168 JOURNAL, BOMBAY N ATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol XIV. 
I have been disappointed that Mr. Baker has not . admitted this plant to 
specific rank ; but possibly he has not seen the rhizome which is as widely 
creeping and branching as is that of A. schimperi — a character mainly founded 
on to distinguish the latter species from A. filix-femina. This radical 
difference in root-stocks in ferns is a distinctive character that seems to be quite 
unsurmountable. Possibly, accidental plants or cultural varieties of A. filix- 
femina may be found with cutting like that of A.-pedinatum, but they cannot 
have a creeping sarmentum . Clarke’s figure, Plate 68 of his <e Review,” 
shows the cutting of the frond well ; but, without the rhizome, which he does 
not even mention, it gives no idea of the appearance of the plant. Beddome’s 
description in his Supplement should be referred to, but his B. tenellum , 
F. S. I., t. 154, which seems to show an erect caudex, cannot be this species. 
Sometimes, perhaps, fronds spring in tufts from the creeping rhizomes. In 
large specimens the lower pairs of pinnae get very distant — four inches and 
more apart. The plant is very tender, succulent, and brittle in life. The sori 
are generally very minute, but the cutting of the plant is so fine that there is 
no room for large sori. The contrast between the habitats in Sikkim— on dry 
burning slopes to the South, according to Clarke, and, in the Simla Region, 
in damp ravines, according to Blanford, is very great. The plant, as I know 
it, grows longest in rich soil in the shade ; but I have seen it doing well in the 
open, and even on dry rocks, though stunted. 
30. A. oxypbyllum, Hook ; Syn. Fil. 228 ; C. R. 493. Athyrium 
oxyphyllum, Bedd. H. B. 170. 
N.-W. P. : Gavhival— fide Clarke in “ Review Kumaun—®a\n\ Tal, Davidson 
1875, in Herb., Hort. Sahar. ; between Dandih&t and Karela 5-6000', Duthie No. 3170 
1884 ; MacLeod 1893 (no locality stated). 
Distrib. Asia : N. Ind. (Him.) Nepal to Bhutan : “ very common from Nep&3 
eastwards” ( Clarke ) ; Assam— Khasia 3-6000', common, Kohima 5000', Clarke. 
This seems to be one of the rarest ferns in North-Western India — only twice 
or thrice collected, so far as I know. MacLeod's specimens in my possession are 
very small, simply pinnate, with no involucres. Another small frond, from the 
same source, may be different : it is truly lanceolate, and the segments are com- 
pletely covered with ripe sori, among which large reverted involucres are copiously 
present. 
31. A. fimbria tum, Hook. ; Syn. Fil. 229 ; C. R. 494. Athyrium 
fimbriatum , Wall, (under Polypodium) Bedd. H. B. 172, and Suppt. H. B. 
37, var. squamatum. 
Kashmir: Sarpat 10,000', McDonell and McLeod 1891 Water-shed between 
Jheium and Kishenganga Valleys, common at 10,000', never lower ; on nortn slopes 
only 11 (MacLeod). E. Kashmir— fide Clarke in “Review." 
Punjab: Chamba — Sara 11,000', Clarke No. 24152, 1874, in Herb. Kew ; Ravi 
Valley 8000', McDonell, 10,000’, J. Marten 1897 ; Kuliu— 8-10,000', Trotter ; Mandi 
