THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 
177 
N.-W. P. : D. D. List .— Jaunsar 6-7500', Gammie, Gamble ; Mussooree 55-6500" 
common; T. Garh.— 4500'-12,000', Duthie, Gamble ; Brit. Garh. — 7-8000', Duthie ; 
Kumaun — 4—8000', common. 
Distbib .— Asia : N. Ind. (Him.)— Nepal ? ; Sikkim and Bhotan, 2000' and upward, 
very common ; Assam— Khasia 2-6000', very common ; Kohima 5500', Clarke. S. 
lad.— W. Forests up to 6000'. Ceylon. Malaya, Australia, 
This fern varies much in size ami cutting, and also in length of sori, but 
I think all the N.-W. Indian plants are the same. On seeing them growing 
in many places, in the Simla Region, Mussooree, and Kumaun, it never 
struck me that there was any difference. Gamble has named his “ No. 25097, 
Jaunsar 7000' ,” Diplazium Iatifolium ; but the venation is quite different in 
the two species, and attention to that distinction should prevent any con- 
fusion. In all the specimens of A. Iatifolium I have seen the veinlets are 
simple, though Beddome says simple or forked ; the veinlets of A. polypodmdes 
are always forked. The venation of Gamble’s plant from Jaunsar is that of 
A. polypodmdes. Specimens from Simla, marked var. 3, sublotifolia, Clarke, 
also have the venation of the type. This being so, I cannot understand why 
Clarke says— “ This series of plants distinctly approaches A. Iatifolium nor 
why Beddome says — “ His (Clarke’s) variety sublatifolia runs into latifolia , and 
rather belongs to that species, if the two are really distinct, which is very 
doubtful . 99 
The involucres of A. polypodmdes are very fugacious, and I believe they 
are sometimes absent in an eaily stage of growth. Both Levinge and Trotter 
were tempted by this to think of Gymnogramme. The Mackinnons have 
shown me plants in cultivation which were quite exinvolucrate. The young 
fronds are edible. Trotter says the Punjab Hill people eat them like spinach, 
and call them Kasmor. About Mussooree, also, the fronds are eaten, and called 
lingra. 
37. A. squamigerum, Mett., in Miguel’s Annales, Vol. II. 239; Syn. 
Fil. 237. Plate XXVI. 
Kashmir : Kishenganga Valley, Reran Nala 8000', McDonell, 3rd September 
1891; Kajliban, in moist forest, Duthie, No. 12630, 1892 ; below Gurais 8-9000', 
Duthie No. 14100, 29th September 1893 ; Kachal 8000', and Donari Nala 7000', 
McDonell 1894. 
Punjab: Chamba State 8000', J. Marten 1897; Simla Reg— Giri Valley, in 
Raiengarh Forests 6600', Gamble, July 1898. 
N.-W. P. ; Kumaun— near Kathi 7800', S. & W. 1848 ; Dipl. No, 4 on ticket; Pindar 
Gorge— Khati 7000', Trotter, 9th September 1891. 
Distrib. — Asia : China — Patung District, Henry ; Szechwan (Omei) Faber . Japan 
Siebold, Oldham, Robinson, Bissett, Maries, Hancock, Dickins, Faurie. 
