5S. ASPLENIUM. § 3. EU-ASPLEMUM. 453 



Vap. densum: Smaller and narrower. 



In the temperate zones and the cool alpine regions of the tropics. 



(236) A. exiguum, Bedd., Ferns S.I., 49, tab. CXLVI. 



Rhizome sTiort, erect, clothed above with numerous subulate, black scales. 

 Stipes numerous, 7 — 30 c.M. long, blackish-purple, more or'less furnished with 

 ong, black, subulate scales. Fronds 4—15 c.M. long, 6—20 m.M. broad, the 

 'achis sulcate above, slightly flexuose, more or less extended at the apex into 

 I naked tail and often bearing a young plant. Pinnae numerous, subsessile 

 'rom a broad base, in the smaller fronds suborbicular and simply crenate, in 

 he larger ones lanceolate-oblong and pinnatifid, cuneato-excised below, the 

 luperior and inferior basal auricles 3 — 4-dentate or crenate, the other lobes 

 S-dentate or entire; superior pinnae gradually smaller, uppermost ones often 

 rery minute but fertile (with 1 — 2 sori); inferior pinnae gradually smaller, 

 lubrotund or flabelliform, always fertile. Texture membranaceous; surfaces 

 ninutely hairy when young, at length naked; veins obscure, the apex thickened. 

 >ori of the larger pinnae arranged in a double row, 1 row of 4 — 5 on each 

 ide of the costa and approximate to it, superior auricle bearing 1 + diverging 

 orus, rarely 2, sometimes none, lower auricle generally barren, rarely bearing 

 . — ^ sori. 



Luzon; Centr. China, South. India. 



* (24) A. normale, nam., Hk. Bk., Syn. Fil., 197; A. muUijugum, 

 A/alL, Hk., Spec. Fil., Ill, tali. CLXXXVIII; Bedd., Ferns S.L, tab. CXXXIII. 



Stipes tufted, 10—15 c.M. long, blackish, polished. Fronds 20—30 c.M. 

 jng, 272 — 4 c.M. broad, pinnate. Pinnae in 12—00 pairs, to 2 c.M. long, 

 he lower ones to ^/j c.M. broad, deflexed, the apex obtuse, the upper and 

 uter edge inciso-crenate, the upper base truncate and + auricled, the lower 

 arrowly cuneate, cut away in a ± horizontal line which extends nearly 

 be length of the lower margin of the pinna. Texture rather firm-membra- 

 aceous to subcoriaceous ; rachis glossy, nearly black; veins simple or forked, 

 ori oblong or linear-oblong, in 2 unequal, opposite, parallel rows, -r- A phi- 

 ppine form has the stipes 2 — 6 c.M. long and the fronds 10 — 25 c.M. long, 

 — 2 c.M. broad. 



Malacca, Sumatra, Celebes, Philippines; China, North. India, Hawaii. 



(25) A. stubaTenium, UU., Hk. Bk., Syn. Fil., 198; Hk., Spec, 

 il, HI, tab. CLXXXI, B; Bedd., Ferns Br.I., \l, tab. CCLXXXVHI. 



