458 FiLicEs. {Polypodinm. 



1. P. Wightiantun, Wall. Catal. n. 2323. Ehizome shortly creeping. 

 Pronds linear-lanceolate and acuminate, or rarely linear and obtuse, from 1 

 to 3 in. long in some specimens, near 8 in. in others, naiTowed into a short 

 stipes, thick, with immersed inconspicuous reticulate veins. Sori in a single 

 row on each side of the midrib, large and sometimes occupying nearly the 

 whole breadth from the margin to the midrib ; in other specimens the frond 

 is thinner and broader in proportion to the sori. When young the spore-cases 

 are concealed under several peltate scales, which soon disappear. — Pleopeltis 

 mda, Hook. Exot. Fl. t. 63 ; Gen. Kl. 1. 18. Urinaria aubspaihulata, Hook. 

 in Kew Joum. Bot. ix. 356. 



Hongkong, Barland. Common on the Chinese coast and extends all over India, and 

 northward to Japan. 



2. P. hymenodes, Wall. Gatal. ?j. 383. Ehizome creeping. Fronds 

 simple, lanceolate, 5 to 9 in. long in the Hongkong specimens, narrowing into 

 a stipes of 1 to 3 in., obtuse or acuminate, f to \\ in. broad, glabrous, rather 

 thick ; the pinnate and reticulate veins immersed and inconspicuous. Sori 

 rather large, distinct, in 3, 4, or rarely B longitudinal rows on each side of the 

 midrib, (3, 4, or 5 in each obliquely transverse row). 



On rocks in a ravine, Wilford. In northern and eastern India, in China, and northward 

 . to Corea. It is not unlikely that this and the preceding species may he hoth referable to 

 some older published Indian or Javanese ones, but the genus Fob/podium is at present in too 

 great confusion to ascertain the synonymy without a general revision. 



3. P. adnascenSj <S'20.; Willd. Spec. v. 145. Ehizome slender, creep- 

 ing, with lanceolate, cUiate, or fringed scales. Fronds simple, entire, thick 

 and coriaceous, more or less covered, especially on the under side, with mi- 

 nute stellate scales or hairs. Barren ones oblong, very obtuse, t to 1^^ in. 

 long, on a stipes sometimes very short, rarely \ in. long. Fertile fronds linear, 

 obtuse, 3 to 5 in. long, covered from about the middle or from rather lower 

 down to the apex with numerous closely packed smaU sori, arranged in oblique 

 rows, occupying the whole interval from the midrib to the margin, and sepa- 

 rated from each other by dense stellate hairs or scales. — Niphobolus adnaseens, 

 Kaulf. ; Sm. in Seem. Bot. Her. 435. Folt/podium pertusum, 'Roxh. ; Hook. 

 Exot. Fl. t. 163. Niphobolus cm-nosus, 'Blnme ; aai N. periums, Spreng. ; 

 Hook, in Kew Joum. Bot. ix. 355. 



Common in ravines, Sinds, Champion, and others. In Ceylon, the Indian Peninsula, and 

 Bengal. 



4. P. Lingua, Sw.,- Willd. Spec. v. 163. Vei-y neai- the last, with the 

 same habit and indumentum, but the fr-onds ai-e usually larger, oblong or ob- 

 long-lanceolate, more or less narrowed towards the apex, the fertile ones fully 

 as broad as the baiTen and usually longer, covered from the base with closely 

 serried sori, except in a few imperfectly fruiting fronds, where they generally 

 fail at the top as well as the base. The fr-onds vary from 1 to 5 in. in length. 

 — Acrostichum lAngua, Thunb. Fl. Jap. t. 33. 



Appears to be equally ^jommon with the last, being sent with it in most coltections from 

 the island. • Also on the Chinese continent and in Japan. 



5. P. tridactylon, Wall.; Hook, and Orev. Ic. Ml. t. 309. Ehizome 

 creeping. Fronds 3 to 8 in. long, naiTowed into a stipes of 1 to 3 in., some- 

 times lanceolate and entire, but more frequently divided into 3 lanceolate lobes. 



