24 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
44. Oleandra articulata (Sw.) Presl. 
Plate 34. Fig. 1. Nat. size, b Portion of frond enlarged 
showing venation. 
Rhizome very long, slender, scandent above ground, with 
scattered fronds, and abundant, linear, adpressed, shining 
brown scales. Fronds simple, thinly coriaceous, glabrous, 
lanceolate, nine to fifteen inches long, one to one and a half 
inches broad, tapering quickly to an acute point, and rather 
slowly to a rounded base. Stipe one inch long, jointed close 
to the rhizome, with numerous involved scales below the joint, 
and with scattered lanceolate scales above the joint and on 
the mid-rib. Roots very long and wiry, hanging singly from 
below each old frond. Margin of frond entire, slightly un- 
dulated. Sori rather large, in an irregular line on each side 
the mid-rib, and one to three lines distant from it. Indusium 
reniform. Veins numerous, easily seen, and several times 
forked. When grown in sunshine the fronds are shorter, and 
the rhizome more scaly. Some specimens in Herb. Gub. 
have the rhizome scales nearly black, and the frond jointed 
a half-inch from the rhizome. 
Oleandra articulata (Sw.). Pr. Tent. 78, 1836; Pappe and Rawson, 
13 ; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 144 ; Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 302 ; Sim, Ferns 
of S. Africa , 1st ed., 189; C. Chr. Index , 466. 
Aspidium articulatum. Sw. 1800; Kunze, Linnaea , 18, 123. 
Oleandra 7 ieriiformis. Hk. Sp. 4, p. 156, in part (not O. ?ieriiformis 
Cav.). 
Tropical and sub-tropical Africa and islands; among rocks, 
mostly in shade though sometimes exposed. 
Kaffraria. — Port St John, 1896, 100 ft (H. G. Flanagan, 2471). 
Natal.— (Gueinzius), Inchanga, Maritzburg, Kranzkloof, Noodsberg, 
Umpumulo, 2000 to 3000 ft (Buchanan) ; Midland districts (Wood) ; 
Buccleuch (W. Leighton); Table Mtn (T. R. Sim). 
Transvaal. — Magalisberg (Zeyher, Burke, 530); Wolhuters Kop, 1909 
(V. G. Crawley, 932). 
Davallieae. 
Genus 14. Nephrolepis Schott. 
Fronds simply pinnate, the pinnae lanceolate, articulated 
to the rachis, and having one central vein from which arise 
