THE COMMON POLYPODY. 



4, interruption, as its name implies, litis the lobes interrupted or irregular, sometimes two, three, or 

 four entirely wanting ; thoy arc also irregularly bilul or multilid, or curiously laciniated ; the outline 

 of the frond is linear-lanceolate, *. e* normal. This variety is rare. 



5. simuilum is a form allied to the last named, but very distinct; the lobes aro beautifully 

 sinuous or waved, rarely divided at the apices as in iitterr upturn, but irregularly lobate t the lobes sharply 

 serrate. It is a rare form, and under culture for some years, has proved permanent. The fronds are of 

 the usual outline. 



6. taciniatum; in Uiis variety the lobes arc of different lengths, and simply but irregularly 

 notched, and somewhat crisped or reflexc<L 



7, marginatum; this form of variation is occasional but ram in Pott/podium, though frequent in 

 ScoUpendrium* Its peculiarity consists in the splitting of the epidermis on the margins of the lobes 

 and in its receding, generally on the under side of the frond, towards the mid vein ; the lobes themselves 

 are irregularly serrate. Otherwise the frondti are normal 



8* serrulatum is a rare variety, having the teeth of the lobes minutely serrate; it has been 

 generally met with growing on the trunks of trees. The plant is rather dwarf in habit, with fronds 

 of the normal outline ; and has for some years proved constant under cultivation. [It was found in 

 Devonshire by Mr. Wollaston.] 



9. multifidmn is generally like the normal form, or tho variety serraium, except that the n|K*x of 

 the frond is bilid or multilid. 



10. auritum : the peculiarity of this variety consists in tho lobes not being simply decurrcnt* but 

 forming a broad whig to the rachis; and the first lobules next the racing on the upper margin (not, as 

 is more usual, the lower,) arc greatly enlarged! forming a kind of ear, from which it take?; its name. 

 The outline of the fronds is normal. 



11. s&ralum: the lobes in tho most typical state of this form are sharply and deeply serrate or 

 even biserrate along their margins, and the apicc3 are acute. It is rather a common form of the species, 

 with fronds nearly of the usual outline, and with a tendency in the sori to become oblong. It varies, 

 however, with the frauds rather broader, and the teeth rounded and sometimes partially enlarged into 

 lobes, thus connecting this form with the variety crcnatum. 



IS. dmticulatum : this form has fronds less coriaceous than usual, of a broad oblong outline, abrupt 

 from the uppermost lobes being scarcely shorter, and caudate at the apex ; all the lobes are ascending, 

 and distantly sharp-toothed. It was found near Hereford, Analogous forms occur in Portugal, and 

 North America. 



13. oratnm ; this is allied to tlic last mentioned, but the fronds, which vary in size, arc ovato rather 

 than oblong ; thoy are more coriaceous, with the lobes more obscurely toothed or crcnclled ; the lower- 

 most lobes are horizontal, and the upper ones decrease in size. It seems to be common in Madeira 

 and tho Azores ; and has been gathered by Dr. Allchin at Italia vaughau, in the west of Ireland. 



14, cretwtum ; this is usually a large form* approaching svmiluctrum by ite broad or ovate fronds, 

 and often, lobed segments. It varies considerably ; in some instances approaching serndum ; in other 

 instances having the lobes more or less deeply and unequally crenate or crcnato-Iobate ; and sometimes 

 having the sori oblong. The notches of the lobes are rounded, not acute, as in scrratum; and tho lobes 

 themselves are in some states of it beautifully waved or undulated It is not common, but is found in 

 Kent> in Surrey, and in Wales ; the most marked examples being tbosofrom Saltwood found by Mr, Gray, 

 and those from Conway found by Dr. Allchin. The finest undulated form is a garden plant of obscure 

 history, but one nearly identical and which will probably become quite so under cultivation was found 

 by Dr. Allchin at Mucruss, in Ireland. 



15. truncation : this is generally a more compound form, approaching s&n&acerum ; the lobes being 

 deeply serrated or lobed, and the lobules minutely serrated ; but in some instances, as its name implies, 

 the development of the frond in, from some unknown cause, arrested, so that it becomes truncate, or cut 



$ 



1 



