DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIES 
245 
1.35, Adiantum capillus- veneris Linn. 
Plate 122. Var. major. B Zambesian cut form. 
Plate 12 1. Var. minor. 
Rhizome creeping on or near the surface of the ground, 
one to four inches long, one to four lines in diameter, fleshy, 
set with brown chaffy scales, and producing numerous fronds 
at short intervals. Fronds two to three-pinnate, deltoid, four 
to eight inches long, three to six inches broad, on a stipe 
three to eight inches long, which is set below with chaffy 
scales at first, afterwards glabrous, black, and wiry. Pinnae 
deltoid, pinnate, two-pinnate, or occasionally three-pinnate, 
with fine black hair-like rachis and petioles. Pinnules a half 
to three-quarter inch long, and about as broad, glabrous, 
cuneate, or tapering down to the petiole, deeply lobed, and 
when barren toothed at the edge ; of light green, delicate, 
and almost transparent texture. Sori longish or round, placed 
across the top of the lobes, and not much sunk into them. 
A. Capillus- Veneris. Linn. Sp. 2, 1096 (1753); Pappe and Rawson, 
32; Moore, Ind. 21; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 62; Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 
123 ; Sim, Ferns of S. Afr., 1st ed., 70 ; C. Chr. Ind. 24. 
A. capillus. Kunze, Linnaea , 10. 
A. africanum. R. Br. ; Lowe. 
Throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, and throughout 
Africa ; in moist places by streams. 
West. — Rather rare; Table Mountain (Lady Barkly) ; Genadenthal 
(Breutel); Loeriesfontein, 2700 ft, & Richtersveld (Dr Pearson, 6096). 
East. — Near Grahamstown (Holland); Algoa Bay (Forbes); Graaff- 
reinet (Bolus); Bedford, and Kat River; Bluekrantz River, 3700 ft 
(R. Schl. 6859, cut form). 
Kaff. — Komgha (Flanagan); Main, Transkei (Mrs Young); in every 
stream near the lower edge of the forest from Thaba N’doda to 
Kei Road, Stutterheim, Toise River, etc., and often about waterfalls 
toward the coast (T. R. Sim); Engcoba (A. G. McLoughlin, 91). 
Natal. — Common along the coast; frequent up to 2000 feet alt., after- 
wards more rare (Buch.); not uncommon throughout the Province 
near falls (T. R. Sim). 
Orange Free State. — Ficksburg (Quail). 
