{ 45 ) 
I or jungle, grow to a great length, and often struggle up to a height of 
I eight to ten feet. Together with 143, Nephrodium molle, they are the most 
| commonly cultivated ferns in Colombo- Once they take root they spread over 
the ground or grow in pots and kill every thing else if they are not 
1 looked after. There are perhaps about half a dozen people in Colombo who 
jj take the trouble to cultivate other ferns besides these miserable ones. 
154. Nephrolepis acuta, Presl. 
Bed. 1. t. 94. Most common, and in the same places as the last one. 
They are very like each other, but are distinct and easily made out. This one 
if anything is more difficult to dry than the last one. See my notes on it. 
155. Nephrolepis ramosa, Baker. 
Bed. 1. t. 251. This is a common fern, climbing on the trunks of trees in 
the forests of the interior, sometimes to a great length, but very seldom in fruit. 
Fine specimens of it on the top of the ridge separating Galaha from Hinguru- 
galla, and on the banks of the Agra Oya. 
156. Oleandra mussefolia, Kunze. 
Bed. 1. t. 91. This is a very handsome fern found creeping on rocks or 
growing in vegetable mould, in crevices of rocks, in the higher part of the 
interior. We have no other fern in Ceylon that it can be confounded with. 
Tribe 11, Polypodies. 
157. Polypodium (Phegopteris) distans, Don. 
Bed. 1. t. 168 and 11. t. 39. It’s other name, P. Paludosum, is a good 
one, as it generally grows in swampy wet places. On the banks of the river 
between Middleton and Mattakellie, Dimbulla, and the edges of streams in the 
Nuwara Eliya plains, where it is found in abundance, exposed to the sun, it is 
a stiff erect and somewhat rigid plant, but in shade and in fine soil close to the 
Mattakellie bungalow I found some fine plants from seven to eight feet in 
height, and very different in aspect from the others, but when once examined 
carefully it is easily recognised. Its stipes is not slender as state dinS^n. Fil 
158. Polypodkim (Phegopteris) rufescens, Blume. 
Bed. 1. t. 236. This is a common fern in the forests of the interior. I 
found it above Galaha, LeVallon, and near Mattakellie, Dimbula, in abundance. 
It is easily recognised. 
159. Poly podium (Phegopteris) puoctatum. Thunb. 
Bed. 1. 1. 170. This is a very abundant fern in neglected gullies on coffee 
estates, along the sides of streams, in swamps, and very often in patanas in 
edges of forests in company with Pteris aquilina, which it much resembles 
in general aspect as remarked by Beddome ; but its hairy viscid fronds, its 
cutting and fruit, will at once distinguish it from any other of our Ceylon 
ferns. Moore and Houlston describe it as Hypolepis rugulosa , and after H. 
Purdiana, Ilk. at p. 130. Syn Fil. the following remarks are made : — “I give 
this and the six preceding species with great doubt a? to how far they are 
distinct from one another, and with a suspicion that some of them at least, 
like other plants which have been placed in Hypolepis , will prove not really 
distinct from Polypoclium rugulosum (P. punctatum). With' regard to the pre- 
sent one, for instance, Dr. Griesbach writes (Flora Brit. West Indies, p. 67). 
“ Not to be distinguished from P. rugulosum but by the specially transferred 
involucral appendages, and probably passing into that widely-ranging species.” 
Sir W. Hooker has expressed the same doubt with regard to H. distcins ; and 
reference may be made also, in connection with the same point, to Dr. Hooker’s 
remarks in the Floras of New Zealand and Tasmania. Specimens now before 
me from Ceylon, Brisbane, New Zealand, and Victoria, differ very much in 
several respects, but no doubt this is caused by the difference of climate, &c. 
