I IO 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
55. Pteris flabellata. Thunberg. 
Plate XLV. Frond reduced, b Barren pinnules natural size, 
c Fertile pinnules natural size. 
Crown erect or procumbent, paleaceous. Fronds of mature 
plants two to three-pinnate, deltoid, glabrous, two to four feet long, 
one and a half to three feet broad, on a strong, angular, slightly 
villose stipe, one to three feet long, and having a few scattered 
scales toward the base only. Pinnae eight to twelve opposite 
pairs, lanceolate, or simply pinnate, except the lower two to three 
pairs, which are deltoid, and have several similar but smaller 
pinnate pinnae on the lower, or on both sides, but longest on the 
lower side. Lowest pinnae often one and a half feet long, one foot 
broad at the base, with five to seven pairs of alternate pinnae ; 
those above simply pinnate on the upper side and toward the 
point, but with one to four pinnate pinnae on the lower side. 
Pinnules linear, one to two lines broad, one to two inches long, 
with suddenly decurrent base. Terminal pinna not different, and 
not much larger than others. Barren pinnae, and the barren points 
of fertile pinnae, strongly toothed, and wider than the fertile parts. 
Involucre continuous along most of the pinnule, narrow, fringed. 
Veins all free and once forked, more distant than in P. quadriau- 
rita. 
This splendid fern is one of the greatest ornaments of our 
forest scenery. Its light green foliage contrasts well with the dark 
foliage of the trees above, and as the fronds rise on stalks one to 
two feet long, then spread horizontally, they generally show their 
fine outline well above the undergrowth. The amount of cutting 
varies exceedingly ; sometimes the low r er pinnae are simply 
pinnate, while in other cases the lower two or three pairs of pinnae 
are very large and bi-pinnate for two-thirds of their length. The 
sori sometimes extend only along part of the pinnules, leaving the 
upper half barren and serrated ; but more frequently on old fertile 
plants the fronds have every edge covered all along with sori. 
When this condition occurs the plants are three to four feet 'high 
and broad, with an upright habit, and, of course, the sori make 
