10 
The normal form has all the segments of the fertile fronds contracted and fructified, some fronds however have only some of the 
upper or some of the lower segments fructified and the rest are sterile and leafy, and in some fronds portions of each segments only are 
fructified and portions sterile, this latter is represented in the Plate XXVIII A. 
Very abundant in most of the sholas on the Koondah mountains, and in the shola behind the Avalanche bungalow on the 
Nilgiris, — Sisparah ghat all the ravines above 4,000 feet elevation. — Anamallay mountains. 
PLATE No. XXVIII AND XXVIII A. 
Blechnum, Linnmis Gen. PI. ed. 5, 1,039. 
(Orthogramma, Presl. ; Spicanta, Presl. ; Blechnopsis, Presl. ; Diafnia, Presl. ; Mesothema, Presl. ; Distaxia, Presl^ 
Sori indusiate linear, continuous or rarely interrupted on a transverse receptacle, approximate to the costa ; central or sometimes 
sub-marginal by the contraction of the fronds. Indusium linear opening along the inward side. Veins (sterile) simple or forked from a 
central costa ; venules direct free thickened at the apex ; in the fertile fronds combined near the base or within the margin by the 
receptacle. 
Fronds simple pinnatifid or pinnate ; the fertile sometimes more or less contracted. PJiizome short, erect, or producing elon- 
gated creeping Stolones. (Moore.) — This geniis is very intelligibly clistinct from Loraaria in those species where the indusium is costal as in 
the only Soiith Indian S2)ecies, hut whereby the contractioji of the frond the indusimn becomes marginal it is hardly distinguisJiable from 
Lomaria. 
1. Blechnum orientale, Linn. Caudex erect stout at the extremity and as well as the short stipites clothed with long falcato- 
subulato-setaceous glossy scales, fronds 1-8 feet long ovato-lanceolate acuminate firm coriaceous pinnated, pinnte numerous approximate 
horizontal straight or decurved 6 inches to a foot long 3-4 lines broad linear-lanceolate gradually acuminate sessile entire, the base bluntly 
and obliquely cuneate or truncated, several of the inferior pairs are suddenly abbreviated or abortive and squamiform, those at the extre- 
mity are decurrent and coadunate at the base, terminal one more or less elongated, veins simple rarely forked very close paralelled horizontal, 
sori continuous close to the costa, involucre in age firm rigid and almost black. Hook, /^p, FiL iii, 52 ; Blechnopsis latifolia, Presl. ; 
Blechnum salicifolium, Kaulf. ; Blech. pyrophylluni, Blume. En. Fil. Jav., p. 160. 
Common on the Nilgiris— Coonoor ghat— Sisparah ghat— Anamallays— Pulneys and Coirabatore hills. Beypore and Calicut 
(Malabar plains). 
PLATE No. XXIX. 
TKIBE I. (§ 9) PTERIDEyE. 
(rt) Veins free, 
OxYCHiUM, Kaulfuss Berl. Jahrh. Pharm., 45. 
(Leptostegia, D. Don. ; Pteridis sp., auctorum ; Allosori sp., Presl.) 
Sori indusiate, linear (or oblong) transverse marginal or sub-marginal ; the receptacles continuous. Indusium linear (or oblong) 
membranaceous usually opposite, and while young connivent over the narrow ultimate segments. Veins (sterile) simple and costfeform in 
the ultimate segments ; or (fertile) pinnate from a central costa, the few branches united near the margin by the transverse receptacle. 
Fronds bi-pinnately or decompoundly pinnatisected, sometimes sub-membranaceous, usually with small narrow segments. Ehi- 
zome creeping. (Moore.) 
I. Onychium aurattm, Kaulf. Roots of densely tufted fibres, stipes csespitose, a span to a foot and more long, hispid with a 
few narrow scales only at the base, and as well as the rachis everywhere pale brown or straw colored, glabrous and glossy, frond a span to 
a foot and a half long ovato-lanceolate acuminate sub-membranaceous but firm and glossy very compound four or more times pinnatisec- 
ted (primary and secondary divisions pinnated) segments all narrow linear subcuneate short (in the sterile portions) ultimate ones acute 
entire or incisodentate, segments all pointing upwards 1 nerved, fertile segments elongated siliquiform especially the terminal ones and 
mucronate, sori linear-elongated occupying the whole back of the fertile segments, involucres golden colored meeting at their edges. 
Hooker Sp. Fil. ii, 121 ; Lomaria aurea. Wall. Cat. n. 38 ; L. caruifolia, Wcdl. Cat. n. 39 ; L. decomposita, Don. Prod. Fil. Nep., 
p. 14 ; Pteris chrysocarpa, Hook, et Grev. Ic, Fil., t. 107 ; Pteris siliculosa, Desv. ; Allosorus auratus, Presl. 
Paulghaut mountains — rare. 
PLATE No. XXX. 
