139. 



every crevice in the loosely built stone walls by the road 

 side, and forms dense tufts upon their tops wherever a 

 plant has obtained a foothold, and retained the dust and 

 other flying debris sufficiently to strengthen and extend it. 

 Decidedly one of the prettiest features of this fern, and 

 one in which it stands alone in this country, is its fructifi- 

 cation. The spore-heaps, or collections of small pods or 

 capsules containing the spores, are of a brilliant orange- 

 yellow. Each heap, under favourable conditions, is as 

 large as a small pea, and as they are produced in some 

 cases in such numbers as almost to cover the backs of the 

 fronds, a really brilliant colour effect is produced, which, 

 in conjunction with the dark green of the fronds them- 

 selves is very charming. This feature of the plant is a 

 very interesting one, a good lens showing up each heap of 

 capsules just like a heap of some hundred or more fine 

 oranges carefully piled for sale, while, if they be very ripe, 

 the observer may be startled by seeing several of them 

 explode like small bombshells, scattering their spores 

 shrapnel fashion with considerable violence. Another 

 family peculiarity is the absence of any cover or indusium 



to these heaps. 



{To he contimied.) 



POLYSTICHUM ANGULARE. 



With reference to the decomposite or much divided 

 section of Polystichum Angulare varieties and sub- 

 varieties, it is sometimes so difficult to determine how to 

 indicate differences in the naming, that we think we 

 cannot do better than reproduce the late lamented Col. 

 A. M. Jones's remarks in this connection at the time when 

 this difficulty first presented itself to the pioneers of the 

 cult, now many years ago. These remarks appear in 

 Colonel Jones's original notes appended to his nature 

 print of P. ang. pvolifcvum Wollastoii, and are as follows : — 



(From the original plant) " This is a true acutilobe, frond 



