, ( 36 ) 
of streams and in rich damp soil in the forests of the interior, but it is very 
difficult to get a frond of it that is not eaten by insects, or otherwise imper- 
fect. It is not unlike some of the Aspleniums in general appearance, but the 
iori are quite different. 
111. Aspidium (Polystichum) aculeatum, Sw. 
Bed. 1. tt. 121-2, and 11. t. 136. C. P. 1367 for the large and very 
common normal form, 3503 for a more delicate form, and 3275 for the de- 
licate form called, biaristatum, Bl. This is a common fern in the Forest above 
Maussa Kellie, Kallibokka, and elsewhere in Ceylon. Found “ throughout the 
world ; rare in the Artie regions and Eastern N. America.” — Baker. 
112. Aspidium (Polystichum) anomalum, Hk. and Arnt. 
Bed. 11. t. 219. This is one of the most singular ferns in the world, 
from the fact that it bears its sori on the upper side of the frond. Peculiar 
to Ceylon at the Horton Plains and in Happutella, at an elevation of 5,000 to 
6,000 feet. With the exception of the anomalous circumstance of the sori being on 
the upper side of the frond it is otherwise nearly identical with A. (P.) acu- 
leatum. 
113. Aspidium (Polystichum) amabile, Bl. 
Bed. 1. t. 109. This was an abundant fern in the Forests beyond the 
Lindoola Patnas some years ago. It is easily distinguished from any other of 
this genus found in Ceylon. It seems a common and abundant fern in the 
higher forests of the interior, 
114. Aspidium (Polystichum) aristatum, Sw. 
Bed. 1. t. 101. figure A? and 11. t. 261, all except the erect caudex of 
A. (P.) coniifolium, Wall. This one and the next one seem to have got a good deal 
mixed up. Thwaites distributed the two under his. C. P. 1373, but afterwards, be- 
lieving the two to be quite distinct, separated them, and put C. P.3937 to A. 
(P.) aristatum, with a “ creeping caudex ,” and C. P. 3938 to A. (P.) coniifolium, 
Wall, with an “ erect caudex .” Beddome’s principal figure in 1. t. 101 is said 
to be for 114. and 11. t. 261 for 114/1, but judging from all the specimens 
before me, he appears to have entirely reversed them. A very fine specimen 
with a long creeping caudex, finely cut frond, of a light grey color, the 
caudex and lower part of the stipes covered with long scales, and the 
rachis slightly hairy, received from Beckett some years ago, and named by 
him, agrees with my specimens of 114 collected in Lady Horton’s Walk near 
Kandy. Its creeping caudex, and long hair-like scales, if constant characters, 
are quite sufficient to separate this one from the next one. It seems to be a 
rare fern compared with 114/1 which is on the other hand one of the most 
common ferns in the forests of the interior. Moore and Houlston, Gtardener’s 
Mag. of Botany 3. p. 320, assign to both a creeping caudex , but otherwise seem 
to join the Syn. Fil. and Beddome in reversing the descriptions. I feel confi- 
dent that all these authorities differ from Thwaites and Beckett, and I suspect 
that these latter gentlemen are correct, but see my remarks on the next one. 
114/1. Aspidium (Polystichum) coniifolium, Wall. 
Bed 1. t. 101 ? for the principal figure, and 11. t. 261 for the erect 
caudex ? Beddome’s figures as thus quoted by me, agree better for all the 
Hnecimens before me, named by Thwaites and Beckett, but if those gentlemen 
have wrongly named these two ferns, then my references to 114 and 114/1 
must be transposed. In a printed list agreeing with the packets in my own 
collection I left out this fern, but I now believe it to be distinct from the 
other On a fine specimen of 114/1 received from Beckett some years ago and 
numbered 150 of his collection, he has made the following note:— “ Aspid is 
polystichum) coniifolium, WalL Baker calls this only a umvariearitaty of A.) 
