30 
FERNS OF NATAL. 
veinlets, and also by tlie fronds being covered with a thick felt of whitish 
hairs. 6th. Phymatodes, with compoundly anastomosing veins and free 
divaricate veinlets, but differing from the last section by its fronds not 
being covered with stellate hairs. The Sections Cyrtomiphlebium, Dictyo- 
pteris, Grammitis , Phlebodium, Campyloneurum and Drynaria are not re- 
presented in Natal. The genus contains nearly 400 species, very widely 
distributed and differing considerably both in habit and venation. Some 
of the American polypodies are said to possess powerful medicinal properties 
and are used as antirheumatics, febrifuges, &c. In old times the English 
polypodies were also supposed to be valuable as medicines, Culpepper in 
the “English Physician,” says, in describing the Polypody that “it is of 
“ a sad green colour and smooth on the upper side, but on the other 
“side somewhat rough by reason of some yellowish spots set thereon. 
“ That which groweth upon the oak is accounted the best , and why, I 
“ pray, must Polypodium of the oak only be used, gentle College of Pliysi- 
“ cians? Can you give me but the glimpse of a reason for it? Is it only 
“ because it is dearest ? Will you never leave your covetousness till your 
“ lives leave you ? The truth is, that which groweth upon the ground is 
“best ( 'tis an herb of Saturn, and he seldom climbs trees) to purge 
“melancholy; if the humour be otherwise, choose you Polypodium 
*' accordingly.” 
Veins free, 
Pinnate or pinnatifid, naked 
„ „ „ densely scaly 
Veins simply joining, 
Sori small, marginal 
„ „ medial, frond often branching 
,, close to main veins, gemmiferous 
Veins irregularly anastomosing. 
Frond simple, densely woolly 
„ „ with small scattered scales 
„ „ oblong lanceolate, naked 
„ oval, small, rhizome densely scaly 
„ oblong, sori large, irregular, but in two rows 
„ strap-shaped, sori small, scattered 
„ pinnatifid, scented 
vulgare. 
inoanum. 
obtusilobum. 
prolifenim. 
unitum. 
Africanum. 
lanceolatum. 
Schraderi. 
lycopodioides. 
nor male. 
irioi les. 
phymatodes. 
Section Phegopteris, 
Veins free, stems not jointed. 
P. obtusilobum. 
A native of the upper and midland districts reaching as low as Inanda. 
Its stipites are tufted, fronds from 1 to 2 feet long, with numerous pinnae 
on each side, which aie divided nearly down to the rachis, into oblong 
entire lobes rounded at the apex, the pinnae terminating like the frond in 
an acute pinnatifid point; veins pinnate, conspicuous; sori small and 
near margin of segments ; rachis and both surfaces more or less hairy. 
This fern has been considered to be a variety of Nephrodium conterminum, 
but at present stands under the present name as explaiued by Mr. 
Buchanan in his Revised List. 
Section Goniopteris, 
(gonium, an angle ; pteris, a fern). 
Venules joining, and without any free veinlets. 
