( 49 ) 
but whether the presence of the ferns is the cause I do not know. They 
I generally grow on thin attennuated unhealthy trees. What the desc. in Syn. 
Fil. means by stating that the “upper surface of the fronds is naked and the 
lower thinly coated with whitish tomentum in the barren, but more densely 
[ in the fertile part beneath,” I do not understand, as in all our Ceylon 
j specimens the upper sides of the frond are pretty well covered by stellate 
: pubescence, and the lower ones densely so. Specimens from Mr. J. Bagra from 
Balangoda, and from the surface of a rock in a stream below Maussakellie, Kalli- 
bokka are broad, thin in texture, and somewhat rhomboidal in form, and look 
very different from the common long linear Colombo form. This is perhaps 
without exception the most difficult te dry of all our Ceylon ferns. If dried 
even under gi eat pressure, it curls round into a pipe when the pressure is 
j taken off, the lower side being always outside. The only way to get good 
l specimens of our Colombo one, is to put them in lots of blotting-paper and 
get a Dhoby to iron them on the upper side until they are quite dry. 
174. Polypodium (Niphobo)us) pannosum, Mett. 
Bed. 1. t. 240. Th waites says this fern is not uncommon in the warmer 
parts of the island ; and up to an elevation of 3000 feet. My only specimen is 
from. Beckett. Found at Gongama on the lower Badulla road, very like an 
Acrostichum and so named by Thunberg. “Well marked by its decided stem 
and comparatively short broad frond,” Baker. “Those who are interested in 
the culture of Hardy ferns will be glad to learn, that Niphobolus Lingua 
succeeds on rockwork in the open air in the climate of Devonshire. It may thus 
be seen in the nursery of Mr. Prince of Exeter.” Gard. Mag. Bot. 3. p. 219. 
175. Polypodium (Niphobolus fissuoo, Baker, 
Bed. l.t. 183. This is not an uncommon fern growing on the sides of 
rocks in the higher parts of the interior. “It is characterised by its strap- 
shaped subsessile fronds, very wooly beneath.” — Baker. 
1 7 6. Polypodium (Niphobolus) Gardneri, Mett. 
Bed. 1. t. 241. This is not uncommon in the forks of trees and on rocks 
in the forests of the interior, and varies much in size. Like P. (N. ) adna** 
scens, it curls up in drying. This fern is peculiar to Ceylon. “Very like P. stig 
mosum in general habit, but the eori larger and the tomentum thicker.” Baker. 
(Polypodium (Niphobolus) acrostichoides, Sw. Bed. 11. t. 81 is considered 
a native of Ceylon on the authority of a specimen from Gardner. En. PL 
Zeyl, p. 396.) 
177. Polypodium (Phymatodes) lineare, Thunb. 
Bed. 1. t, 180. This is one of the most common ferns in the region of 
. the Coffee estates. It is often found growing on stones, trunks of trees, and 
even on the Coffee plants, in some of the estates. Its simple long lanceo- 
late, and leathery fronds, with two rows of large sori, will easily distinguish 
it from any other fern found in the same localities. It differs much in size 
according to the exposure and place of growth. Simple fronds of the common 
Cinnamon Garden one, P. (P. ) Phymatodes, are very like this one when they 
bear fruit. When not in fruit it may readily be confounded with 212, 
Acrostichum (Hymenolepis) spicatum, Linn. 
178. Polypodium (Phymatodes) lanceolatum, Linn. 
Bed. 1. t. 181. C. P. 3988. This a rare fern in Ceylon. It is found not fa r 
from the Church in the Nuwara Eliya Plains. “Very similar to the last 
species in outward appearance, the venation however is different, and the under, 
surface of the fronds is always clothed with orbiculate peltate scales.” Beddome. 
179. Polypodium (Phymatodes) membra? ace mu, Don. 
Bed. 1. t. 177. This is a very beautiful and very common fern in the 
forests of the interior growing in rich vegetable mould on the surface of rocks, and 
on the trunks of trees. Some of the fronds when grown in rich damp places 
become very large, and are often deeply gashed along their margins, half pin- 
nated in fact. 
