Observations on the cytology and taxonomy of the pteridophyte flora of Ceylon

Cytological observations have been made on 155 entities (excluding sterile hybrids) referable provisionally to ca. 140 existing taxa in the fern flora of Ceylon. These have been supplemented by observations on 69 entities (involving 46 additional species) from wild material of ferns from other countries, chiefly Malaya, and on 15 additional species of unknown wild origin growing at Kew. The cytological findings are assembled in relation to the taxonomic system of Copeland (1947) which is discussed in a preliminary way together with the relevant portions of the alternative system of Holttum (1947).