< 59 ) 
219. Marattia fraxinea, Smith. 
Bed. 1. t. 79. This is a much more rare fern than the last one. It evidently 
vies with it in stature, as the fronds of both are described to be from 6 to 
15 feet long. It is very like the last one, but the fruit is different and this 
one has the pinnules generally more deeply serrated than the last one. This fern 
is confined to the more elevated parts of the Central Province. 
£ tjb-Qrder, VI. Ophioglossacece. 
220. Ophioglossum nudicaule, Lin. Fil. 
Bed. 1. t. 71, as 0. parvifolium, Linn. I found what I believe to be 
this species in an open space in front of what was Mr. Duff’s house in Nu- 
wara Eliya in 1859, just where the road divided in front of the house, and 
I have no doubt but it will be still found there if any of the ground has 
been left in an unbroken state. 
221. Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. var. 0. reticulatum, Linn. 
Bed. 1. t. 70 and 1. t. 72? On the C. P. 1408 specimens from the Pe- 
radeniya herbarium Thwaites has written Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. The 
barren fronds on these are broad ovate, obtuse, and slightly cordate at the 
base, sessile on the stalk, and placed about an inch from the lower end. The 
fertile spike is from 1 to inch long, and the peduncle 5 to 6 inches long. 
Most of my specimens, collected in a compound in Colpetty, Colombo, or 
grown by myself, l ave the sterile frond 2 to 5 inches from the rootstock, 
several of them being deeply cordate, but otherwise agreeing well for Bed. 
1. t. 70. I have one specimen agreeing with 1. t. 72 0. brevipes, in respect 
to numerous fronds from the same rootstock, but the sterile fronds are deeply 
cordate, and are placed from 1^ to 2 inches from the bottom of the stalk. 
The Syn. Fil. gives 0. vulgatum and O. reticulatum as distinct species, but 
I am guided in giving our Ceylon one as a variety of the former in conse- 
quence of the following note by Dr. Hooker in his arti -le on the plants of 
the Camaroons Mountains, &c. Linnean Jl., Botany, vol. VII. for 1864, p. 237- 
“ Ophiglossum reticulatum, Linn. Hcib. Fernando Po, from the sea to 5,000 
feet. A form of O. vulgatum, found in many warm countries. ” If they are 
really distinct species then our Ceylon one must be referred to O. reticulatum 
I have not heard of 0. vulgatum as a distinct plant found in Ceylon. Our 
Ceylon fern varies exceeding in size, shape of frond, length of peduncle, &c 
222, Ophi< glossum (Ophioderma) pendulum, Hk. 
Bed. 1. t. 88. This is also called the “ Ribbon-fern ” in Ceylon. It grows 
in masses of vegetable mould in the forks of trees and vevy often under the 
great mass of turfy -like stuff in which Asplenium Nidus grows, and is not 
uncommon from near the coast to considerable elevations. This is a very 
fine fern, and I have seen specimens of it with fronds upwards of 12 feet 
long, and only about inch broad, I have seen specimens of it with nearly 
every frond once or twice divided. . Mr. Cameron, who made the Peradeniya 
fernery shortly after his arrival from Kew, was greatly delighted with the 
sight of this magnificent fern in its native luxuriance. Vittaria elongata 
sometimes grows intermixed with it. 
223. Helminthostachys zeylanica, Hk. 
Bed. 1. t. 69. The aspect of this fern is so like young plants of Amorpho- 
phalus campanulatus, Bl. that they are very liable to be mistaken for each other. 
The curious spiked fertile part of the frond will at once distiuguish the fern- 
This is a common fern in rich clayey soil under the shade of coconut trees 
along the Negombo and Hangwella roads not far from the Bridge of Boats, 
and is easily cultivated. 
