THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA . 
171 
not infrequent : but the paired sori are never of equal length, Beddomc’s limi- 
tation of the sori to the lowest vein of each group does not hold good with 
regard to Simla and Mussooree specimens ; from some of these there are 
numerous cases of short sori in or near the lobes on the other veinlets. And 
his figure does not represent these specimens when it shows the lowest supe- 
rior auricled lobe bare of sori, for in some cases I see a double row of sori 
in the auricle, consisting of 2—4 pairs on either side of the main vein. The 
auricle (and sometimes the next lowest segment) has a tendency to be free 
and in one of Mr. Bliss's specimens it is quite so, and even petiolate 
34, A, japonicum, Thumb. ; Syn. Fib 284 ; C. B. 498. Diplasium , 
japonicum , Thumb., Bedd. H» B. 180. 
Kashmir : Coll. Mardan AH, 1854, in Herb. Hort., Saharanpur; Panjab 58-5500', 
Kishenganga Vy. Keran 6500', McDonell Nos. 83 and 34, 1811. 
Punjab : -Kalatop Forest 6000', McDonell 1881, Kangra Vy . Diet.-— 
Edgew., in Herb. Hort. Kew. ; fide Trotter in List; Simla Reg .— -Simla 6000, 
Blanf,, Bliss. 
N.-W. P e ; T. Garb.— Bhatauli 34500', Herschel, Maekinnons, Hope ; Kwmoun— 
Bdgew., Lev., S. & W. ; between Famgarh and Peora, Hope 1861; Booreydar, David- 
son 1875 ; Hawalbagh 4000', Trotter 1891. 
Distrib. — Asia i N. Ind. Assam — Kbasia 3000', abundant, Clarke; Bengal — 
Chittagong 200', common, Clarke. S. Ind. — Madras Presidency, on the W. Ghats ; 
Nilgiris 7000', Pulney Hills 7000'; Tinnevelly Hills ; Jeypore Hills, West of Vizaga- 
patam, 3-4000' ( Beddome in H. B.). Manipur, Clarke . Burmah, Malaya, China. 
Japan. Polynesia. Australia. Queensland and Norfolk Island. Afr. : Bourbon. 
I would add to the description of this fem that the fronds of the N.-W. 
India plant are dimorphous, i.e,, these are fertile fronds which have long stipes, 
and sterile ones which have short stipes. The long- stiped fronds are always 
fertile, and the short-stiped — never so. The sterile fronds are generally 
broader in proportion to their length than the fertile are, and the pinnse 
also sometimes broader. A length of rhizome, with both sterile and fertile 
fronds on it, should always be gathered, or a correct idea of the species will not 
be got. I feel sure Beddome is wrong, as to the N.-W, Indian A. japonicum 
at least, in saying that the rhizome is creeping or snbereefc.” It is really 
always widely-creeping and branching, and sometimes very slender ; but 
occasionally several fronds, sterile and fertile, are thrown up near each other in 
an apparent tuft. On some fronds few diplazoid sori are found ; and I have 
sometimes seen hippocrepiform sori, i.e. f with involucre crossing the vein, 
unbroken and continuing down the other side of the vein for about half the 
length that they have before crossing. Other variations in the sori could be 
cited. I do not consider this species to be much more of a Diplazium than 
A. thelypteroides and A. McDonelli am. 
