FERNS OF NATAL. 
23 
A f urea turn. 
St. tufted, 4-8 in. long, firm, erect, clothed with deciduous woolly hairs ; 
frond 6-18 in. long, 4-6 in broad, with 12-20 pinnae on each side, which ar« 
lanceolate, deltoid in general outline, 2-3 in. long f-1 in. broad, cut down 
throughout nearly or quite to the rachis into linear cuneate pinnules, which 
are sharply serrated on the outer edge; texture coriaceous; rachis firm, 
erect, more or less fibrillose like the stem ; veins deep channelled ; sori 
linear, radiant. It is found plentifully in the upper districts and is best 
distinguishes from A. cuneatum by its fibrillose lachis, and longer and 
narrower division. The variety tripinnatum which is found about Noods- 
berg, was once thought to be A. laserpitiifolium it is found always on the 
ground or on stones, and never we believe upon trees. 
A, varians. 
A small tufted growing fern found under damp rocks and on trees in the 
itpper and midland districts, the fronds are not usually more than 6 to 8 
inches long, and are borne upon a naked stipes ; they have 8 to 12 pinnae 
on each side, which are again divided into wedge shaped segments, which 
are very sharped toothed at the outer edge ; one vein is carried into each 
tooth ; The sori are copious and often confluent, covering whole under 
surface of pinnules ; indusium opening at inner margin. 
Section Darea. 
A, brachypteron. 
( brachys , short ; pteron, a wing). 
A small tufted fern of the midland districts found in very damp shady 
ravines, on rocks and trees: its fronds are sometimes 1 foot or more long, 
and are borne on a naked stipes with usually a few brown scales at the 
base ; and have 12 to 25 pinnae on each side, the largest of which are near 
the middle of the frond, towards the base they are rather smaller while 
the apex ends in a pinnatifid point ; the pinnae are again divided into 
linear or forked segments which are more numerous on the upper side ; 
the sori are plentiful, but not more than one to each segment. It is often 
gemmiferous. 
A. rutcefolium, 
(. Ruta , rue ; folium, a leaf). 
Generally called in Natal the Carrot Fern: it is found in bush all over the 
Colony, and is a fine tufted fern, with fronds sometimes 2 feet or more long, 
which are borne on a naked green stipes, it has 12 to 20 pinnae on each 
side, the lowest of which are deltoid, and the upper ones lanceolate, the 
largest pinnate with lanceolate pinnules which are again divided into 
narrow linear segments, the pinnules nearest the main rachis on the upper 
side are the largest, erect and parallel, forming an upright row of pinnules 
on each side of the rachis, which are very conspicuous in fine specimens, 
the lowest pinnules on the under side are wanting; sori not more than 
one in each segment, oblique and nearty marginal, opening along the outer 
edge. In very fine specimens the segments are usually so narrow as to 
give the frond the appearance of a series of winged veins bearing fruit near 
the extremity, 
A. Thunbergii. 
(In honor of Thunberg, a Swedish botanist). 
A Fern as yet found only in Natal, it grows in similar localities, and 
often or perhaps generally in company, with A. brachypteron which it 
somewhat resembles; it is a tufted fern with naked stipes, and 12 to 25 
spreading pinnae on each side, which are ovate or lanceolate in general 
