THE FERNS OF NORTH WESTERN INDIA . 
113 
A Mussooree specimen of the type plant, I got long ago? has 9 ears*- 8 on each 
side of the two lowest pinnae, 1 on each of the two next above, and the 8th on 
one of the third pair. And I have another frond which has a remarkable 
development : it has deflexed ears on the three lower pairs of pinnae, and 
abnormally developed inferior lower segments up to the seventh pair ; but it 
has also ears pointing upwards on the superior side of the lowest pair of pinnm, 
two on 3 each of them. These are not so large as the ears on the inferior side, 
but yet are about two inches in length, deeply pinnatified, and fertile like the 
rest. I have seen a frond collected by Mr. J. Marten, in Chamba, of which the 
fifth lowest pinna on the left side is prolonged, and as compound (bipinnate) as 
the frond itself, — the pinnules equalling in size the pinnae of the main frond. 
I have not seen on N.-W. Indian specimens of this fern the adventitious buds 
which are found on specimens from elsewhere, and are mentioned in books. 
Thinking these to be parasitical growths, I referred the question to Mr. G. 
Massee, F.L.S., of the Royal Herbarium, Kew, and he kindly looked up the 
subject, and showed me that Giesenhagen, in “ Flora,” .1892, says the abnormal 
growth is due to the presence of Taphrim Laurencia . Giesh. A similar growth 
on Aspidium aristatum , Sw,, is caused by Taphrina wrmtcervi , Giesh. 
6. P„ SUfoqiXimata, Wall. Cat. 104. P. qmdriaurita, Retz., Syn. Fil. 
158 ;C. R. 465. P. quadrianrita, Retz., var. sub 'quinata (Wall.), Bedd. 
Suppl. H. B. 23. Plate XVII. 
The following is Beddome 5 s description :~— 
44 A small form, 8-10 inches high ; stipes stramineous ; fronds short deltoide 
lateral pinnae, often only 1—2, rarely 3 — 4 pair, with a large terminal central 
pinna, segments long, nearly equally broad throughout, spreading at right 
angles from the midrib, lower basal segments of the lower pinnae only slightly 
enlarged and pinnatified, or quite entire and uniform with the others. 
44 Nepal (WallkJi), Kumaun 3000', at Bagasar {StmcJmj and Winterbottnm). 
Lachen Valley, 44 Sikkim,” (Levinge). Mr. Levir.ge’s specimens are more 
slender than Wallich’s type, more papyraceous in texture, and furnished with 
a broad, white band down the centre of each pinna ; it would be a very pretty 
plant for cultivation.” 
N.-W. P. : Brit. Garh., (Found among the Mackinnons' ferns, without ticket: they 
think it was got by Mr. P. W. Mackinnon in B. Garhwal in 1881 — 3 small fronds 
stipes incomplete) ; Kumaun — Sarju Yy,, Bagesar 3000', S. and Vf. 1848, (named P. 
subquinata by them) ; Man dal 6000', Davidson ; between Takala and Bagesar, Duthie 
1884, No, 3704 ; Chipla, Ramsukh (Duthie's collector) *1888, No. 8024 ; Sarju Vv., near 
Kupkota, 12 miles north of Bagesar 3-4000', Col. E. Swetenham, comm, to Hope 
1890; -Gori Ganga and Sarju Valleys, 3-7000', MacLeod, 1893. 
Distrib.— Asia : N. Ind. (Him.) Nepal, Sikkim. 
