56 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
well as by having the margin of the pinnules quite destitute of 
teeth. It also has a narrow green edging or wing down the side 
of the rachis, though this disappears in the lower part, and the 
slender rhizomes are matted with short black shag. It is seldom 
in such dense masses as the Hymenophyllum, has more widely 
spreading lhizomes, and grows among moss, on stones, trees, and 
on the ground in every damp part of the forest. When young the 
involucre is often compressed and the edges folded together so as 
to be two lipped, and this is occasionally seen in older specimens 
when it comes to be T. filicula Bory, but these specimens are 
otherwise identical with T. pyxidiferum. In the “Synopsis 
Filicum,” where the two are maintained as distinct species, both 
widely distributed, the Cape is given as a locality for each. Pappe 
and Rawson find T. filicula the common plant, and T. pyxidi- 
ferum from Natal only. In other countries they may be distinct, 
but I agree with Lady Barkly and Buchanan in recognising only 
one species, and not even two good varieties, in South Africa. 
Kuhn also does so, but considers it distinct from T. pyxidiferum, 
Linn., and calls it T. melanotrichum, Schl. 
T. pyxidiferum, Linn. Pappe and Rawson, 45 ; Hk. and Bkr. Syn. Fil. 81. 
T. melanotrichum, Schl. Adum. 56 ; Kunze, Linnsea, 10-74 J Pappe and 
Rawson, 45. 
In moist close places, on trees and rocks throughout most 
tropical and sub-tropical countries, abundant in Natal and Eastern 
District, more rare West. 
West. — Grenadendal (P. and R.), Plettenberg Bay (Mund). 
East. — Abundant at Grahamstown, Bedford, &c. 
Kaff. — Plentiful throughout the forest region, Transkei (Bowker). 
Natal. — Inanda (Dr. Rehmann, 8194), Umpumulo (Buchanan), common 
in the Midland and Upper district (M‘Ken). 
Transvaal, Macamac, and Pilgrim’s Rest (M‘Lea. and Herb. Bolus. 3019). 
12. Trichomanes rigidum. Sw. 
Plate VII. Nat. size, b pinnule, enlarged, c involucre, enlarged. 
Rhizome short, stout, set with lanceolate dark scales, and with 
the fronds more or less tufted, three pinnate or four pinnatifid, 
dark "green, and leathery in texture. Stalk three to six inches 
