H 
FERNS OF NATAL. 
HYPOLEPIS, 
(hypo under, lepis a scale). 
A genus nearly related to the next in order, Chrilanthes, and not 
easy to distinguish technically from it. It differs in habit and aspect, and 
also in the position of the sori, which are placed in the sinuses of the 
frond ; and also bv the usually creeping character of the rhizome The 
Genus contains only 11 species, 10 of which belong to the Section Eu-Hy- 
po/eis, the remaining one forming the Section Aspidotis ; our two species 
are included in the first Section. 
Rhizome creeping, stems smooth anthriscifoUa. 
St. tufted hairy, zigzag, Beryiana. 
H. anthriseifolia, 
( anthriseus, an umbelliferous plant, folium a leaf ). 
This plant has at first sight much the appearance of the common brake, 
and is no doubt often mistaken for it. It grows in ravines and under 
slight shade, and often reaches 8 ft. or more in height, its rhizome is 
creeping, sending up fronds at intervals, which are tri-or quadri-pinnate ; 
the ultimate segments small, oblong, and deeply toothed, with sori in the 
lower sinuses ; the texture of the frond is very thin, and its under surface 
slightly hairy. It is a good fern for cultivation, and grows with little 
attention, but in transplanting care must be taken to preserve the growing 
point of the rhizome, and this applies to all ferns with creeping rhizome. 
It is found in the midland districts from Inanda to Maritzburg. 
H. Beryiana. 
Very different in appearance from the last, the stipes and rachises are 
densely hairy, the rachis zig-zag, strong, wiry ; the frond quadripinnate ; the 
segments oblong ; the whole under surface of the frond more or less hairy ; 
the sori are small, and placed in the sides of the segments, generally very 
copious. It is found in the drier parts of bush from the coast to Maritz- 
burg or a little beyond. This plant and II. caUfornica differ from all others 
of the genus by not having a creeping rhizome, and it should therefore in 
our opinion be included with II. californica in the Section Aspidotis. 
CHEILANTHES, Ltp Ferns. 
(chcilos, a lip, anthos, a flower). 
A mentis not far removed technically from the last, and having also 
considerable affinity with Nothochlama. The distinguishing character 
of the genus consists in its producing small, punetiform sori at the ends of 
the veins, and therefore close to the margin of the frond, the margin being 
reflexed or bent over the capsules, and thus forming the indusium, which 
is generally roundish and distinct, but sometimes confluent. The genus 
contains upwards of 50 species, and is divided into 4 Sections, Eu-Chei- 
lanthes and Adiantopsis, to which our species belong, and Physapteris and 
Ateuritopteris which are not represented in Natal. We have three species, 
two of which are common, while the third C. Capensis, though 
common in the Cape Colony is here more rare, being in fact confined to 
one locality, and we have not yet met with it. Mr. Buchanan mentions 
another species, G. pteroidcs which appears to have been collected by 
Gueinzius only, we therefore take the description of it and C. Gapenm from 
the Synopsis Filicum. 
Frond hairy liirta 
„ naked ; stipes tufted, multifida. 
„ „ indusium ciliated Caprnse. 
