THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 
65 
The specimens in the British Museum, South Kensington, confirm the above 
generally and a specimen on a sheet marked P. distant , E. Ind. Coll. H. and 
T., Sikkim, No. 17 a, has a bit of creeping rhizome attached to the frond, which 
of course I call P. late-r opens. Another sheet, with ticket — “ 6 1 Poly- 
podium paludosum , Bl., collected bj Mr. Richard Oldham, 1564, Yamsay 
Formosa, reed. Apl. 6 6”—- shows moderate sized fronds, 9 — -10 stipes in a 
fascicle, with the base of one thicker stipe ; but the cutting is of P. late-repens . 
The specimens on other sheets, named “/*. longipes , Wall. 316, Napalia 
1824,” “ P, brmneum. Wall., Kumaun R. Blinkworth,” and P. adnatvm, 
Wall., Napalia ” (his own ticket), are, in my belief, P. late-repens. Pinned 
to a sheet of “ Phegopteris brunea , J. Smith (Wall.): synoym — Polypodium 
paludosum , BL, Hook. Sp. Fil. 4, p. 244 ; Ind. Coll. H. and T,, Nilgheri Mts., 
in. 15,” is a note by J. Smith as follows : — 
Obs. — With regard to Polypodium brunneum , Wall. • P. adnaturh , Wall, 
P. longipes , Wall., I never could satisfy myself as to whether 
they were distinct species, or only states of one species. I have 
seen no specimen showing their mode of vernation. I am inclined 
to consider that there are at least two species In the Sp. Fil . Sir W. 
J. Hooker has placed them as synonyms of Polypodium paludosum of 
Blume. It is, however, probable that Blume } s plant will be found 
distinct ; but this mmt depend upon future observers in collecting the 
specimens, and to particularly note their mode of growth (sic). Sir 
W. J. Hooker has described a new species which he calls Nephrodium 
(Lastrea) microstegium ; consequently an indusiate species, of which he 
has seen only one specimen of H. and T/s from India. This appears to 
be the same as the two sheets here marked * ; and what is singular, no 
indusium is shown on the plate. And as Wallich and myself have seen no 
indusium, I am inclined to believe it is a mistake ; but at the same time 
it is quite possible that in a young state seen alive indusiae may be detected. 
“ If all are one, the synonymy will be thus — that is, supposing that 
Blume’s name has the priority. 
Phegopteris paludosum, J. Smith. 
Polypodium paludosum, Blume, Fil. Jav., t. 90, 
Polypodium § Pheg. paludosum, Hk. Sp. Fil. 4, p. 244, 
Aspidium paludosum, Bl. En. Fil. Jav., p. 168, according to Mett. 
Polypodium longipes, Wall, Cat. 314 (316 ?). 
Polypodium adnatum, Wall. Cat. 328. 
Polypodium brunneum, Wall. Cat. 333. 
