Transvaal: — Many localities (J. Burtt-Davy). 

 Ehodesia : — Zambesi (Kirk). 



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