258 



fertile spikes. Its distinguishing features are the spreading habit of 

 growth, oblong lateral leaves, that are not at all pointed, long-pointed 

 intermediary ones, which under a strong lens are faintly denticulate, 

 and long fertile spikes. The latter, as in confusa, are compressed in 

 dry specimens. 



6. S. serpens, Spring. -Fronds prostrate throughout, J-1 ft. 1. 1-4 in. 

 w., pinnately branched from the base upwards, tri-quadripinnate, the 

 leaves unmodified both at base and apex, varying in colour at different 

 times, elastical-membranous in texture, pinnary branches l-lj li. w. 

 over the leaves, variable in length and generally irregular or unequal 

 in the same frond, 1-4 in. 1. ; secondary in. 1. ; tertiary (if present) 

 only rudimentary, but fertile ; leaves slightly imbricating generally, 

 but often not, or barely, on the primary rachis ; major subovate, 

 spreading, nearly equilateral, cordate, with rounded auricles at the base, 

 the point blunt or rounded, f-1 li. 1., and as wide, the inferior basal 

 margin ciliate ; minor leaves attached laterally near the base, o/ate, 

 pointed but not spinulose, outer margin spinulose — ciliate all round, 

 I li. 1. ; spikes 1-6 li. 1., ^ li w, 4-stichous, square but loose ; bracts 

 sharply keeled, — Baker, Fern Al. p. 46 



Very abundant on open banks and rocks, spreading in large patches, 

 which completely conceal the surface, the fronds quite flat, with hair- 

 like roots from the joints of the rachises on the underside ; chiefly at 

 low altitudes and among the lower hills. The colour changes during 

 the day and varies from a very pale green to purplish-brown in 

 different parts. The texture is rather elastic, and contracts somewhat 

 when dry. The branches are lJ-2 li. w. The lateral attachment of 

 the intermediary leaves, which makes them ear-shaped, the ^harp rib 

 of the rachis showing between the two rows, are reliable a id certain 

 characters for determining the species. 



7. S. didymostachya. Spring. — Fronds stiff, light wiry, or dark green, 

 J-1 ft. or more 1 repeatedly and much branched from the b jse upwards, 

 prostrate, with long filiform stramineous roots descending from the 

 joints beneath ; the branches 1-2 li. w. over the leaves ; rachises 

 throughout flexuose, glossy stramineous, stiff, and wiry, but not rigid, 

 the leaves conform, but rather more lax than those of the branches ; 

 major leaves ovate-oblong, inequilateral, rounded but with an indis- 

 tinct point at the apex, the joint at the base raised, 1 li. 1. | li. w., not 

 imbricating, or only slightly so in the final branchlets, the margins 

 usually naked ; minor leaves ascending in the line of the rachis, cuspi- 

 date, subkeeled in the outer branches, faintly spinulose-ciliate, \ li. 1. 

 or less, little imbricating or not ; spikes 2-4 li. 1. \ li. b., square, bracts 

 appressed or loose, keeled. Baker, Fern Al. p. 55. 



a. var. integerrima, Fee. Fil Ant. t. 34, fig 4. — Fronds smaller and 

 more compact, with narrower parts. 



h. var. densa, Jenm. — Habit very dense, final branches very numer- 

 ous, lying close together. 



Abundant in mountain forests, principally in the middle region, 

 from 2,000-4,000 ft. alt., covering the ground, to which it is lightly 

 attached by the long stilt-like stramineous glossy descending roots. It 

 is a well-marked species characterised by the wiry roots, its usually lax 

 freely branched habit, strong, stiff, and constantly zig-zag rachises, 

 which are quite cylindric, and raised joints of the leaves. 



