Polypodium.] CLVI. FILICES. 1985 



18. P. superficiale (superficial), Bl. var. australiense, Bail. Bot. Bull. iv. 

 Rhizome said to be creeping over or along the branches of growing trees, 

 from the short curved base of the stipes it is probable that the frond attached 

 to the lower or under side of the rhizome. Frond linear-lanceolate, 12 or 13in. 

 long, about lin. broad in the centre, decurrent upon the stipes almost to 

 the base, the apex more or less acuminated, texture firm, costa prominent, 

 no distinct oostules, areola fine, irregular, with free veinlets. Sori copious, 

 scattered irregularly, only on the upper half of the frond. — Bail. Litho. Ferns 

 Ql. 155. 



Hab.: Athertnn, near Herberton, G. J. Wild. 



This plant would seem to differ from the normal form in the lamina of the frond being 

 decurrent to the base or to a stipes of only a few lines, and the sori being confined to the upper 

 half of the frond. 



19. P. simpliclssimum (quite simple), F. v. M. in Hook, and Bo-h- Syn. 

 Filic. 513 ; Benth. b'l. Austr. vii. 768. Rhizome slender creeping up trees and 

 over rocks. Frond lanceolate, acuminate, entire or slightly forked at the apex 

 and sometimes crenate, 4 to lOin. long, tapering into a short or long stipes, 

 rather thin, glabrous, prominently penniveined with intermediate reticulations 

 and free veinlets in the areoles. Sori rather large, orbicular, in a single row on 

 each side of the midrib halfway between it and the margin, the receptacle scarcely 

 excavated and obscurely or not at all prominent on the upper surface.-— P. lanceola, 

 F. V. M. Fragm. vii. 120; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 156; Pleopeltis lanceola, Bail. 

 Ql. Ferns 45. 



Hab.: Tropical scrubs on mountain ranges. 



20. P. nigrescens (blackish), Blume, Fl. Jav. Filic. 161, t. 70; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr, vii. 769. Frond 2 or 3ft. long on a stipes of 1ft. or more, glabrous, 

 deeply pinnatifid. Pinna lanceolate, acuminate with a narrow point, membran- 

 ous, 6in. to 1ft. long, 1 to IJin. broad, confluent at the base in a broad wing to 

 the rhachis, the main veins very distinct, reticulate between them with numerous 

 free veinlets in the areoles. Sori large in the centre of the larger areoles, distant 

 in a single row on each side of the midrib at some distance from it, the receptacles 

 deeply excavated and very prominent on the upper surface. — -Hook. Spec. Filic. 

 V. 81, Syn. Filic. 364 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 157. 



Hab.: Daintree Biver and other northern scrubs. 



Spread over East India, the Malayan Peninsula and Pacific Islands. 



21. P. phymatodes (warted), Linn. Hook. Spec. Filic. v. 82, Stjn. Filic. 364 ; 

 Renth. Fl. Austr. vii. 769. Fronds 1, 2 or even 8ft. long, deeply pinnatifid, very 

 smooth and glabrous. Pinnae lanceolate, 4 to Sin. long, | to IJin. broad, 

 confluent at the base into a broadly-winged rhachis, the midrib of each pinna 

 very prominent, with copious reticulations between the primary veins but all 

 concealed in the smooth though not thick texture of the frond. Sori rather 

 large, orbicular or oval, distant in about two rows or rarely in a single row on 

 each side of the midrib at some distance from it, the receptacles slightly 

 excavated and prominent on the upper surface. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 158 ; 

 Pleopeltis phymatodes, T. Moore ; Bail. Ql. Ferns, 44 ; Bedd. Ferns S. Ind. t. 

 178. 



Hab.; Cape York, Daemel; Eockingham Bay, Dallachy , Daintree Eiver, Fitzalan. Common 

 in the tropical scrubs,. 

 Widely spread over the tropical regions of the Old World. 



22. P. pustulatum (blistered or pimpled), Forst.; Carruth. in Seem. Fl. 

 Vit. 869, not of Schkwhr.; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 769. Near P. phymatodes but a 

 smaller and more hardy plant. Fronds usually deeply pinnatifid, f to IJft. high, 

 with few segments and sometimes entire and 4 to 8in. long. Segments oblong- 



