THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 
73 
New to the westward of Kumaun. British Garhwal specimens were given 
to me by Mr. Mackinnon soon after collection. 
Genus 8. DAVALLIA, Smith. 
Sub-genus — Leucostegia, Presl. 
1. D. membranulosa, Wall. ; Syn. Fil. 91 ; 0. R. 442. Leucostegia 
membranulosa , Bedd. H. B. 50. 
N.-W. P. : Mohargiri Pass 6500', S. and W., 1848 ; Davidson 1875 ; 
Duthie 1884-86 ; 4700', Hope 1890, 4 * 6-10, 000' ,*’ MacLeod 1893. 
Distrib. — Asia : N. Ind. (Him.)— Nepal, Sikkim, Bhotan (4-10,000'). “ Assam*' 
in Herb. Ilort. Sahar (ex Herb. Hort. Calc.) B, Assamica on ticket. 
1 cannot see the nearness to D. multidentata which Mr. Clarke- sees. 
D. niemhr. is bi-pinnatifid to a winged rhachis : D. multident, is tri-pinnatifid 
to a winged rhachis in all the specimens I have seen but one ; in other words, 
a frond of D. membran. a pinna of D. multident. The exception is a frond 
collected by Levinge, Darjiling, 7000', 1879, given by me to the Herbarium of 
the Imperial Forest School, Debra, which is truly lanceolate, and measures only 
about 8, X 3 st. 3J 7 '. D. multidentata is, I think, a more coriaceous plant 
than is D. membranulosa, and dries of a darker colour. A striking feature of 
D . membranulosa is the small glistening involucre, which seems very persistent. 
This is not mentioned by any of the authorities I cite. In this respect 
D. membranulosa is like D. assamica , Baker. 
2. D- immerse, , Wall. ; Syn. Fil. 91 ; C. R. 443. Leucostegia immersa , 
Bedd. H. B. 51. 
Punjab : 6'Aa»i&a--Dalhousie, McDonell ; Simla Reg.— Simla, Collett, Bliss, rare. 
N.-W. P. : B. B. Bist . — Mussooree 6-7000', Herschel, Mackinnons, Hope, A. Camp- 
bell ; Dehra Dun 2600, Hope ; Kurnaun , S. and W., Davidson 5-8000', Duthie 
47-5000', Hope 47-5000', Trotter 75-8030/ 
Distrib .— Asia : N. Ind. (Him.)— Nepal, Sikkim, Bhotan 3-6000', plentiful 
Assam — Rhasi Hills 4-5000', common. Bengal— Parasnath Mt. (summit), Hook 
til., Br. J. J. Wood , 1880. N. Manipur, C. B. Clarhe 5500', Watt 6000'. S. India— 
Madras Presidency, W. Mts. “ very abundant in Coorg, growing on trees*'’ (Bedd.) 
Malay Penins., Java. 
The authors of the Synopsis Fillcum say this JDavallia is peculiar in having 
the rhizome developed beneath the surface of the soil, but Beddome says that 
in Coorg it grows on trees. Clarke says — “ rhizome much underground, and 
there without scales ; the tips above ground with chestnut lanceolate-acute 
scales.” At Mussooree the fern grows on rocky ground or on rocks, and I have 
seen it in Kurnaun on rocks. Down in the Dehra Valley (Dun) it grows on 
precipitous sandstone rocks, and I noted — “ rhizome creeping on rocks, but 
burying itself in qrevices where possible.” 
