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green stove fern from India and Ceylon,” with “ venules all anastomosing, 
forming lines between the primary veins (hence the specific name) dividing 
the whole surface of pinnae into rectilinear paralellograms ” and of 'No. 
5 it is said : — “ This species has been six years in cultivation, and was sent to 
Kew by the late Dr. Gardner.” There can be no doubt, I think, about this 
being the C. P. 3271 for which Thw. quotes A abruptum Bl. and therefore no 
fern has as far as I know been found in Ceylon for 144. N. pennigerum is 
always a more rigid fern in a dried state than 141/1, and of a dark brown 
color. It must be a very rare fern in Ceylon compared with the other. My 
few specimens of it are from Kalliboka. 
143. Nephrodium Molle, Desv. 
Bed. 1. tt. 84, 85 ? and 106, and 11. t. 200 good. This is one of the most com- 
mon and most abundant of our Ceylon Ferns from the coast up to the higher parts of 
the interior. — Though I have put a ? after Bed. 1. t. 85 as N. extensum, and Bed. 1. 
t. 106 as Lastrea ochthodes, I think there can be little doubt that these figures are 
for N. Molle. One of the sections for this genus is given in the Syn. Fil. thus p. 
218.— # * ‘‘Fronds large pinnate ; rhizome wide- creeping Sp. 159 — 176.” And another 
page 291, thus * * * Fronds large, pinnate ; caudex, erect, or sub erect, Sp. 177 
196,” this latter includes N. molle, now the fact is that it is one of the most 
commonly cultivated in Ferneries in Colombo, and its wide creeping habit is 
such that it generally runs over the whole space and smoothers the more delicate 
ones. This fern and Nephrolepis acuta, and exaltata, are the three most com- 
monly cultivated in pots and in Ferneries in Colombo, and if allowed 
they soon kill every other kind. — Baker, Syn Fil. page 290 No. 199 says 
that N. procurrens, Baker is very “ like N. molle, but distinguished by its 
creeping rihizome ,” but this is no distinction, — and again after No. 188 page^293 
N. heterocarpum, Moore, he remarks : — “ Very near some of the forms 
of N. molle, but less hairy, and densely glandular beneath, with the lower 
pinnae suddenly dwarfed,” characters equally common for some of our Ceylon 
specimens. N. molle is very liable to be eaten by insects unless poisoned, and 
all the species of the group are liable to a white blight beneath, caused by 
insects which plough through the sori. Specimens should therefore <be collected 
with care and poisoned as soon as they are dry. 
144. Nephrodium truneatum, Presl. 
Baker in the Syn. Fil. 194 quotes N. eusorum. Thwaites as a synonym 
for this fern, and states it is a native of North India and Ceylon; but I feel 
convinced that N. eusorum is identical with 141/1 N. abortivum and that we 
have no fern in Ceylon to agree with N. truncation, Presl. of the Syn. Fil. which 
is said to have the “ veins pinnate in the lobes, with 6 — 8 veinlets on a side 
with a sorus on each near the main vein” — -141/1 and 142, Are said to have 
sori medial on the veins, and all the specimens 1 have seen have them so. 
The C. P. 3,271 is given for N. abruptum, Presl. shown to be a synonym of 
142, if Baker be correct in quoting the synonym of this species. N. pennigerum 
Hk. and N. truncation, Presl. of the Syn. Fil. do not exist as separate ferns 
in Ceylon. 
145. Nephrodium (Sagenia) subtriphyllum, Baker. 
Bed. 1. t. 242 good and 11 t. 48 for large Indian form. This is 
a handsome little fern said to be found in the forests of Allagalla and Matura. 
It is evidently a rare fern ; grows freely in pots in Colombo. 
146. N ephrodium (Sagenia) polymorphum, Baker. 
Bed. 1. tt. 116 and 117. This is a very distinct fern from any other 
Ceylon one. Common in the Central Province generally on the banks of streams 
and under the shade, and in rich soil near stones and rocks. 
