1 N'í
Ikl
Fronds herbaceo-membranaceous, annual proliferous bi-tri-quadri-piiinatifid dimorphous ; segments of the fertile ones linear,
revolute siliquiform. Rhizome short, erect. Aquatic ferns. (Moore).
Ceralopteris thalictroides (Brougn). Fronds bi-pinnate, the fertile ones erect, 6 inches to 1 foot higl], with linear acute segments
I to 1 inch long ; the margins revolute and covering the fructification their whole length. Barren fronds shorter and more spreading, the
segments cuneate -with 2-3 oblong or lanceolate lobes, of a soft half-succulent texture. Benlham, Hongkong flo ra , p. 443—Parkeria
pteridioides, Ilook. Exot. FI. t. 147 and 231 ;—
Common in swampy places, in the plains and sub-alpiue jungles.
PLATE No. LXXV.
TRIBE 7. OSMUNDINEÆ.
O sm u n d a , L in n oe u s , Qen. P la n t, 778.
(Aphyllocarpa, Cavanilles ;—Struthiopteris, Bernhardi ;—Plenasium, Presl. ; Osmundastrum, Presl. ; Riedlea, .Mirbel in pari.)
Fructifications paniculate, terminal or lateral on contracted rachiform portions of fronds, or occupying distinct contracted fronds.
Spore-cases crowded on the margins or over the surface of the segmeuts, ohovate-globose, pedicillate or sessile, having an incomplete or
I'udimentary gibbous ring, (represented by a few parallel striæ) near the apex and bursting vertically in two equal hemispherical valves.
Veins forked from a central costa ; venules free.
Fronds coriaceous or herbaceous, piunate or bi-pinnate, the pinnæ or segments often articulate ; fertile segments contracted
usually rachiform, simple or compound, terminal, medial or basal on the fronds, or sometimes occupying distinct contracted fronds.
Rhizome caudiciform or tufted. (Moore).
1. Osmunda regalis (Linn.) Fronds twice pinnate, 1 to several feet high, quite glabrous ; barren segments oblong-lanceoiate
I to 2 inches long, serrulate, or nearly entire, very oblique at the base. Fertile segments linear ^ to 1 inch long, forming a terminal
panicle above the baiTen branches. Benlham Hongkong, f l . p . 440.—0 . Japónica, Thumb. FI. Jap. 330.
Most abundant on the banks of rivers and streams on the Nilgiris and other high mountains
deucy. (Called “ The Royal Fern.”)
PLATE No. LXXVI.
I the western side of the pre.si-
2. Osmimda Javanica (Blume) Fronds 1 to 2 feet high or more, glabrous, simply pinnate. Barren segments linear or Uiiear-
knceolate 3 to 6 inches long, entire or more or less deeply serrate. Fertile pinnæ occupying the centre, or rarely the base or summit of
the frond, each pinna pinnatifid or almost pinnate, with numerous globular or oblong segments (or clusters of spore cases) Benlham
Hongkong, Fl. p. 441. 0 . Vachellii. Hook. Ic. P. t. 15.
Western ghat forests.
PLATE No. LXXVII.
Order MARATTIACEÆ.
TRIBE MARATTINEÆ
(§ 1.) ANGIOPTERIDEÆ.
A n g io p te b is , H o ffm a n Comm, Gott. X I I. 29, t. 5.
(Clementea Cavanilles Psilodochea, Presl. ;— Polypodii, Sp. Auctorum).
5 o ri dorsal, involúcrate, sessile, linear-oblong or oval-elliptic, consisting of two opposite contiguous series of 5-12 free spofe
cases ; which are obovate retuse, sometimes marginate, affixed by the base, and bursting on the inner face by an obovate or elliptic vertical
cleft. Receptacles linear elevated. Involucres linear acariose, fimbriate persistent. Veins simple or forked from a central costa ; venules
el, free, dorsally soriferous near the margin.
Fronds ample pinnate, or bL-pi«nate, pinnules articulate. Spore-cases a t first laterally connected, a t length free. Rhizome
Heshy, sub-globose, often becoming erect i.i age (Moore).
