DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIES 
155 
glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, two to four feet long, six to eight 
inches broad, with a channelled green stipe one foot long. 
Pinnae six to twelve pairs, shortly stalked, alternate, or sub- 
opposite, falcate, four to six inches long, one to one and a 
quarter inches broad for most of the length, then drawn to 
an acute point ; lower edge sloping very gradually to the 
petiole ; the upper edge rounded suddenly down at the base 
to the petiole. Edge entire, or with shallow crenations, or 
very bluntly toothed. Terminal pinna similar, but rather 
larger, often with a bud at the base ; lower pinnae not re- 
duced. Sori linear, oblique, four lines long, extending rather 
more than halfway to the edge. 
This is a most beautiful fern, massive and heavy in the 
type, though lighter in the varieties. Schlechtendal’s figure 
(. Adum . pi. 14 a ) is more toothed, and more sharply toothed 
than often occurs. 
A. gemmiferum. Schrader, Gott. Gel . Anz. 1818, 916; Kze, Linnaea , 
10, 510; Pappe and Rawson, 17; Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 207; 
Sim, Ferns of South Africa , 1st ed., 145 ; C. Chr. Ind. 113. 
A. lucidum. Schl. Adum. 25, tab. 14 A. 
Africa and African Islands south of the Equator; growing 
in wet ground in the forest ; not common. 
West. — Hangklip (Mund and Maire) ; Knysna (Burchell, 5405); 
Swellendam (Holland) ; Voorman’s Bosch (Rawson) ; Knysna 
(T. H. Rex, 830). 
East. — Tzitzikamma (P. and R.); Grahamstown (Atherstone); Bosch- 
berg (MacOwan). 
Kaff. — Komgha (Flanagan; R. Schlechter, 6223); Thaba N’doda, 
Perie, Frankfort, Toise River, etc. (T. R. Sim). 
Natal. — Upper districts, as low as Inanda (Wood); Umpumulo, Maritz- 
burg, Richmond (Buchanan); Buccleuch (W. Leighton); Nkandhla 
(Marriott); Zwaartkop, Karkloof, Impetyne, etc. (T. R. Sim). 
Transvaal. — Marovuni (Burtt-Davy, 228) ; Barberton (Thorncroft) ; 
Haenertsberg (Mrs Pott, 4658). 
Rhodesia. — Umtali (Holland, Mrs Bennett); Gwaai River (J. Sim); 
Chirinda Forest, 3700 to 4000 ft (Swynnerton, 402 and 853). 
Var. ft. FLEXUOSUM Schrad. 
Plate 58. Nat. size. 
This has frequently fronds similar to the ordinary form of 
A. gemmiferum, or rather more toothed, and with the teeth 
