1 84 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
middle and lower parts where the sori gradually draw away 
from the rachis to the tips of the pinnae the inner portion of 
the fructification is broken up into small dots somewhat as 
in Doodia. But in all cases the sori lie close to the mid-rib ; 
never as in Scol. Krebsii midway towards or near to the 
margin. Its habitat is never like the latter and L. punctulata 
in wet places, but usually the comparatively dry upper margins 
of bush.” 
Blechnum punctulatum Sw., var. A therstoni Sim, Ferns of S. Afr ., 
2nd ed., 183. 
Lomaria punctulata Kze, var. Atherstoni . Sim, Ferns of S. Afr., 
1st ed., 120. 
Blechnum Atherstoni. Pappe and Rawson, 16; Hk. Sp. Fil. 3, 
31, 62; Buchanan, No. 49. 
East. — Grahamstown Kloofs. 
Kafif. — Bazija (Baur, 460; alt. 3000 feet). 
Natal. — Inanda, Great Noodsberg, Umpumulo, Karkloof (Buchanan); 
Nkandhla (Marriott). 
Var. INTERMEDIUM Sim. 
Plate 80. Nat. size. 
Plant similar to the type or stronger. Fertile pinnae 
similar to the barren, or slightly narrower, crenulated, and 
more drawn to a point, but not contracted as in Lomaria. 
Sori contiguous in an interrupted line along the mid-rib, and 
close to it, but not parallel with it; each indusium one to two 
lines long, starting from the mid-rib in a slightly oblique 
direction, and meeting a shorter one, which also rises from 
the mid-rib, but in an opposite direction. The line therefore 
takes the appearance of a saw edge, quite sharp in the lower 
pinnae, but more undulating in the upper pinnae. Besides 
this there are frequently small, detached sori outside this 
line, and running obliquely toward the edge of the frond 
as in Asplenium, or sometimes the two meeting sori of the 
main line are continued outward face to face as in Scolo- 
pendrium. This is a most curious and evidently variable 
form, growing in the Grahamstown Kloofs, and also sent by 
Buchanan from Natal. 
