DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIES 
249 
upper simply pinnate; the lower two-pinnate. Pinnules three 
to six lines broad, three to five lines long, generally wider 
than long, rounded, lobed, and when barren slightly crenate 
on the upper side ; the lower side straight or rounded, or 
more frequently slightly tapering to the petiole, but often 
almost reniform. Pinnules set obliquely on the petiole, which 
is one to two lines long, and like the branches of the rachis 
black, hair-like, and shining. Sori crescent-shaped, several 
in a pinnule, one in each lobe, one line or less broad, deeply 
sunk into the frond, or surmounted by a horn of green lamina on 
each side. Texture thin, colour light green or glaucous green ; 
pinnules very easily broken off in mature fronds, or when dried. 
Dr Wood supplies Natal specimens larger in all parts, 
and with firmer more coriaceous texture, with pinnules three- 
quarter to one inch broad, half inch long, and sori, though 
sometimes reniform, more frequently elongated, and sunk into 
the frond. Indusium sometimes quarter inch long. 
A. aethiopicum is the finest and most easily cultivated of 
our Adiantums, but is not common in cultivation. It occurs 
in tropical and South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. 
A. aethiopicujn. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2, 1329 (1759); Schl. Adum. 
53; Thunb, Prod. 173; Thunb. FI. Cap. 736; Kunze, Linnaea , 10, 
529; Pappe and Rawson, 33 (?); Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fit. 123, in part ; 
Kuhn, Fit. Afr. 62 ; Sim, Ferns of S. Afr ., 1st ed., 73 ; C. Chr . Index 
Filicum , 23. 
Owing to A. Poiretii having been formerly included 
in A. aethiopicum , the separate distribution of this is rather 
uncertain, but I have seen no specimens from the western 
province, though Kuhn places here Browning’s Nos. 121, 122, 
Novara Expedition/Simon’s Bay. 
East. — Bedford Forest (Miss Cook); Grahamstown, near Reservoir 
(Holland, 1866); Boschberg (MacOvvan); Oudeberg, Graaffreinet, 
4800 feet (Bolus). • 
Kaff. — Perie Mission Station, Poutz 5 Bush, Keiskama Hoek, Toise 
River, all above 2000 feet; Bankies, Sterkstroom, 5000 ft (E. D. 
Barker); Engcoba, 3000 ft (Flanagan, 2780). 
Natal. — Common from Maritzburg to Drakensberg (McKen) ; Kar- 
kloof, Umpumulo, rare (Buch.); Buccleuch (W. Leighton); Zwaart- 
kop, Bulwer, and Normandein (T. R. Sim). 
