78 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
ciliated linear segments 2 — 3 lines long; sori 2 — 12 on a 
pinna, placed at the end of the lateral segments on both sides ; 
involucre immersed, sub-orbicular; valves divided about half- 
way down, and conspicuously ciliated.” He gives the distribu- 
tion as tropical America, East Himalayas, New Zealand, West 
tropical Africa, and in the east in the Zambesi district and 
the islands, and adds : “ The African plant well known under 
the name of Boryanum seems quite to coincide with the 
American ciliatum ,” and he also refers to a form with fronds 
a foot long from West tropical Africa under the name H. 
splendidum. 
Christensen gives “tropical and South Africa and islands” 
among other localities for it. 
The difference between this and H. Marlothii appears to 
be that this is ciliated whereas H. Marlothii is densely clothed 
with stellate hairs. It also differs in having a broad central 
undivided portion in the lower pinnae. I have seen no speci- 
men answering to this, but a somewhat modified description 
might make it include H. Marlothii ; in any case, further 
knowledge of the two is required before their connection or 
difference can be definitely settled. 
9. Hymenophyllum lineare Sw. 
Plate 5. Fig. 2. Nat. size. 
Frond pinnate, elongating from the point, each season’s 
growth lanceolate in outline, widest at the middle, and 
tapering to both ends ; about three inches in length, and a 
half to one inch broad. Three to six of these season’s 
growths or fronds, placed one above another, are sometimes 
to be found, and, as they are very slender, wavy, and flaccid, 
they form a tangled mass in growth. Rachis not winged, 
but ciliated like the rest of the frond. Pinnae five to eight 
lines long, three lines broad, cut to a winged mid-rib, into 
three to seven simple, or forked, pinnules, which are oblong, 
one line broad, one to one and a half lines long. Pinnae 
closely set, more or less overlapping. Sori terminal on lower 
pinnules, with ciliated lobes. 
