254 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
of the rachis not winged. Fertile pinnae three to four lines 
broad, barren pinnae often broader. Indusium narrow, mem- 
branaceous, marginal, but not a continuation of the edge of 
the frond. Veins parallel, once forked. 
Var. stenophylla has three to five pinnae only, all rising 
together, and is known as the five-finger fern, but does not 
adhere strictly to its character. 
Pteris cretica. Linn. Sp. 7807; Schk. Fil. 85, tab. 90; Schl. Adum. 
40; Thunb. Prod. 1 7 1 ; FI. Cap. 732; Kze, Acot. Apr. 43; Pappe 
and Rawson, 26; Kuhn, Fil. Apr. 79; Hk. and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 154; 
Sim, Ferns op S. Apr., 1st ed., 107 ; C. Chr. Index , 595. 
Pteris serraria. Sw. S chr ad. Pour. 1800. 
Frequent in the tropics, and not uncommon in S. Africa, 
growing in open glades in the forest. 
West. — Swellendam (Pappe and Rawson); Knysna (Burchell, 5571); 
Seven Oaks (Holland); Grootvader’s Bosch (Thunberg); Hang-klip 
(Mund.); George, Koratra (Drege). 
East. — Zwaartkops River (Rawson) ; Kat River, Winterberg (Pappe 
and Rawson); Bedford (Miss Cook); Boschberg (MacOwan). 
Kaff. — Komgha (Flanagan); St Augustine’s, Transkei (Baur.); Kat- 
berg (Rev. F. A. Rogers, 3880); Perie, Frankfort, Dohne, Cathcart, 
etc. (T. R. Sim); Engcoba (Flanagan, 2721); Cala (Royffe, 241). 
Natal. — Abundant in upper districts (Wood); present in most forests 
(T. R. Sim). 
Orange Free State.— Ficksburg (Quail). 
Transvaal. — Magalisberg (Sanderson); Rietvlei, Belfast (Burtt-Davy, 
1237); Haenertsberg (Eastwood); Zeerust (T. J. Jenkins, 987); 
Woodbush (W. Nelson, 465); Pilgrim’s Rest (L. Collins, 900); 
Rietfontein and Fonteinen, near Pretoria (R. Leendertz, 880 and 
109); Barberton (Miss Williams, 788). 
Rhodesia. — Umtali (Mrs Bennett); Mazoe (Holland); Borrowdale, 
near Salisbury (H. M. Hole) ; Ironmask Hill, 5000 ft (E. Eyles) ; 
Chirinda Forest, 3700 to 4000 ft (Swyn. 831). 
A tasselled form from Upper Umkomaas is in the Natal 
Government Herbarium. 
(Pteris serrulata Linn, fil., a Chinese species, which 
somewhat resembles P. cretica, but has the rachis distinctly 
winged throughout, is mentioned in Hk. and Bkr Syn. Fil. as 
having been received from Natal, from R. W. Rawson, Esq.; 
but is only known in cultivation to Natal botanists. 
