102 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
D. thelypteris has a different habit of growth from most 
of the other species of Dryopteris, for owing to its long 
slender underground rhizomes it takes possession where it 
gets a hold, and forms a mass of fronds several yards wide. 
D. gongylodes, which often grows intermingled with it, also 
has this habit. 
Dryopteris thelypteris (Linn.), A. Gray, Man. ed. i, 630, 1848; C. Chr. 
Ind. Fil. 297. 
Nephrodiuni thelypteris (Desv.). Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 271 ; Sim,, 
Ferns of S. Africa , 1st ed. 180. 
Var. /3 SQUAMULIGERUM Schl. 
Nephrodiuni thelypteris. Desv. /3 (N.) squamulosuni. Hk., Hk. and 
Bkr, Syn. Fil. 271. 
A spidium thelypteris. Svv. ft squamuligerum. Schl. A dum. 23, tab. II.;. 
Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 142. 
Aspidium Dregei. Fee. 
Aspidium rivulorum. Thunb. ex Eckl. fil. exs. 
Polyp odium Natalense. Presl, Hb. 
Lastrea thelypteris. P. and R. 12. 
Polypodium tottum. Thunb. FI. Cap. 735 (?). 
West. — Hex River (Mund and Maire); Cape Flats, Table and Devil 
Mountains, Paarl, Tulbagh (P. and R.) ; Klip River, Swellendam 
(Holland). 
East. — Uitenhage, Kowie, Howison’s Poort, and Brookhuizen’s Poort 
(Dr Atherstone) ; Somerset East (Guthrie, Bolus, 1705). 
Kaff. — Rare, Komgha (Flanagan) ; Thomas Mountain (Mrs Kitton) 
Grey town (T. R. Sim); Umtata and Lusikisiki (T. R. Sim); Main 
(Mrs Young). 
Natal. — Very common on the coast, but extending to the far uplands. 
Transvaal. — Middelburg (T. J. Jenkins, 1016) ; Rustenburg (Mrs Pott,, 
3430) ; Barberton (G. Williams, 908) ; Pilgrim’s Rest (L. Collins, 
901); Krugersdorp (T. J. Jenkins, 916); Bokfontein (T. J. Jenkins,, 
77 i). 
Rhodesia. — Mazoe and Umtali (J. F. Darling); Penahalonga, Mazoe,, 
5000 ft, fronds three feet long (E. Eyles, 12 ; Holland)-; Umtali 
(Mrs Bennett); Matopo Hills, 4600 ft (E. Eyles, 69; Rogers, 5197); 
Rusapi (Engler); Chirinda, 3800 ft (Swynnerton, 858, 859 a). 
Portuguese East Africa.— Kurumadzi River, Jihu, 2000 ft (Swyn. 859 
and 862 in part) ; Matola (T. R. Sim). 
25. Dryopteris africana (Desv.) C. Chr. 
Plate 23. Nat. size, small. 
Crown erect, stout, tufted, naked, but the undeveloped 
young fronds are clothed with green scales. Frond herba- 
