1962 CLVI. FILICES. [Pterist 



10. P. aquilina (eagle-like) Linn.; var. esculenta ; Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 197. 

 Syn. FUic. 163; Benth. Ft. Austr. vii. 73 h The Esculent Bracken. Rhizome 

 thick and creeping. Fronds from 1 or 2 to 8 or 10ft. high, usually thrice pinnate* 

 Primary pinnae distant, the lowest pair much larger and more compound) the 

 upper gradually decreasing, giving the whole frond a triangular outline 2 to 

 4ft. broad. Secondary or tertiary pinna numerous, lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid 

 or pinnate, always ending in a linear undivided obtuse segment, the lateral 

 segments oblong or linear, scarcely widened at the base but decurrent on the 

 rhachis, the midrib usually raised dilated and hardened with acute ciliate edges 

 and the under surface usually hairy between the midrib and the sori. Sori 

 continuous along the margin, the rather broad indusium really marginal, 

 but the frond thickened and often minutely crenulate at the base of the 

 indusium make it appear intramarginal. — Kunze in PI. Preiss. ii. Ill ; Hook, 

 f. Fl. Tasm ii. 139; F. v., M. Fragm. v. 126; Sieb. Syn. Filic. n. 

 127 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 77. ; P. esculenta, Forst.; Labill. PI. Nov., Holl. ii. 

 95, t. 244; E.Br. Prod. 154. 



Hab.: Very abundant both North and South. 



Var. lanuginosa, Hook., Spec. Filic. ii. 196. The Woolly Bracken. A tall strong plant, 

 very hard, but, from being closely covered with soft woolly down, hs,s a somewhat soft appear- 

 ance, and grows in intricate masses 5 or 6ft. high, — Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 78. 



Hab.: Bellenden-Ker, at between 2,000 and 5,000ft. above sea-level, forming large patches 

 most difficult to pass through. 



The species is generally abundant in some form or other in most tropical and temperate 

 regions of the globe. 



11. P. incisa (cut), Thtmb. ; Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 230, Syn. Filic. 172 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 732. Bat's-wing Fern. Rhizome creeping. Fronds 

 varying from 1 to 5ft. high, glabrous, twice or thrice pinnate. Pinnules of 

 the barren fronds usually deeply pinnatifid, 1 to 2in. long, with broad obtuse 

 membranous lobes, the veins proceeding from the midrib of the pinnule 

 repeatedly forked in each lobe, the branches here and there anastomosing or 

 all free. In the fertile fronds the secondary pinnae often pinnate at the 

 base, pinnatifid in the upper part, the lower pinnules or segments with a 

 distinct midrib and variously branched veins, the upper lobes less regularly 

 veined. Sori continuous or interrupted, often neither reaching the base nor 

 the apex of the segment. — Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 140 ; Sieb. Fl. Mixt. n. 

 252 ; F. V. M. Fragm. v. 124 ; P. vespertilionis, Labill. PI. Nov. Holl. ii. 96, 

 t. 246 ; R. Br. Prod. 154 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 79 ; Litobmchia vespertilionis, 

 Presl; Bail. Ql. Ferns, 26. 



Hftb.: In many southern localities. 



Spread over the tropical and southern extratropical regions of the New and the Old World. 



12. P. marginata (bordered), Bory ; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Filic. 172 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 733. Rhizome short, stout. Fronds when full grown 

 several feet high, the main rhachis branched, usually tripartite, each branch 

 pinnate. Pinna numerous, 3 to lOin. long, deeply pinnatifid ; segments oblong 

 or broadly linear, often falcate, obtuse, J to lin. long, confluent into a winged 

 rhachis 2 to 3 lines broad ; veins copiously reticulate on each side of the midrib. 

 Sori often continued round the sinus, but rarely reaching the ends of the lobes. 

 Barren fronds thinner, the lobes often minutely dentate. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 

 80 ; P. tripartita, Swartz ; Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 225, t. 138 ; F. v. M. Fragm! 

 v. 125 ; P. Milneana, Baker, Syn. Filic. 170 ; Litobrochia tripartita, Presl. and 

 L. Milneana, Bail. Queensl. Ferns, 26. 



Hab.: B.odkmgha,m Ba.y, Dallachy ; Bellenden-Ker Eange, If. Hill; Daintree River, K^^aZmi : 

 Bowen, Woolls. In most tropical scrubs. 



Banges over tropical Asia and Africa and the Pacific Islands. 



