134 
The Ferns of South Africa . 
A. Trichomanes. Linn. Sp. pi. 154 ° 5 Kunze, Linnsea, 13 ; Schk, Fil. 
pi. 74 : Pappe and Rawson, 19 ; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 118 ; Hk. and Bkr. 
Syn. Fil. 196. 
Widely distributed in temperate regions, but in South Africa 
very rare, and generally over 4000 feet alt. 
West. — Swellendam (Drege), Dutoit’s Kloof (Drege). 
East. — Bedford (Atherstone), Bellerne (Holland), near Graaffreinet (Bolus 
577), Boschberg (MacOwan). 
Kaff. — Winterberg (E. and Z.), Witbergen (Kunze). 
Natal. — Mooi River only (Wood, Buchanan). 
69. Asplenium ebeneum. Aiton. 
Plate LXII. Fig. 1. Nat. size of small plant, b. Pinna. 
Crown tufted or procumbent, slightly paleaceous. Frond 
lanceolate, three to fifteen inches long, one-half to one and a half 
inches broad, not proliferous, simply pinnate, tapering to the point, 
and with the lower pinnae approximate and reduced; firmly 
herbaceous or sub-coriaceous, light'green or glaucous, with a short 
stipe. Stipe and rachis naked, black, and polished, not edged 
with green. Pinnae sessile, and connected only by the mid-rib ; 
ovate or oblong ; two to three lines broad, one quarter to one inch 
long, finely serrate ; rounded at the point, often cordate at the 
base, or auricled on the upper side ; the auricle overlapping the 
stipe. Upper pinnae more widely adnate, decurrent on the lower 
side ; pinnae where not auricled nearly equal sided, with the mid- 
rib near the centre. Veins pinnate, forked. Sori six to twenty to 
a pinna, in two lines, short, oblique. 
When young or small hardly distinguishable from A. Tricho- 
manes, but when both are mature and strong they are quite 
distinct. 
A. ebeneum. Ait. Hort. Kew III. 462 ; Kze., Linnsea, 13; Pappe and 
Rawson, 19 ; Kuhn, Fil. Afr. 101 ; Hk. and Bkr. Syn. Fil. 198. 
America, and South Africa. In South Africa generally over 
2000 feet alt.; growing on steep rocky banks, under small bush. 
