THE FERNS OF NORTH- WESTERN INDIA . 
211 
dose together, nearly parallel to each other ; the secondary pinnae numerous, close, 
very distinct, all remarkably like each other. Nor are there any connecting forms 
between the var. and any other form of A. aculeatum." 
Beddome’s description is 
“ Lower surface of frond with very fine fibrillae, rhachis with very long scales as 
well as fibrillse, pinnules small, quite entire, except the spinulose apex, or with 
very inconspicuous crenatures to represent the usual lobes ; sori apical, on the lower 
veinlet of the forked or pinnate vein of the segment (or what would correspond to 
the segment where the pinnule is entire).” 
Christ puts this fern as— 4. P. lobatum , var. setosum , Wall., and says of 
it : — 
“ This plant is very remarkable for its scaly clothing ; not only is the rhachis 
clothed with enormous principal scales, yellowish and pellucid, oval or round, 
which even attain in the upper part of the frond the length and breadth of 
8 millimetres or more, but all the parts, with the pinnules, are upon the two 
faces covered with numerous thread-like scales (hairs), which are flexible 11 (wavy ?), 
w one centimetre long, and golden in colour, which gives to this magnificent plant 
a very rich appearance. The frond is of the largest size (70 centimetres), the 
pinnules numerous (up to 80 in one pinna), lanceolate, toothed (?) like a comb 
decurrent, scarcely stalked, almost toothless, only the lowest of the upper row 3 , 
Which is much larger than the rest, being deeply cut. The texture is flaccid, 
membranous.” 
“ Habitat.— Excessively damp forests of Sikkim, Himalaya on Senchul 8000' 
(Gamble 8041) and-9000' (Gammie).” 
Both Clarke and Beddome say that only the lower surface of the frond is 
clothed with long fibrillee. Christ is right in saying that both surfaces are so 
clothed. I have not seen this fern growing ; but, judging from herbarium 
specimens, it seems quite distinct from any other species of the group, A 
specimen collected in Sikkim, alt. 5000', by Sir J. D. Hooker, has, besides 
the long straw-coloured hairs, large ovate-acuminate dark-brown scales all 
along the main rhachis. Some other specimens have similar scales, but pale- 
brown in colour. A specimen from Wallich, in Herb. Bmfham at Kew ? 
has very large broad scales up the stipe, brown with darker centres. 
15. A. Presoottianum, Hook. Sp. 4. p. 22., t. 223 ; Syn. Fil. 253 : 
C. R. 510. Polystichum Prescottianum , Wall., Bedd. H. B. 210. 
Afghan. : Kuram Vy.— 9-10,000', Aitch. 1879. 
Kashmir : Gilgit— Sai, Col. Tanner ; Gulmarg 19,000', Lev. ; Pir Panj&l 11,500', 
Trotter, Gammie ; Sangam Valley, 13-14,000', Duthie 1893, No. 13689. 
Punjab: Hazara— Khagin Valley 9000', Dr. Stewart: CIiamla—Sa,oh. and Drati 
PasBes 10-12,000', Baden-Powell 1879 ; Ravi Valley.— Satrundi and above it 11-12,000', 
and Cheni Pass 12,000', McDonell ; A«ZZM--Rohtang Pass 13,000', and Jalori Pass, 
N. 10,000', Trotter j Lahoul — Chandra Valley, 11,000', Trotter ; Simla Reg.— Jubal 
State, Chor. Mt s , Collett ; Sirmur State 9-10,000'. T. T. ; Hatu Mt. 9,5-10,600', Edgew, 
Bates, Collett, Gamble, Blanf., Hope, Trotter, Bliss ; Bashahr— near Harang Pass 
12,500', Lace. 
