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FERN8 OF NATAL. 
N. ineequale. 
A common fern all over the Colony from close to the sea to far inland- 
some of its forms are not easily distinguished from N. athamanticum, the 
chief difference appears to be that its pinnae are imbricated, and the 
segments are serrated and spiny. The sori are large, near the midrib, and 
the indusium is large and persistent. 
N. Buchanani, 
(In honor of Rev. J. Buchanan, late of Durban). 
Fronds tufted ; stipes densely scaly at the base; scales large, lanceolate, 
dark brown ; rachis hairy ; bipinnate; lower pinnae largest ; pinnules 
lanceolate, cut down to the rachis into oblong rounded segments; edge 
entire ; veins pinnate in the lobes ; sori close to the midrib ; indusium 
small. Mr. Buchanan says of this fern that it is, while growing covered 
with long hairs, strikingly transparent in the sunlight, but quickly dis- 
appearing in the process of drying. We have not met with this plant, and 
have seen but one dried specimen, and from it this description is taken. 
It is found at Nottingham, Zwartkop and Karkloof. 
N. catopteron, 
(kata, beneath ; pteron, a wing). 
This is by far the largest plant of the family we have in Natal, its fronds 
with stipes often attaining a length of 6 or 7 feet or even more. It is 
bipinnate, with oblong lanceolate pinnae, the lower ones much the largest, 
with the pinnules on the lower side compound ; the segments are oblong, 
and pinnatifid ; the whole frond woolly and soft to the touch, the sori are 
copious, about half-way between the midrib and the margin ; indusium 
persistent. It is found in shady places and near streams from Inanda 
inland. 
Eo-Nephrodtum. 
In our species, tho lower veinlets of each contiguous segment joining 
together, and forming at their junction a sterile veinlet, which runs in the 
direction of the margin of the pinna, and terminates between the two 
segments; sometimes there is but one series of anastomosing veinlets, 
sometimes more. 
N. unitum. 
A coarse, coriaceous fern with black, creeping, scaly, subterranean 
rhizome; stipes naked; frond pinnate; pinnae stalked, cut down about 
haltway to the rachis into numerous close, entire, triangular lobes; lower 
pinnae as large as the others ; veins pinnate ; sori copious, in two regular 
rows, one on each side of the midrib, near to, and following the outline of 
the margin of the lobes ; indusium small, soon falling off. Common in 
marshes on the coast. In the “Ferns of Natal” by the late Mr. McKen. 
this species and the next are said to have their capsules naked, i. e. 
without bristles or hairs, some species of the genus found in other 
countries having their capsules setose or bristly. 
N. molle, 
( mollis , soft.) 
A tufted fern with fronds 8 feet or more long. The stipes is slender 
pinnae numerous, lanceolate, ending in an acute point, and cut halfway 
down to the midrib into blunt lobes, the lower pinnae shorter than the 
others ; sori numerous, distinct from each other, but sometimes almost 
covering the under surface of the lobes; indusium large, persistent. Found 
on the coast and in the midland districts, and often confused with N. 
Bergianum, which fern it very closely resembles. 
