59 
Pleopeltis, ( coiitimied. ) 
3. Pleo2)eltis oxijloha. (Wall.) Caudex creeping, stout, paleaceous with dense subulato-falcate ferruginous scales 2-5 inches 
long, fronds coriaceous, or coriaceo-membranaceous 6-12 inches and more long, deltoideo-ovate acuminate trifid, or deeply pinnatifid to 
vithin i an inch of the rachis with 5-11 segments, which are 3-6 inches long, | to I inch wide, very patent from a broad base oblongo 
lanceolate, very finely acuminated entire, thickened at the margin, the lowest ones cuneato-decurrent, terminal segment often the 
longest and most narrowly acuminated, venation conspicuous, costules often prominent beneath distant, united by transverse veins forming 
3-4 series of primary areoles, which are filled up by lesser ones including free veinlets, sori large not sunk, arranged in a single series 
nearer the costa than the margin. Hook. Sp. Fil. v, 77 Polipodium oxylobum, Wall. Cat. 294, Mett. Polyp., 2). 106 -—Phymatodes, Pr. 
Nilgiris — On trees about Neddiwattan — rocks near Makurty peak — Sisparah ghat, and many other localities — Anamallays 
4,000 feet and upwards, and other localities on the Western ghats. 
PLATE No. CLXXV. 
4. Pleopeltis longissima. (Blume.) Caudex creeping, fleshy, partially paleaceous with rather large ovate appressed brownish 
scales, stipites foot or more long, fronds sub-coriaceous, l^-i feet and more long, 6-10 inches wide, narrow-oblong, scarcely acumi- 
nated, deeply piiniatifid, nearly if not quite to the rachis, generally leaving only a narrow wing, segments very numerous, 22-40, and pro- 
bably many more, 4-6-8 or 10 inches long, rarely exceeding ^ an inch wide from a broad decurrent base, elongato-oblong acute or obtusely 
acuminate, the margin slightly thickened, venation evident, often slightly prominent and distinct (except the veinlets) on the under 
side, costules or rather primaiy veins horizontal, flexuose forming a series of large costal soriferous areoles and a second lesser series, 
secondai-y veins forming a net-work of small areoles including free veinlets, sori large, copious sub-oval, sunk into a hemispherical cavity 
(forming a pustule or pouch on the upper side, the mouth with a distinct elevated rim) arranged in a single series on nearly the whole 
length of every segment and close to the costa. Hook. Sp. Fil. v, j). 80 ; — Drynaria rubida, Sin.; — Polypodium longissimum, il/e<ifiw, 
Fil. Hort. Li2)s., p. 37. t. 25. /. 18, Polyp, p. 102 (itiimrt only ?J Mettenius unites this with P. nigrescens of Blume. Sir Will. Hooker 
thinks them distinct and refers the Ceylon specimens to " nigrescens." 
Bolamputty valley in the Coimbatore hills, banks of the Pambar — Foot of Carcoor ghat, Wynad. 
PLATE No. CLXXVI. 
5. Pleopeltis memhranacea. (Don.) Caudex creeping, stout, the younger portion paleaceous with blackish-green ovate acumi- 
nate scales, stipites distant or sub-aggregated 1-5 inches long, if longer winged above with the decurrent base of the frond, fronds 6 
inches to 2-3 feet long by less than an inch to 6 inches broad, thin membranaceous and translucent or firm-membranaceous and opaque, 
lanceolate or oblongo-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, acuminate, the base long attenuated and much gradually decurrent upon the stipes glab- 
rous, the margin entire (or rarely more or less deeply sinuato-lobate or pinnatifid, and even fimbricated throughout the whole length with 
long narrow unequal segments), venation very distinct, costules horizontal or nearly so slender, usually remote, connected by transverse 
veins which form the primary areoles, and these ai-e filled up with irregular net-work, of which the areoles are very unequal and include 
copious free veinlets ; sori compital, rather small, usually in tAvo series between the costules, more or less numerous according to the 
width of the frond, rarely reduced to one sorus near the costa, where a single series parallel with the costa is formed, not unfrequently 
there are 3-4-5 series (not very regular) between the costa, (in one instance a single series only appears between the costules and those of 
a veiy large size and abnormal in form, often oval or oblong and lying parallel with the costules.) Hooker Sp. Fil. v, 70 ; — Polypodium 
membranaceum, Don. Prod. Fil. Nep., />.2 Polyp, grandifolium. Wall. Cat. n. 282 P. heterocarpum, BU Fil. Jav., p. 167 t. 75. 
Nilgiris on trees near Neddiwattan— Anamallays from 2,000 feet upwards— Wynad, Coorg, South Canara ghats and other 
mountaintius tracts, 
PLATE No. CLXXVII, 
6. Pleopeltis irioides. (Lam.) Caudex creeping, clothed with brown-black ovate obtuse scales, fronds 1-3 feet long, coriaceo- 
c.irnose very glabrous, sessile or shortly stipitate, elongato-lanceolate towards the base, gradually attenuated and decurrent as far as the 
veiy base of the stipes entire, the margin revolute, acuminate or obtuse at the apex, undivided or irregularly dichotomous, fertile in the 
upper portion, costa manifest, venation that of " Drynaria" immersed (visible in the dried state) areoles with numerous incurved appendices, 
free veinlets incrassated at the apex, costal areoles sterile, the rest 4-6 seriate fertile, bearing numerous sori (14-20) irregularly scattered, 
