Ferns of British India and Ceylon. 
363 
Prod. Fl. Nep.Ty. Hook. Syn. Fil. 363. Pleopeltis malacodon, Bedd. 
F Sup. t. 387. 
Young rhizomes often produce only very small fronds, which are 
simple or trilobate only ; (var. Thunbergii, Clarke). This fern 
can at once be known from malacodon by the base of the lowest 
pair of pinnse {i.e.^ base of the frond) being always a little decurrent 
on the apex of the stipe, (not scooped out and subcordate) and in 
being suberitire or only a little denticulate instead of acutely serru- 
late ; Mr. Clarke, however, is wrong in saying that it is always quite 
entire, my specimens (looked at under a lens) are always more or 
less toothed. 
Throughout the Indian region on the mountains ; in South 
India between 5,000-8,600 feet elevation ; in the North 2,000 to 
lOjOoo feet. 
23. Pleopeltis malacodon. {Hook.) In all respects like 
hastata, only that the base of the frond is scooped out and subcordate 
(instead of being a little decurrent), and the margins are acutely 
serrulate, the teeth mucronate or spinescent. Hook. Sp. Fil. v. 87, 
P. Stewartii, Clarke, F. N. I. /. 563, variety less serrated. Mr. 
Baker and Mr. Clarke both protest against this being considered a 
variety only of hastata, otherwise I should have so placed it, the 
differences being those of a variety rather than of a species. 
Himalayas, Nepal to Bhotan, 10,000-13,000 feet elevation. 
Var. /3 majus. (Hook. Sp. Fil. v. 88.) Base of the frond 
cordate or sometimes decurrent ; pinnae (or rather segments) narrower 
and longer, and much more erect {i.e. pointing upwards) ; margins 
less prominently serrated, scales of rhizome blacker. Pleopeltis 
Stewartii, Bedd. F. B. I. t. 204, and Baker., Sym Fil. 513 {not 
Clarke). Pol. propinquum, var. Wall. P. crytolobum, J. Sniil/i, 
MS. Clarke, F. N. I. t. 83. 
Nepal to Bhotan, 9,000-12,000 feet elevation (pendant from 
trees). I think that Sir W. Hooker may be safely followed in con- 
sidering this only a variety of malacodon. 
24. Pleopeltis lbenipes. {Hook.) Rhizome stout cretpiug, 
