4 
FERNS OF NATAL. 
Section Mertensia or Mecosorcs. 
Ultimate segments oblong, much longer than in the preceding Section. 
G. umbraculifera, Umbrella Fern. 
(Umbraculum, a parasol or umbrella; fero, I bear). 
A fern of the up-country districts, found usually near springs and at the 
margin of bush, it is rather a coarse looking fern, its pinnae bend over in 
all directions like an umbrella, hence the name; its stipes and rachis are 
woolly or hairy, forked and fanshaped ; the segments narrowly linear 
with sori near the margin. It is found plentifully on the Great and 
Little Noodsberg. 
C* 
G. dichotoma. 
Lately found by Rev. J Buchanan, near Umpumulo. It fronds have 
much the appearance of those of G. Polypndioiden , but are much 
larger, and it bears a pair of small pinme at every place where the branches 
fork; the segments are linear and elongated and bear the fruit on each 
side of the midrib, on the surface and not sunk in a cavity as in the first 
species. It is a common fern in the tropical and subtropical regions of 
the Southern Hemisphere and is said to yield starch, and is used in some 
countries as an article of food. Its stems are used by the Brazilian 
negroes to form tubes for their pipes. 
Sub-Order 2. 
POLYPODIACE^E. 
This suborder is distinguished by the presence of a jointed elastic ring 
which surrounds the capsule, and by the contraction of which the capsule 
is torn open at maturity. In this suborder the ring is sometimes more or 
less oblique, but never horizontal as in the last division. It includes by 
far the greater part of all known ferns, and is divided into 58 Genera, 27 
of which are represented in Natal. 
CYATHEA Dregei , common Tree Fern. 
( Kyathos, a cup, from the form of Indusium). 
In the up-country districts, from 8 or 10 miles from the sea to the 
Drakensberg, this fern is found in abundance, with a trunk (caudex) 
sometimes 15 feet high, and noble head of fronds each 4 to 10 feet long 
and 2 feet or more broad. Wherever it is found it gives quite a tropical 
aspect to the scenery. Its fronds are twice or sometimes thrice pinnate ; 
the segments sessile and covered beneath with brown matted hairs, having 
the appearance of spider’s web, aud therefore said to be arachnoid. The 
sori are plentiful, placed on each side of the midrib; and the indusium 
is cup-shaped with an irregular margin. Our species is named in honor 
of Drege, a German botanist. The first plant grown in England were sent 
to Kew by the late Mr. J. Plant, but it is now often found in cultivation as 
it bears the journey well, provided it is sent at the right season, and 
sufficient care be taken in the packing. 
HEMITELIA Gapensis. 
A splendid Tree Fern, having stem 12-14 feet high and ample tripinnate 
fronds of thinnish texture. The venation is simple, one vein being carried 
into each tooth ; the receptacle is large and prominent ; the sori quite 
close to the midrib, but what distinguishes it from all other ferns is the 
