190 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
This is a most changeable species, and when growing in 
bottom lands, beside a stream, assumes a luxuriant habit 
quite unlike the dwarf plant to be found creeping round 
stones on dry mountain tops. The latter is Lomaria pumila 
Kze, but cannot be classified even as a variety, as it changes 
its habit as soon as it is given suitable conditions. 
Blechnum australe. Linn. Mant . 130, 1767; Thunb. Prod. 172; FI. 
Cap. 734; Schk. Fil. 103, tab. 110B; Schl. Adum. 38; C. Chr. Index , 
15 1. Sim, Ferns of S. Afr ., 1st ed., 125. 
Lo 77 iaria pumila. Kze, Lmnaea, 10, 508: 23, 261; Pappe and Raw- 
son, 29. 
South Africa and African Islands ; in damp situations 
near to or in the forest, and among rocks up to the highest 
levels; not uncommon. 
West.— Table Mtn, Lion’s Mtn, Rondebosch, Paarlberg, etc. ; Lelie- 
fontein (Prof. Pearson, 6373). 
East. — Boontjes River, Grahamstown, Bedford, etc. 
Kafif.— Komgha (Flanagan); Bazija (Baur) ; Perie, Alice, Frankfort, 
Dohne, etc. (T. R. Sim) ; Broughton, Molteno, 6300 ft (Flanagan, 
1684); Main (Mrs Young); Cala (H. Royffe, 198). 
Natal. — From Inanda inland (Wood); 3000 — 5000 ft (Buchanan); 
Nkandhla (Marriott); Lidgetton (A. Roberts, 1010); frequent 
(T. R. Sim). 
Orange Free State. — Ficksburg (Quail); Tweespruit (Marriott); near 
Van Reenen (Prof. Bews). 
Transvaal. — Magalisberg (Sanderson); Marovuni (Burtt-Davy, 221); 
Haenertsberg (Eastwood) ; Rustenburg (M. Collins, 98) ; Belfast 
(J. Collins); Middelburg (J. T. Jenkins); Pilgrim’s Rest (L. Collins, 
896). 
The toothed form has been found near Perie Mission 
Station, and at Greytown, Dohne, and Somerset East. 
91. Blechnum auriculatum Cav. 
Plate 76. Fig. 1. Nat. size, b Fertile pinna, c Glandular hairs. 
Rhizome short, stout, procumbent, but without the slender 
running rhizomes of B. australe. Crown set with reddish 
lanceolate scales, and having six to eight fronds. Frond 
three to fifteen inches long, half to one and a half inches 
broad, pinnate, lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, narrowed 
