170 



in which and under which w^e find the plants growing 

 naturally, we have an infallible guide for their treatment 

 under culture. 



All the varieties are as hardy as the species, i.e. perfectly 

 so. They like plenty of light and air, but to permit the 

 attainment of their full beauty they must not be exposed to 

 wind nor overmuch to sunshine. 



The other members of the family are P. dryoptevis (the 

 Oak Fern), P. phegoptevis (the Beech Fern), and P. calcaveum 

 (the Limestone Polypody). The common names of the 

 first two are simply translations of the botanical ones, 

 which are not only Greek to us linguistically, but also in 

 their application, since, so far as we are aware they are 

 neither descriptive of the plant themselves in any respect, 

 nor do the trees in question form their habitats, as, unlike 

 P. vttlgave, they do not grow on trees at all. The Oak Fern 

 (P. dvyopteyis), has a thin creeping rhizome, no thicker than 

 a knitting needle. This forms dense massed growths on 

 sloping banks and among the cracks and crevices of 

 weathered rocks. Its delicate fronds are provided with 

 long, thin, brittle stalks, and two unfailing characters by 

 which the species may be distinguished are — First, that 

 the fronds when just about to unroll resemble exactly a 

 pawnbroker's sign, the three embryo divisions of the 

 triangular twice-divided frond forming three distinct stalked 

 balls, while in P. calcaveumj which closely resembles it, the 

 three divisions unroll as they part ; the second point of 

 discrimination is that where the leafy portion begins the 

 stalk is perceptibly bent backwards at an angle. The 

 chief characteristic of this lovely little fern is, however, its 

 indescribable moonshiny-green colour, which is quite 

 peculiar to it. Its culture is of the simplest. Plenty of 

 leaf-mould and sand mixed with some lumps of loam and 

 freestone form the most congenial compost, and a handful 

 of its rhizome just buried therein will speedily send up its 

 delicate fronds by the score, and form one of the prettiest 



