THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA . 
267 
NiphoMus, on the return of wet weather.” I confirm this. The fronds also 
sometimes coil up at the apex. 
26. P. simplex, Sw., Syn. Fil. 27. P. lineare , Thb. (3 , P. simplex , Sw., 
Hk. and Bk. Syn. Fil. 354. 
P, simplex , Sw., Clarke, Journ. Linn. Soc., XXY. 99. Pleopeltis simplex, Sw., 
Bedd. H. B. 347. Polypodium ( Phymatodes ) simplex, Sw., Blapford, in Journ. 
Asiatic Soc., Bengal, Vol, LVII., Pt. II., No. 4, 1888, PI. xx. 
Punjab : CManiba— McDonell, in List. Pangi — Satrundi,Harsukh (collr. from 
Sahar. Herb.) 1899 ; Kangra Vy. JDist. — Edgew. in Herb. Sahar. ; Dharmsala, Trotter ; 
Kullu 6-7000', Trotter; Mandi State 6500', Trotter ; Simla Region— 6-8000',. 
common. 
N.-W. P. : D. D. Dist.— Jaunsar— Ckakrata 7000' ; in the Dbn— Kalanga Hill 
33000', Gamble ; Mussooree and Landour, very common 6-7600' ; T. Garli . — Jumna 
Vy, 10-11,000', Ganges Vy. 10 r 12,000' Duthie ; B. Garh. 8000*, Duthie, Mrs. Fisher ; 
Kpimaun 6500' to 9000', S. & W., Hope, Duthie, Davidson, Trotter., MacLeod. 
Distrib.— Asia ; N. Ind. (Him.) Sikkim and Bhotan. China X 
This is a very common fern in the Himalaya, on trees, and it never ought to 
have been mixed up with P. lineare, for, besides other differences, and entire 
dissimilarity in appearance when growing, the fronds are herbaceous in texture, 
and wither and fall off directly the, rains cease, or before that when a touch of 
cold, dry wind comes from the north. The fronds of P. lineare are persistent 
for another year at least. Blanford noted this, and said — “ Their texture is 
thin, the venation distinct.” The sori when young are completely covered 
and protected by peltate scales, up to 20 in number to a sorus, which fit 
together so closely that to the naked eye they sometimes look like one large 
involucre with a continuous margin outside the sorus. These scales disappear 
as the sporangia ripen and burst. The sori are occasionally oval or con- 
fluent. 
This species is still mixed up with P . lineare iu the Kew Herbarium. Specie 
mens from the eastward of British India seem to vary a srood deal, and there 
may be among them a new species. 
27. P. olatliratlim, O. B. Clarke in Review 559, t, 72, fig. 1 ; Baker in 
Ann. Bot., Vol. V M No. XYIII. Pleopeltis dathrata, Clarke, Bedd. H. B. 348. 
Polypodium ( Phymatodes ) dathratum, C. B. Clarke, Blanford, in Journ. Asiatic 
Soc., Bengal, Yol. LYIL, Pt. II., No. 4, 1888, PI. xxr. 
Afghan. : Kurram Vy.— 10-11,000' Aitch. 1879-80 ; Peiwar Kotal 7000. 
Collett 1879. 
Kashmir : P 6 r Pmjdl 11-12,000', C. B. CiaVke; Gilgit Diet .— Nittar Vy. 10-13,000', 
Duthie. Kajnag Range and Eamri Vy. 9-18,000' Duthie 1892 ; Ridge between 
Kishenganga Vys., 9-12,000', MacLeod 1891; Sind Vy.—Sonamarg 8000', Gammie 
1891. 
Punjab: Hazdra Dist,— Kagdn Valley, Inayat (collr. Herb. Sahar.) 1897 ; 
Chainba— Ravi Vy. 7000', MacDoncll, Pangi 12,500'* J. Marten; Mandi State 7-9000' 