1 Angiopteris evecla (Iloffm.) Stem forming an erect thick trunk, sometimes attaining 2 Or 3 feet or more in height, fronds
aeiicraily bi-pinnate (but the young sterile ones are often,'and the fertile ones are sometimes, simply pinnate) very broad spreading
or 15 feet long, glabrous, shining green, segments linear-oblong 3 to 8 inches long, abruptly acuminate, crenate-serrate
' I r r a r e ly entire. S t ip e s more or less downy. Veins simple, forked, nearly parallel. Sori usually consisting of 8 to 12 i
Angiopterus crassipes. W a ll Cat. 187.
{Mr. Moore enumerates numerous Indian species, but they all I believe belong to one and the same plant.]
Very common in most sub-alpine jungles on the western side of the presidency, up to 4,000 or 5,000 feet.
PLATE No. LXXVIII.
(4 2.) MARRATTIEÆ.
M a b a t t i e a , Sm ith . P la n t. Ico n . In e d . t.— 46— 48.
(Jiyriotheca, Commerson ;—Celanthera, 'J'houin Discostegia Presl. ;— )
Sori dorsal, involúcrate, sessile, oblong, horny, opaque, longitudinally divided into two opposite series of 3-11 conate spure-
Ciises ; the valves convex outside, plane within, the spore-cases of each valve bursting on their inner face by a vertical cleft or slit,
receptacles Ihiear or globose, medial. Involucres linear-elliptic, oval or orbicular, scariose, fimbriate, persbtent. Veins simple or
forked from a central costa ; venules parallel, free dorsally soriferous near or at the margins.
Fronds ample bi-tri-pinnate ; pinnules articulate. Rhizome large, globose or caudiciform, consisting of the thick squamæ—
form bases of the fronds. (Moore.)
The Marattiea are distinguished from the Angiopteridcoe by having the spore-cases consolidated into bi-valved so?i, along
which they form two opposite lines ; while in the latter, the spore-cases, which are also placed in two opposite lines, are distinct and
separable.
1. Mar allia fraxinea. (Smith.) Rhizome large globose, Fronds bi-pinnate, (pinnules rarely again pinnate,) pinnules lanceolate,
serrated, with a long terminal acumination, partial rachis often winged towards the apex.
Sisparah ghat—-Bolamputty valley (Coimbatore hills.)
PLATE No. LXXIX.
TRIBE 1. (§ 16.) ASPIDIEÆ.
1. Indusium reniform, affixed at the sinus.
* Fetus reticulated.
S a g e n i a , P resl. T e n t. P te r id . 86.
(Polydictyum, Presl. ;—Microbrochis, Presl. ;—Caidiochlæna, Fée;—Lobochlæna, Fée;—Phiebiogonium, Fée ;—Aspidii, Sp.
Auciorum;—Nephrodii, Sp. Auct. ;—Polypodii Sp. A u c t.;—Bathmii, Sp. Auct.)
Sori indusiate, rotundate, superficial or immersed ; the receptacles terminal on free veinlets, or medial or compital on anas
tomosed veinlets. Indusium cordato-reniform affixed a t the deep sinus. Veius pinnate from a central costa, prominent, venules arcuately
and compoundly anastomosing in about two or three series of irregular unequal various!}--shaped areoles, from the sides of which are
often produced free included divaricate (sometimes fertile) veinlets.
Fronds simply or often pedately pinnate or bi-tri-pinnate, herbaceous, usually ample. Rhiaome short, erect or decumbent or
»omewhat creepiug. (Moore).
1. Sagenia gigantea (Blume.) Caudex stout ascending. Stipites 1-2 feet long, brown as weh as the rachises generally glossy,
fronds ample 1-2 or more feet long, sub-membranaceous, dark greenish-brown when dry, pinnate with 4-5 pair of pinnæ below, bi-pinnate,
pmnæ numerous 4-5 pairs 6-12 inches and more long, broad-lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid, the uppermost ones gradually smaller and