Descriptions of the Species. 
°3 
rachis pointing upward so as nearly to meet. Frond glabrous on 
both surfaces, firmly herbaceous, glaucous, and with the brown or 
nearly black rachis and stipe almost destitute of scales, except at 
the base. It is not unlike P. calomelanos, and has been passed by 
high authorities from dried specimens as a variety of that fern ; 
but the stipe is not so black, nor the texture so coriaceous, and as 
the fronds get old their connection with P. hastata becomes more 
apparent. 
There are two forms of it, often growing together, which in 
their extremes might well be set down as distinct species, but 
they run into one another, and the larger one approaches the 
ordinary P. hastata, though generally distinguishable. Its close 
connection with P. involuta has been noticed under that species. 
The smaller form is seldom more than four inches high, quite 
deltoid, and glaucous, and with the small pinnules meeting above 
the rachis, and cut into decurrent lobes. The larger form is 
generally over six inches and under twelve inches in height, not so 
glaucous, and with pinnules not so much lobed, but sometimes 
cut again into distinct oval segments. 
P. hastata, Link, var. glauca, Sim, Kaff. Ferns. 
Pteris adiantoides. Bory. 
This form grows on the top of nearly bare rock or among 
stones. 
East. — Bellerne, near Bedford (Holland). 
Kaff. — S.W. of King William’s Town, Izeli, Mount Coke, &c. 
Natal. — (Buchanan), Matebeleland (Fry), Damaraland at Okahandja 
(Marloth). 
49. Pellea leucomelas. Baker. 
(Not seen. Description translated from Kuhn, Fil. Afr., p. 83). 
“ Rhizome short, densely set with black keeled scales. Frond 
thick, green above, paler below, glabrous. Petiole paleaceo- 
setose at the base, one inch long, like the rachis ebeneous 
shining ; upper surface of the rachis depressed or channelled 
margined. Frond five inches long, ovate-oblong, two-pinnate. 
