36 
FERNS OF NATAL. 
and becomes the receptacle, the capsules are very small, and have no special 
covering, differing in this respect from Pteris with which genus Vittaria 
has evidently some affinity, as the edge of the frond is often more or less 
reflexed. It is found hanging from rocks in bush in most parts of the 
Colony, but is not very plentiful. 
ACROSTICHUM, 
(akros, highest ; stichos, order, the fructification in the typical species, 
at the top of the fronds. According to Paxton the word “ is supposed to 
“ refer to the beginning of a verse, on account of the back surfaces of the 
“ leaves being so lined as to resemble in some degree the commencement 
“ of lines in poetry.” 
A large genus of ferns, known by tbs fact that the capsules are irregu- 
larly spread over, and cover the whole surface of the frond or pinna on 
which they occur, the species have been divided into 12 or 13 different 
sections, but these divisions have not all been maintained, our first 5. 
species belong to the Section Elaphoglossum with simple fronds, parallel 
or forked veins which are club-shaped at the apex, the barren and fertile 
fronds different. The next species belongs to the Section Stenochleena 
characterized by its simply pinnate barren fronds, and veins forming small 
costal areoloe, usually best seen near the apex of the pinnae. The last 
species belongs to Section Chrysodium distinguished by its simply pinnate 
fronds, and compoundly anastomosing venation without distinct main veins. 
Fronds pinnate, barren and fertile different 
„ „ upper pinnae fertile 
Fronds simpte, edge not ciliated. 
Fertile frond much the narrowest ... 
„ „ equalling or exceeding barren one 
in breadth ... ... 
Fronds simple, edge ciliated. 
Barren frond ovate, or ovate acuminate 
„ „ linear or ribbon like 
Surface of frond densely scaly 
tenuifolium . 
aureum. 
latifolium. 
conforme. 
hybrid urn. 
Aubertii. 
spathulatum. 
Section Elaphoglossum, 
(elaphos, a stag; glossa, a tongue, from the shape of the fronds). 
Fronds simple. 
A conforme. 
Rhizome woody, wide creeping, densely clothed with large lanceolate 
browmish membranaceous scales, sometimes T inch long 1 line broad 
stipes 1— 12 inches long, firm, erect, stramineous, naked or slightly scaly: 
frond 2—9 inches long, \ to 2 inches broad, the point acute or bluntish, the 
base cuneate, or spatliulate, the edge cartilaginous, entire ; texture coria- 
ceous ; both sides naked or nearly so ; veins subparallel usually once forked : 
barren frond usually narrower than the fertile one, the edge indexed. This 
fern in Mr. Macken’s list w r as inserted under the name of A. viscosum, but 
on the authority of Rev. J. Buchanan lias been placed under the above 
name, we have never gathered it, and the specimens which we have, differ 
from the description of A. conforme, inasmuch as the fertile frond is consi- 
derably narrower than the barren one. 
A. latifolium. 
Rhizome thick, creeping and scaly; stipes 3—4 in. long, passing gradu- 
ally into the frond, which is 8 — 12 in. long, quite smooth and rounded at 
