( 37 ) 
i turn, from which it is quite distinct. Caudex erect.” Beckett’s specimen is a 
| shaggy fern, the lower part of the stipes is covered with a dense mass of lan- 
i ceolat© rather broad scales, which gradually decrease in size upwards, till on 
the upper part of the stipes and rachis they look like rough hairs. The fern is 
! otherwise a coarser one in all its parts, the divisions of the frond being much 
less finely cut, whilst in a dried state it generally is of a dark bronze color, 
whilst 114 is generally of a light grey color. The difference in the caudex and 
in the size of the scales seem to be the best characters for separating these 
two ferns. This fern is, without exception, the most common one in the forests 
of the interior, and is always to be had 'in fruit, and easily dried. Bed 1. 
t. 103 for Lastrea sparsa, is a better figure for 114/1. It is not a good one for 
124. The C. P. 3286 given as a variety of 116, below is exceedingly like this 
one in nearly every respect, but it is opaque, and the smaller divisions of the 
pinnules are not aristate. These are good distinctions. 
115. Aspidium membra nacenm, Ilk. 
Bed. 1, t. 243. This is the only real Aspidium found in Ceylon. I first 
found it in the edge of the Forest at the top of the Hoolankande Estate Kal- 
libokka at an elevation of about 4000 feet, and next on a mass of Cabook 
quite clo^e to the sea at Mutwall, Colombo. It is a delicate handsome fern 
and a great favorite in cultivation. It is no doubt the fern described by Moore 
and Houlston as Lastrea elegans, in Mag. of Bot. 3. p. 318 where they say it 
was introduced to Kew by the late Dr. Gardner. In a Supt. to the Flora 
of Hongkong, by Dr. Hance, in the Linnean journal v. 13. p. 142. he says 
that this fern is the Aspidium devexum, Kunze, but Baker does not refer to 
this name. I used to think that certain plants indicated very distinctly cer- 
tain elevations in Ceylon, but I now find that plants like this one and 147, 
Nephrodium (Sagenia) decurrens, are found at high elevations and next close 
to the sea shore. I found this latter fern in abundance close to the sea shore 
at Barberyn. 
116. Naphrodium (Lastrea) Walkerse, Hk. 
Bed. 1. tt. 234-5. The different forms of this curious fern seem to be 
common in Saffragam, and near Hewissa. It is described in the Syn. Fil. p. 305 as 
Polypodium (Phegopteris) Walkers, but at p. 455 it is stated that specimens re- 
ceived from Dr. Thwaites shew this to be a Nephrodium. It can scarcely be 
the A. (L.) cuspidatum, described in the Syn Fil. p. 260, and said (erroneously) 
to be from Ceylon. For this very variable fern Thwaites has three C. P. numbers 
and in reference to the last one, C. P. 3286, referred to at 114/1 N. (L.) conii- 
folium, he has the following remarks,’ En. p. 394 : — “ Forma c. frondibus bi- 
tri-pinnatis an species distincta, ? ” and again, “ Var. c. although very closely 
allied to the other two varieties, and, in some instances hardly to be distin- 
guished from var. b. except by its more composite structure, is probably speci- 
fically distinct, the fronds assuming a different tint of brown when dry.” This 
fern looks like a connecting link between this species and 114/1. above. 
117* Nephrodium (Lastrea) liirtipes, Hk. 
Bed. 1. t. 96. A common fern in damp forests of the interior, most 
difficult to find perfect fronds that are not eaten by insects. Beddome’s figure is 
not a good one. 
118. Nephrodium (Lastrea) calcaratum, Hk. 
Bed. _ 1. tt. 105 and 246. The larger form of this fern is a most, com- 
mon one in the forests of the interior, and the shining lead color^of its sori 
and the under side of its fronds, is referred to at 94, Asplenium (Athyrium) 
macrocarpum. It is one of our most variable ferns “ but the extreme forms 
pass insensibly into one another. ” The small narrow form figured by ■ Bed 1. t. 
246. is found in great abundance on the banks of a stream in the Kotawa 
forest, about 10 miles from Galle. 
