1953] 



PLANTS COLLECTED IN NY AS ALAND 



197 



Previously known in Central Africa only from Mt. Ruwenzori, but with a wide 

 distribution from Madeira and the Canary Islands through Algeria and the Cau- 

 casus Mts. to the Himalayas, India, and Ceylon. 



Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. 



Mlanje District: a large cushion, 50 cm. in diameter, on a moist sunny rock, 

 2240 m., 16627. 



Polytrichum commune Hedw. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, massed on sterile soil in 

 semi-shade, I860 m., 16453. Zomba District: Zomba Plateau, locally common on 

 moist rocky slopes, 1500 m., 16245. North Nyasa District: Nyika Plateau, oc- 

 casional on bare ground on grasslands, 2400 m., 27330. 



PTERIDOPHYTA 4 



MARATT1ACEAE 



Marattia salicifolia Schrad. Gott. Gel. Anz. 1818: 920. 1818. 

 Marattia dregeana Pr. Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 9. 1845. 

 Marattia natalensis Pr. Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 9. 1845. 



Marattia fraxinea Sm. var. salicifolia (Schrad.) C. Chr. Cat. PI. Madag. Pterid. 67. 

 1932. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, one example in a moist 

 forested ravine, more or less 1.5 m. high; leaves 2, bipinnate, 1890 m., July 13, 

 1946, 16818. Kota-kota District: Nchisi Mountain, plentiful along streams in rain- 

 forest, average plant with 7 arched and spreading leaves, 2 m. long, stipes half 

 length of leaf, lamina about 1.25 m. wide, 1500 m., July 28, 1946, 17000. Zomba 

 District: Zomba Plateau, forms large spreading clumps, common in riverine rain- 

 forest, 3.5 m. high, stem 30-40 cm. high, 20 cm. diam., not branched, stipes of 

 typical leaf 1.70 m. long, stipes covered with dark brown scales at base, 1400 

 m., May 28, 1946, 16044. Cholo District: Cholo Mountain, sporadic in rain-forest 

 gullies, caudex large, more or less 40 cm. high, 50 cm. diam., leaves numerous, 

 spreading, fleshy, stipes 70-90 cm. long, lamina 160-210 cm. long, 1200 m., Sept. 

 23, 1946, 17761. Also in South Africa. 



OSMUNDACEAE 



Osmunda regalis L. Sp. PI. 1065. 1753. 



Zomba District: Zomba Plateau, abundant on wet shady banks of a stream in 

 rain-forest, 1.2-1.5 m. high, leaves erect from a short branched stout stem about 

 15-20 cm. high, pale green, fertile ones much shorter than sterile, 1400 m., May 

 28, 1946, 16049. Most temperate regions, tropical and South Africa, Mascarenes, 

 West Indies and tropical America. 



SCHIZAEACEAE 



Mohria caffrorum (L.) Desv. Mem. Soc. Linn. 6: 198. 1827. 



North Nyasa District: Nyika Plateau, common in sheltered situation on grass- 

 lands, 30-50 cm. high, leaves erect, 2300 m., Aug. 17, 1946, 17286. Zomba Dis- 

 trict: Zomba Plateau, common in moist shade under rocks of an exposed summit, 

 15-40 cm. high, 1500 m., June 2, 1946, 16162. East and South Africa, Mascarenes. 



Mohria lepigera (Bak.) Bak. Ann. Bot. 5: 498. 1891. 

 Notocblaena lepigera Bak. Jour. Bot. 22: 53. 1884. 



4 By F. Ballard, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 



