12 
FERNS OF NATAL. 
of forty species, which are divided into 4 Sections, each of which is repre- 
sented in Natal. The first species belongs to the Section Cheiloplecton , 
distinguished by herbaceous texture, conspicuous venation and broad 
indusium ; the next three belong to the Section Allosorus distinguished 
by coriaceous texture, hidden veins, and broad conspicuous indusium, 
the next two belong to the Section Platyloma, with coriaceous texture ; 
usually, but not always hidden venation, and indusium so narrow that it 
is soon pushed aside and hidden by the growing capsules ; and the last to 
Holcochlcena which differs only from Platyloma , by its netted veins. 
Main rachis winged throughout 
Fertile fronds contracted, once pinnate 
Indusium intramarginal 
„ marginal, veins conspicuous 
„ „ stipes woollj’, veins indistinct, 
Frond slaty green; texture thick ,. „ 
Veins anastomosing 
geraniifolia. 
pectiniformis. 
consobrina. 
hastata. 
Bojeri. 
calomelanos. 
Burkeana. 
Section Cheiloplecton, 
(cheilos, a lip, plecton, folded). 
Texture, herbaceous, indusium broad. 
P. geraniifolia. 
A rather remarkable looking fern, found in dry parts of bush from the 
Coast inland to Maritzburg ; in general outline the shape of the frond is 
like the leaf of a geranium, hence the name; it usually has 3 or 4‘pinnae on 
each side, the lowest pair much the largest, and again branched ; the 
pinnules on its lower side larger than the others, and again cut like the 
others into oblong segments ; the main rachis is generally winged through- 
out, sometimes with small segments on each side between the pinnre ; 
stipes, rachis, and cost*, black and shining; sori broadish and generally 
confluent. It is a common tropical fern, and is also found in the United 
States of America. 
P. peetiniformis, Comb Fern. 
. ( pecten , a comb). 
A stiff hard looking fern with tufted stipites which are scaly below, and 
with numerous (20 to 30) pairs of linear pinnai on each side, spreading 
from the main rachis at almost right angles, and when fertile much con- 
tracted and appearing almost round, the rachis with whitish, or brown 
hairs, or scales ; the sori are confluent, and clearly within the margin. It 
is found in dry rocky places, generally exposed to the full blaze of the sun, 
and is not by any means common: the finest specimens we have yet seen 
are about 0 or 10 inches long, and were gathered on the face of exposed 
rocks overhanging the Umhloti. It was, we believe, first found in Natal 
by Mr. Hill of Verulam. 
P. consobrina. 
(consobrina, a cousin). 
A coarse looking fern, found only in the upper districts, and reaching to 
Noodsberg. The stipes and rachis are dark shining brown. It is 3 or 
sometimes 4 times pinnate, and the frond is triangular in general outline 
with the lower pinnae the largest and again branched, the pinnules on the 
lower side larger than the others, ultimate segments small, and linear 
oblong, and the indusium is fastened well within the margin, by which 
peculiarity it may be readily distinguished from P. hastata, some of the 
forms of which it closely resembles. 
