Nephr odium. 
FILICES. 
499 
midrib into ligulate ascending entire lobes | in. broad ; lower pinnae 
distant and suddenly very much dwarfed. Veins pinnate in the 
secondary lobes, with 12-16 pairs of simple veinlets. Sori medial. In- 
volucre membranous, ciliated. Aspidium elaturn, Bojer, Hort. Maur. 
390. 
Var. N. mauritianum, Fee, Gen. Fil. 305. Pinnae narrower (f-1 
inch). Veinlets closer and more distinct. N. procerum, Baker in 
Hook, and Baker, Syn. Fil. edit. ii. 502. 
The typical form in Mauritius, in dense forests at Curepipe and Grand Bassin, 
Lady Barkly ! Also Natal. Of the variety we have a Mauritian specimen 
from Bojer, and Dr. Balfour has found it in Rodriguez. Also Bourbon. 
15. N. Arbuscula, Desv. ; Hook, and Baker, Syn. Fil. 292. Root- 
stock suberect ; scales linear, dark brown. Stipes tufted, very short, 
scaleless, pubescent. Frond oblong-lanceolate, simply pinnate, mem- 
branous, finely pilose, 1-1 \ foot long, 6-10 in. broad. Pinnae sessile, 
lanceolate, f — \ in. broad, shallowly obtusely lobed, parallel with the 
rachis, and auncled on the upper side at the base, cuneate on the lower 
side, many lower ones more distant and gradually dwarfed. Veins in 
pinnate groups, with 3-4 or in the auricle 5-6 pairs of simple veinlets. 
Sori minute, medial. Involucre membranous, fugacious. 
Mauritius, frequent in damp woods. Also Bourbon and Tropical Asia. 
16. N. molle. R. Br. ; Hook, and Baker. Syn. Fil. 293. Root- 
stock short-creeping ; scales small, brown, lanceolate. Stipes a foot 
long, scaleless, pubescent. Frond oblong-lanceolate, bipinnatifid, 1-2 
feet long, 6-10 in. broad, membranous, more or less pilose ; rachis 
pubescent, scaleless. Pinnae sessile, lanceolate, cut generally about 
half way down to the midrib into oblong obtuse entire lobes | in. 
broad ; many lower pinnae usually gradually dwarfed. Veins pinnate 
in the secondary lobes, with 6-8 pairs of simple distinct veinlets. Sori 
medial. Involucre membranous, pilose. 
Var. N. Hilsenbergii, Brest Tent. 81. A very membranous small 
pilose form, with acuminate pinnae under \ in. broad, cut nearly down 
to the rachis into lobes in. broad, the lowest pinnae deflexed, but 
hardly at all dwarfed. 
Mauritius, Rodriguez, and Seychelles, common in woods Very variable both in 
vestiture and the extent to which the lower pinme are dwarfed. In Mauritius there 
is every range from densely pilose to nearly glabrous forms. Spread through the 
warmer zones of both hemispheres. 
17. N. truncatum, Brest ; Hook, and Baker, Syn. Fil. 294. Root- 
stock suberect. Stipes naked, a foot or more long. Frond oblong- 
lanceolate, bipinnatifid, glabrous, membranous, 2-3 feet long, often a 
foot or more broad ; rachis glabrous, scaleless. Pinnae lanceolate, 
sessile, f-1 in. broad, cut about halfway down to the midrib into entire 
oblong obtuse or truncate lobes ^ in. broad ; lowest pinnae suddenly 
dwarfed. Veins pinuate in the secondary lobes, with 6-8 pairs of 
2 k 2 
