158 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 23, 1883. 
that he has acquired, in a considerable degree, that accuracy of dis¬ 
crimination and observation which distinguishes the best practical 
botanists. In reference to these, however, it is remarked in the preface 
that they were “ compiled in India without access to libraries or to any 
herbarium with typical specimen. He has now had the advantage of 
goiDg thoroughly through the Wallichian Ferns at the Linnagan, the 
large collections at Kew and in the British Museum, and of comparing 
his own collections with typical forms, and he is besides indebted to 
Messrs. Baker & Clarke, especially in the determination of all critical 
forms, so that he has been able, he believes, to clear up many doubts 
and to correct many errors.” This last production may therefore be 
taken to be as reliable as the careful labour of a competent observer 
can make it, and after full examination of it we can only express our 
unqualified approval of it in this respect. 
About 700 species and varieties are fully described, 500 pages being 
devoted to this and 800 excellent plates (woodcuts), which would alone 
render the book a most welcome addition to the pteridologists’ library. It 
is modestly described as a digest of the information in Sir W. Hooker’s 
“ Species Filicum ” and “ Synopsis Filicum,” Mr. J\ Smith’s “ Historia 
Filicum,” and the other works of Col. Beddome himself and Mr. Clarke. 
The descriptions of sub-orders, tribes, and genera are mostly the same as 
those in the “ Synopsis Filicum,” and the characters of the species are 
also only slightly modified, a few being original, and some having been 
taken entire from the “ Synopsis ” above mentioned. The general order 
of arrangement is also the same, with the exception that most of the 
sections of genera or sub-genera are raised to the rank of genera. For 
example—Humata, Leucostegia, Microlepia, and Stenoloma are all 
described by Col. Beddome as genera ; while in the “ Synopsis Filicum ” 
they are merely sections of the genus Davallia. Again, Athyrium, 
Diplazium, Anisogonium, and Hemidictyum are separately treated in one 
work, while they are arranged under Asplenium in the other ; similar 
instances occurring with the Polypodiums, which, according to Hooker 
and Baker, include Goniopteris, Dictyopteris, and Goniophlebium, while 
Beddome raises these to distinct genera. This is a matter perhaps of 
small moment, and possibly is an advantage rather than otherwise in a 
work of this character, especially where the number of species is small in 
the several sections, and often the difference in habit is very great and 
striking when the characters of the fructification are so nearly alike that 
they can be scarcely separated. 
The geographical limits assigned to the work comprise British India, 
Ceylon, and the Malay Peninsula—a most extensive and fertile portion of 
the globe, and which in certain portions and to great elevations abounds 
in members of the great family Filices. Not only are the strictly native 
Ferns abundant, but we there find many of our own British species 
sharing the soil with their tropical allies, and strange 
indeed it must seem to the traveller from England who 
first observes the common Bracken growing as vigorously 
under the torrid zone as in our temperate climate. Many 
other well-known British Ferns also appear in these regions, 
and among them the following may be briefly noted 
Adiantum Capillus-Veneris is found in the Madras Presi¬ 
dency on the west side, and is common on banks of rivers, 
in the plains, and up to 5000 feet on the mountains, also 
in Ceylon and Northern India. Several Aspleniums are 
similarly abundant. A. Tricbomanes is found at Kulhatty, 
on the Nilgherries, in the Himalayas from Kashmir to 
Kumaon at 5000 to 10,000 feet elevation. A. septen- 
trionale grows in Northern India at Kashmir from 9000 to 
12,000 feet above the sea level, and at Gurwhal at 8000 feet. 
The Wall Rue, A. Ruta-muraria, is found in Kashmir, as 
also is A. Adiantum nigrum up to 8000 feet. Athyrium 
Filix-foemina, with seven varieties, is chiefly confined to 
the Himalayas at elevations varying from 6000 to 15,000 
feet. The Male Fern, Lastrea Filix-mas, is found through¬ 
out the Indian region, but generally confined to the 
mountains at great elevations. The Royal Fern, Osmunda 
regalis, is, says Colonel Beddome, chiefly wild in “ South 
India, common on the western mountains at the higher 
elevations, North India, Kumaon, Bhotan, and Khasya at 
4000 to 6000 feet elevation. It is usually small, the fertile 
and barren fronds separate.” Lastly, the Adder’s Tongue 
Ophioglossum vulgatum, is a native of Sikkim, Goke, at 
4000 feet above the sea, at Runjait Camp and below 
Darjeeling, at 2000 feet elevation. 
Genera typical of India are not numerous, but some are 
strongly represented, and amongst them Asplenium, Chei- 
lanthes, Davallia, Hymenophyllum, Lastrea, Nephrodium, 
Pleopeltis, Pteris, and Trichomanes are the most notable. 
Eleven Hymenophyllums are enumerated, and of these 
several, such as H. parvifolium, tenellum, exsertum, Simon- 
sianum, and Levingii, are confined to the districts in¬ 
cluded in the scope of this work ; others that are more 
widely distributed are H. polyanthos, H. javanicum, and 
H. ciliatum, the two latter being also found in New Zea¬ 
land. Nineteen Trichomanes are described as natives of 
India, the principal indigenous species being exiguum, 
neilgherrense, Henzaianum, Kifrzii, intramarginale, and 
birmanicum. .Thirty-eight Aspleniums are mentioned, 
twenty Diplaziums, twelve Aspidiums, forty-six Lastreas, 
nineteen Nephrodiums, eighteen Polypodiums, thirteen 
Niohobolus, and thirty-five Pleopeltis. The charming 
little Cheilanthes may almost be considered typical Indian 
Ferns, the former comprising twelve species, of which 
mvsorensis, fragilis, varians, subvillosa, albo-marginata, 
rufa, and argentea are either solely Indian or at least 
confined to Asia. Several of these are most graceful 
and attractive with their delicately powdered silver and 
golden fronds, but unfortunately they are found very 
difficult to manage satisfactorily under cultivation. 
As already stated the illustrations are admirable, most 
accurately and delicately executed, with enlarged repre¬ 
sentations of fertile pinnae or pinnules and the sori. A 
defect, however, is noticeable—namely, that the proportion 
of the figure to the plant is not stated, though of course 
this can be ascertained by reference to the descriptions 
where the size of frond and height of the plant are men¬ 
tioned ; still it would have been an advantage if it had accompanied the 
plates, as most of them are greatly reduced. As examples of the 
descriptions and plates we have selected two—namely, Doryopteris ludens 
and Drymoglossum piloselloides, both interesting and curious species. 
DORYOPTERIS [J. Smith). 
[Dory, spear ; pteris , form of the fronds.) 
Fronds small, sub-pedate or sagittate, in texture and colour like Pellsea ; 
veins copiously anastomosing, without free included veinlets ; the rest as in 
Pteris. 
1, Doryopteris ludens [Wall .).— Rhizome creeping, furnished with 
linear adpressed brown scales which have white margins ; stipes solitary 
distant, polished, sometimes with a few scales, and often with dusky sub- 
tomentose pubescence at base and apex ; barren frond on a stipe 3 to 4 inches 
long, triangular with two slightly deflexed basal lobes, to hastate with two 
N"ST. 
1 4 S CAT TT.i L R.C C Crr.rr;, 
Fig 28.— Doryopteris ludens. 
