38 



only half made up as to the form they should assume, and 

 this they change repeatedly as they progress. 



Then we have saw-toothed varieties intermediate between 

 the common and the much divided types, and these on grand 

 and dwarf scales, and, finally, we have P. Schnei devil, the 

 offspring of a cross between the great exotic Phlehodinm 

 aureum and P. v. Covnuhiense, a giant Covmihiense with all its 

 vagaries aforesaid. 



We think we have now said enough to show that our 

 common Polypody has capabilities of which probably most 

 of our readers were ignorant. C. T. D. 



POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM AND 



ANGUL.ARE. 



By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 



For some years I have had a plant under the name of 

 P. angidave phtnwsum grande, Moly, and have noticed all 

 along that it has a firmer texture than the majority of 

 augulaves, approximating to that of Pateyli. The cutting 

 and form of the pinnules, however, were those of angularey 

 i.e. stalked with square shoulders and more or less decom- 

 pound. 



In the spring of this year the plant had a clean single 

 crown, but for some reason only half of the circle of fronds 

 developed, the rest remaining dormant, but still firm and 

 quite alive. These spring fronds were of the usual angulare 

 character, vigorous and very handsome. 



Towards the end of July the dormant half of the crown 

 began to develop, and when the fronds were completed 

 they were found to be quite of aculcatuni character, i.e. 

 narrower than usual, of thick texture and glossy surface, 

 with stalkless wedge-shaped pinnules, but still plumose and 

 barren as usual. The plant thus presented the unusual 

 character of a single crown, one half of which was plumose 

 angulare, and the other half, plumose aculeatum ! Now (end 

 of September) a little offset is growing from the side of 

 the crown, the fronds of which are, if possible, still more 



