( 50 ) 
(Polypodium (Phymatodes) heterocarpum, Blume. Bed. 11. t. 319. Said 
in Syn. Fil. to be native of Ceylon, has not been found in it. 
180. Polypodimn (Phymatodes) moides, Lam. 
Bed. 1. t. 178. This is a very rare fern in Ceylon compared with 179. 
Found at Ettangwella and Halgoda Pass, Matale East, and said to be fonnd 
near Kurunegala. It is a stiff coriaceous fern compared with the last one. 
Plants of this one, from the trunk of a tree in the forest near Sitawaka, grow 
freely in Colombo, and agree for desc. in Syn. Fil. 
181. Polypodium (Phymatodes) peteropus, Bl. 
Bed. 1. 1. 179 for the simple fronded fern, and 11. t. 11 for the tripartite 
form. Found at “ Muruta ” by Gardner, and in Ambegamuwa district by 
Thwaites. The tripartite form found in Bakwane by Mr. Buxton Laurie. 
Grows in rocks in rivers under water. Not very common. 
182. Polyp >dium (Phymatodes) trifidum, Don. 
Bed. 1. t. 175. This very handsome and abundant fern, grows on the 
trunks of trees or on rocks in the forests of the interior, and found as low 
down as the site of the Labugama Kraal. I have different forms from small 
trifid ones to others with 9 lobes on a side over-lapping each other, about 1 
foot each w r ay. Very fine one on damp rocks on tbe bridle path leading from 
Oonoonagalla to the summit of the Hunasgiria Peak. It is said to have an 
agreeable fragrance of new mown hay when dry, but I have never noticed 
this peculiarity. 
183. Polypodium (Phymatodes) phymatodes, Linn. 
Bed. 1. t. 173. This is the very common fern growing amongst the roots 
of the Cinnamon near Colombo, and elsewhere in Ceylon. It is a very hand- 
some fern, but most difficult to dry. In the hot dry sands in the cinnamon 
it is often simple fronded and when these bear fruit they are very like 177. P. 
lineare. I consider this one of the best ferns to grow amongst others m Colombo. 
“Hab. Polynesian and Malayan Isles and N. Australia to Formosa and Leo- 
Choo, Tsus-Sima, Ceylon, Mascaren Isles, Natal, Zambesi-land, Angola, Guinea 
Coast, and Tahite. It is curious that this very common Malayan species 
should be quite absent from Continental India.” Baker. 
184. Polypodium (Phymatodes) nigresceus, Bl. 
Bed. 1. t. 176. This is a common fern in the forests &c. of the Central 
Province, It is a much larger fern than the last and turns very dark when 
dried. It is very liable to rot or to be eaten by insects if it is not poisoned. 
185. Polypodium (Phymatodes) dilatatum, Wall. 
Bed. 11. t. 122. This fern was first found in Ceylon by Beckett, near 
Batotte and elsewhere since by other collectors. I have specimens from Mr 
Buxton Laurie from Bakwane. , 
186. Polypodium (Drynaria) quereifolium, Linn. 
Bed. 1. t. 187. This is one of the most abundant and most conspicuous 
ferns in Ceylon. It climbs up and often festoons the trunks of trees for a height 
of 20 to 30 feet and often grows in dense masses on the ground when the 
tree supporting it decays and falls down. The contrast between its small 
oak-leaf-like barren fronds, and its large pinnated fertile ones is very great. 
It is often cultivated in Colombo, and grows very freely. The pinnas 
generally separate from the rachis after they are dried just as if they ' were 
cut with a knife. (Polypodium (Drynaria) Linnsei, Bory. Bed. 11. t. 315. 
said in the Syn. Fil. to be a native of Ceylon ; has not that I am aware of 
been found in the island.) 
