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a most variable plant. None of its forms, however, can be confouuded with any 
of the other species. Baker describes this one on p. 199, No. 50, in Syn. Fil., and on 
p. 201, No. 59. he gives a description of A. vulcanicum, Blume, but so gradually 
do all our Ceylon forms of these two supposed species run into each other 
that Thwaites includes them all in his C. P. 1010. 
76/1. Asplenium vulcanicum, Bl. 
No figure of this supposed species is given by Beddome, and the descriptions 
in Syn. Fil. of this one and of 76, do not convey any correct idea of a specific 
difference. — 1 have collected fine large specimens with broader pinnas than usual 
in some of the gullies running down from the side of the Gt-reat Western into 
Scalpa, and have received still finer specimens from Mr. Me Micking collected 
at Neura Elliya, of the form said to be A. vulcanicum, Bl. and as Mr. Wall 
believes it to be a distinct species, I give it a place here, and the following 
note on it by Mr. Wall : — A. vulcanicum, Bl. seems distinct from A. Wightianium 
in habit, texture and colour. The two species do not appear to be connected 
by any intermediate form in the herbarium at kew, nor have I seen the 
connecting forms mentioned by Dr. Thwaites in his ‘ Enumeratio, ’ p. 383. 
About Newera Ellia some sportive forms of this species are to be found, in which 
the lobes at the points of the pinnae are prolonged fantastically to an inch or 
more in length by about a line in width.” 
77. Asplenium tenerum, Forst. 
Bed. 1. t. 224. A common fern growing on the trunks of ti'ees and 
the sides of rocks in the higher forests of the Central Province. Easily dis- 
tinguished from any of our other Ceylon Ferns. 
78, Asplenium erectum, Bory. 
Bed. 1. t. 135. As A. Braziliense, Raddi, and 1. t. 134. as A. trapeziforme, 
Rox. this latter being equal to the form A. lunulatum, Sw. and C. P. 1336. 
placed by Thwaites as a form of 84, A. resectum, but they are distinct, the 
caudex of the latter being a creeping one, and of the other erect. I noticed 
this marked difference when collecting these two ferns lately, and an examina- 
tion of Mr. Beckett’s specimens showed that he had made the above corrections 
long previously. This one and No. 75, are found in great abundance in 
the same places, in the forests of the Central Province. Why this fern with 
its drooping feathery fronds should have been called A. erectum. I do not 
know, but Botanists are bound to stick to first names whether rightly or wrongly 
given. 
79. Asplenium zenkerianum, kunze. 
Bed. 1. t. 128. This is not an uncommon Fern growing in rich soil 
in the Forests of the Central Province, and like some of the other species liable 
to become proliferous when the ends of the fronds touch the ground. This 
fern and 108, Allantodia, are most difficult to dry, and to preserve them after 
they are so. This fern has, been described and figured as the A. persicifolium, 
J. Sm. but to the Postcript to Mr. Wall’s Catalogue of Ceylon Ferns, I am in- 
debted for the following : — “ Our Ceylon species is A. zenkerianum of Kunze, 
and is now regarded as distinct from the typical form of the Phillipine — Island 
original, differing therefrom in its shorter sori, entire edge and less woody 
stipes.” 
80. Asplenium falcatum, Lam. 
Bed. 1. t. 142 good for C. P. 1339, and 1. t. 143. — According to the 
descriptions in Syn. Fil. there can be no doubt but Thwaites has transposed 
the names of A; falcatum and A. caudatum, — the latter being a highland, and 
the former a lowland fern. — A. falcatum is a common fern in the Western 
Province, sometimes growing in the forks of trees, but generally, in loose ve- 
getable mould, on the tops of small rocky bills, not far from Colombo. Its 
size and cutting are much affected according to soil and exposure. — On a long 
rocky ridge at Tallangama, about eleven miles from Colombo, on the road to 
