THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 
237 
Plate XXXI. Plants isolated. Oaud. decumbent, slow-growing, throwing up a 
few fronds from the apex annually, and perishing behind, densely clothed with 
large, broad, acuminate scales. Stipes curving upwards to the vertical, 
densely clothed at base with linear, subulate, concolor, light-chestnut-coloured 
scales, | in. 1., higher up with larger and broader scales up to 1 in. L, very 
acuminate, dirk-chestnut-coloured, still higher up shortening to Jin., with 
pale edges, and becoming scattered and deciduous ; stiff but not thick ; iroir 
6 in. in small to 23 in. 1. in large plants, — average of 25 large fronds 14 in. 
Fronds from 8 to 23 in. 1., by 4 to 13 in. br., ovate-acuminate : sometimes the 
lowest pair, or the two lowest, sometimes the third and fourth pairs from base, 
sometimes the middle pairs, the longest : bipinnate. Pimm oblong-acu- 
minate, generally broadest at base, occasionally at middle, pinnate to a slightly 
winged rhachis, distant, pinnules generally set well apart. Pinnules generally 
sessile, but lowest often petiolate, broadest at base, slightly falcate and tapering 
to a rounded apex, cut down more or less into distinct, blunt or truncate, 
sharply-toothed lobes, 4-6 in number according to length of pinnule, the toothed 
margin thin in texture, almost hyaline, with a tooth to each veinlet. Veins 
distinctly visible, pinnate in the lobes : veinlets curved, in lower lobes often 
forked in the inferior half, running into the teeth but stopping short of the 
margin, clubbed at the ends. Sori in a single row on either sider of costa 
of pinnule, one in each lobe, but often two in each of the lowest pair ; lowest 
3—5 pairs of pinnae sterile. Texture herbaceous ; colour of stipes and rhachises 
pale-straw-coloured, or light brown : of lamina pale, dull, green. 
Afghan.— G riffith ; Kurram Valley— Aitch. Nos. 884 and 455, 1879. 
Tbans-Ind. States : Chakddra, Duthie’s Collr. 1895 ; Baraul and Siv&t— with 
the Chitr&l Relief Expedition, 6 stations, 68-10,000', Harris 1895 ; Mirga 8000', Sir 
W. Gatacre 1895. 
Kashmir Kashmir and W. Thibet, J. E. Winterbottom 1847, No.— , Habi. 
tat Birik in Gilgit (Balti or Lower Thibet), elevn. 10,000 ft. ” ; Rutton Pir 8000', C. B. 
Clarke, No. 28810, 1876 ; Srinagar, Bamahama, and And’rbug 5-7000', “ common 
MacLeod 1891 ; Jbelam Valley, 3000', Gammie 1891. 
Punjab? Behra Ismail Khan— Pingul, Rev. J. Williams 1888; Hazara List.— 
Black Mt., Akhund Baba Peak, and Kahim Gali 8-9000', Panj-Gali 6-7000', Duthie 
Nos. 7622-28, 1883 ; Kagan Valley. 5-8500', Inayat (Sahar. Herb. Collr.) 1896-97-99. 
Abbotabad toMurree 7-9000', Trotter 1889 ; Mnrree 5-7000', Hope 1882 ; Chamba State 
McDonell, Trotter, J. Marten 1898-99, Harsukh (Sahar. Herb. Collr.) 1899; Kangra Vy. 
Diet. — Dharmsala 8000', Trotter 1887; Simla Reg. 6-10,000', Hope, Gamble, Blanford, 
Duthie, Bliss. 
N.-W. P. : D. D. Diet.— Jaunsar 45-8000', C. G. Rogers, Gamble ; Mussooree 
6-7000' : the common Lastrea of Mussooree ; T. Garh.— King, Duthie, Gamble ; 
B. Garh. — Mrs. Fisher ; Kumaun — Hope, Davidson, Trotter, Duthie. 
Dibtbib. — Asia— Centr. : N. Ind. (Him.) Sikkim, Bhotan ; Assam— Khasia Hills, 
Clarke , Mann ; “not very common” ( Clarke in ‘Rev. 1 ); Kohima 4600', Clark e 
S, Ind. — Nilgiri and Annamalay Mta., obove 5000 # , Beddome % Levinge t Qambel, 
