FERNS OF NATAL. 
commonly decompound, and bearing the fruit in little cysts or cup3 at the 
termination of the segments ; differing from Trichomanes or Hymenophyllum , 
)y the fact that its receptacle is punctiform and contained within the 
ndusium, and also became of the firmer texture of the fronds. D. Cana- 
densis is the fern which is cultivated in greenhouses under the name of the 
Hare’s-foot. We have in Natal 3 species of this genus, the first of which, 
belongs to Davallia proper or Eu-Davallia, the second to the Section 
MicroUpia, distinguished by its intramarginal sori and semi-orbicular or 
short, and half cup-shaped indusia; and the third to the Section 
Loxoscaphe, from the oblique and sublateral position of the sori. 
Rhiz. creeping, sori large, marginal, nitidula. 
,, „ ,, small, intramarginal Speluncce. 
St. tufted bipinnate thecifera. 
Section Eu-davallia. 
( Eu, well or good). 
Indusium coriaceous, semicvlindrical or half cup-shaped, attached at sides 
and base. 
D. nitidula, 
( nitidula , slightly smooth or shining). 
One of the most elegant of our Natal ferns; it is found creeping upon 
rocks and trees under slight shade, but sometimes in crevices of open and 
dry rocks, its fronds are 3 or 4 times pinnate, and the sori are large and 
occupy the whole of the point of the segment. It is very similar in appear- 
ance to the Hare’s-foot. 
It is found in the coast bush, also at Umzinyati falls, and at Umlaas 
and in one or two other places, but is not common. 
Section Microlepia, 
(mikros small, lepis a scale). 
Indusium membranaceous, shallowly half cup-shaped, attached at sides 
and base. 
D. spelunca, 
(spelunca, a cave or dense thicket). 
A fern we have not been fortunate enough to meet with. It has only been 
found we believe in two places in the Colony, near head of the Bay and at 
Umpumulo. St. strong, 12-18 in. long ; fr. 3-6 in. lg. 12-24 in. broad, deltoid 
tri-or quadri-pinnatifid ; lower pinnae 6-12 in. long, 3 4 in. broad, ovate 
lanceolate ; pinnules lanceolate, cut down to the rachis, below into oblong 
deeply toothed lobes , texture herbaceous ; rachis and under surface hairy; 
veins beneath neither prominent nor rigid ; sori 2-20 to a segment, placed 
one or more together at the base of the lobes. 
Section Loxoscaphe, 
( loxos , oblique ; scaphe, a boat). 
Indusium suborbicular, or cup-shaped, attached at sides and base. 
D. thecifera, 
(theca, a sac ; fero, I bear). 
Upon old trees, from Inanda inland this fern, is found in abundance. It 
has much the general appearance of the Carrot fern, ( Asplenium rutaefolium ) 
and is in fact closely connected with the Section Darta, but an examina 
