274 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
six to twelve inches broad, with a naked stipe, not winged, six 
to twelve inches long. Pinnae four to six pairs, sub-opposite, 
entire, three to five inches long, three-quarters to one inch 
broad, tapering above to a point, and connected by a wing 
a half inch broad along each side of the rachis ; the sinus 
between the pinnae rounded at the base, and as wide as the 
pinnae. Lower pinnae generally longest ; terminal pinna 
similar to the others, not much longer. Barren frond often 
narrower, more lanceolate, less deeply cut, and with wider 
and shorter pointed pinnae; or occasionally small fronds are 
almost simple. Veins easily seen but not conspicuous, except 
the mid-rib and pinnae mid-ribs. Veinlets anastomosing freely 
throughout, and with numerous free veinlets inside the areolae. 
Larger areolae containing the smaller ones, but with similar 
(i.e. not stronger) veins, are also traceable, and the sori are 
immersed in the centre of these. Sori round or oblong, some- 
times in one row on each side of the mid-rib, and about two 
lines from it ; at other times in about three irregular lines ; 
the sori nearest the margin being smaller. On the same 
frond occur round sori and others three to five lines long, 
but the latter are exceptional. Pappe and Rawson’s descrip- 
tion of the frond may apply, but is not characteristic. It is 
distinctly almond-scented. 
Polypodium phymatodes. Linn. Sp. 7860; Kuhn, Fil. Apr. 15 1; Hk. 
and Bkr, Syn. Fil. 364; Sim, Ferns of S. Apr., 1st ed., 196; C. Chr. 
Ind. 553. 
Phymatodes vulgaris. Presl, tab. 196; Pappe and Rawson, 40. 
Drynaria vulgaris. J. Smith. 
Tropics of Asia, Australia, Africa and islands. “Prom. 
Bon. Spei ” (Drege fide Kuhn). 
Natal. — In the bush around Durban (McKen); coast bush only, often 
on trees (Buchanan); Inanda (Wood); sea dunes, Durban to Um- 
geni; Port Shepstone; and at Umlalazi coast, Zululand (T. R. Sim). 
Rhodesia. — Umtali (Mrs Bennett); on a tree in a kloof nearZimbabye 
(B. H. Holland); Lusitu River, 2500 ft (Swyn. 661, 884 — amongst 
the stones of dry river beds). 
Portuguese East Africa.— Abundant in the sandy coast scrub in many 
places; Inharrime, Zuvalla, Quissico, etc. (T. R. Sim); Zambesia 
(Kirk). 
