128 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
Valley, near Bailey’s Grave. At the latter locality it is abundant 
near where Lomaria inflexa grows. 
Genus XVIII. — Asplenium. Linn. 
Sori linear or oblong, placed obliquely between the mid-rib 
and the margin, and covered by an indusium. This genus 
includes with us all ferns (except Blechnum and Actiniopteris) 
which have longish sori, not marginal, but covered by an indu- 
sium. It is a very large and widely distributed genus, containing 
several more or less natural sub-genera, of which three or four are 
represented in South Africa. All our species have free veins, but 
a few foreign species have them anastomosing. Most of the 
species are very beautiful, and many of them favourites in cultiva- 
tion, and easily grown. Some of the species vary excessively in 
cutting, and some of them even range into different sub-genera. 
Synopsis of the species : — 
§ Sori linear or oblong, straight, not marginal (Eu -asplenium, Bkr.). 
+ Frond simply pinnate, lanceolate, not more than two inches broad. 
66. A. Kraussii. Frond four to six inches long, one-half to three-quarter 
inch broad, not proliferous, but the plant bearing separate leafless, 
proliferous fronds. Pinnae sessile, sharply toothed. Rachis green, 
fragile. 
67. A. Sandersoni. Frond three to six inches long, one-half to three- 
quarter inch broad, proliferous at the apex. Pinnae stalked, with three 
to five blunt lobes. Rachis green. 
68. A. Trichomanes. Frond four to eight inches long, half-inch broad ; 
pinnae almost round, sessile, minutely toothed. Rachis black, not 
margined. 
69. A. ebeneum. Frond three to fifteen inches long, one-half to one and 
a half inches broad ; pinnae sessile, ovate or oblong, often auricled, 
serrate ; rachis black, not margined. Sori several on each side of the 
mid-rib. 
70. A. monanthemum. Frond one to two feet long, one-half to one and a 
half inches broad ; pinnae almost sessile, rhomboidal. Sori solitary 
along the lower edge. Rachis black, naked. 
tt Frond pinnate or two-pinnate, lanceolate, npt more than three inches 
broad. 
