184 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
others being cut halfway to the mid-rib or more into blunt almost 
entire or crenated lobes, with reflexed edges. Sori abundant, 
below the sinus or near the mid-rib ; indusium persistent A 
South African fern only, growing in exposed places, and sometimes 
difficult to distinguish from N. Filix-mas, elongatum, when the 
latter is growing exposed to the sun. The more coriaceous 
texture, and the absence of sharp teeth, are the best marks. The 
lower lobe of the pinnule is generally larger on the upper side 
than the corresponding one on the lower side. This fern is called 
by the natives “ Inkomokomo,” and the rhizomes are said to be 
used as a vermifuge for the cure of tapeworm. 
Nephrodium athamanticum. Hk. Sp. IV. 125, pi. 258 ; Hk. and Bkr. 
Syn. Fil. 277. 
Aspidium athamantica. Kunze, Linnsea, 18.123. 
Lastrea athamanticum. Pappe and Rawson, 13. 
Lastrea Plantii. Moore, in Hk. Jour. Bot. V. 227. 
Kaff. — Bazija (Baur), St. John’s River (Holland). 
Natal. — From Inanda inland (Wood), in most parts of the colony 
(Buchanan), Camperdown, Pine Town, Maritzburg (M‘Ken), Moore 
River (Gueinzius). 
Transvaal. — Macamac (M‘Lea), Magalisbergen (Sanderson). 
109. Nephrodium Buchanani. Baker. 
Plate CIII. Natural size. 
Crown sub-erect, paleaceous. Frond firmly herbaceous, three- 
pinnate or four-pinnatifid, deltoid, one to three feet long, one to 
two feet broad, with a stipe one foot long, which is densely set 
with reflexed, lanceolate, pointed, dark scales toward the base, 
while the upper part, as well as the rather rigid rachis and secon- 
dary rachises, are set with spreading or reflexed hair-like dark 
scales, which are smaller upward. Lowest pinnae largest, and with 
the lower side larger than the upper ; other pinnae almost equal 
sided, tapering slowly from a base three inches broad. Pinnules 
ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, cut to the mid-rib below into oblique, 
oblong, obtuse segments, which are entire, or the lower ones 
