8 
FERNS OF NATAL. 
tion of the fruit soon shews the difference. It is pinnate or bipinnate with 
linear or forked segments, each segment having one vein, and one sorus 
near the extremity ; the sori are half cup-shaped and sunk in the dilated 
apices of the segments. 
CYSTOPTERIS, 
f lcystos , a bladder; pterin, a fern). 
A genus of dwarf tufted ferns, distinguished by the sori being globose 
medial on the veins and covered with a hooded indusium, which is attached 
by its broad base at the back of the sorus, in the young state quite covering 
the capsules, but ultimately becoming reflexed and jagged at the edge. 
C fragilis, Brittle Bladder Fern. 
This our only species is indentieal with the English Bladder Fern. It 
is a small tufted fern with fronds 8 to 12 inches or more long, twice or 
thrice pinnate lanceolate in outline and delicate in texture ; the sori are 
usually numerous and sometimes confluent ; the indusium is best seen in 
the young specimens, as it is rapidly pushed aside by the growing capsules 
and is then very indistinct : the veins are free. It is found in the up- 
country districts, from Greytown to Drakensberg. 
L1NDSAYA. 
(In honor of Dr. Lindsay of Jamaica, a writer on mosses and ferns.) 
A genus of tropical ferns known by the peculiar character of their indu- 
sia, which are attached at their inner, and open along their outer margin 
the reverse of what occurs in Pteris, the capsules having the appearance 
of lying in a slit at the margin of the frond; the inner valve membranaceous, 
the outer formed of the edge of the frond. We have in Natal, but one species 
which belongs to the Section Schizoloma, which differs from the true 
Lindsaya only in having the veins netted instead of free. 
Section Schyzoloma, 
( scldzo , I cut; loma, a border or margin). 
L. ensifolia. 
(i ensis , a sword ; folium, a leaf). 
A simply pinnate fern with linear or lanceolate pinnte, all stalked, and, 
the barren ones slightly toothed ; the sori and indusium are continuous, 
along the margin ; and the veins copiously anastomosing. It is a coast 
fern, and is recognized at a glance by the peculiar indusium. 
ADIANTUM. 
(adiantos, dry, when plunged in water it comes out dry). 
This genus is remarkably distinct from every other, its peculiarity con- 
sisting in the attachment of the capsules to the frond. Usually the recep- 
tacles spring from some part of the frond or segment, the capsules being 
attached to the receptacle and covered by the indusium, but in Adiantum 
the receptacles are placed on the under surface of the indusium itself 
which is then inverted over the segment, so that the fructification is said 
to be resupinate or upside down ; a mode of fructification which occurs in 
no other genus of ferns. The species differ much in habit, and texture, and 
many of them are great favorites for cultivation. We have, but two 
species in Natal, but in the Transvaal there is one other, which Mr. 
Buchanan thinks may yet be found in the upper districts of Natal. It is 
simply pinnate, and not nearly so delicate in texture, as our other species, 
and it has its specific name, caudatum or tailed, from the fact that its fronds 
