250 THE FLORIST, 



ciated with the dorsiferous Ferns, which include, beside the remaining 

 orders of true Ferns, theLycopods, thePepperworts, and the Horsetails. 

 In the descriptions of the species, Mr. Francis adheres to the old 

 nomenclature, retainini^, for instance, the old genus Aspidiura en- 

 tire, and placing the Filix-femina in Aspleniura. The descriptions 

 are brief, but clear, and such as will enable a persevering student to 

 identify the plants. We must give an illustration of the manner in 

 which this part of the book is executed, and select for that purpose 

 the account of the Beech Polypody, which may be taken as a fair 

 specimen : 



2._rOLYPODIUM PHEGOPTERIS. 



BEECU FERN. WOOD POLYPODY. SUN FERN. 



Cha. — Frond bipinnatifid. Lower pinnae deflexed. Lobes obtuse, 

 entire, hairy. 



Syn. — Polypodium Phegopteris of Linn.^ Willd., Swz., Spreng., Huds.^ 

 Light/.,, Bolt.,, With., Smith.., Hook.., Mack., A^e^fm.— Polystichum Phe- 

 gopteris, Roth. — Polypodium latebrosum, Gray, Salisb. 



YiG.—E.D. 222i.— Bolt., 20 {not good).— Flo. Dan. 1241. 

 Des. — Root perennial, hairy, slender, creeping horizontally. 

 Frond triangular, herbaceous, erect, hairy, 6 to 12 inches high. 

 Pinnae opposite, very acute, adnate, the lower pair bent forwards, 

 pendulous, and distant from the pair next above them. The lobes 

 of all are obtuse, entire, and directed towards the point of the pinnae, 

 particularly the two lowest, which with those on the opposite pinnae 

 form a cross. The rachis is smooth, and without pinnae on the lower 

 half. Sori round, distinct, very small, brown, and seated around the 

 margin of the lobes. 



The pendulous character of the lower pinnte, and the cruciform direction of 

 their bases, are most apparent in vigorous plants, and serve as characters which 

 immediately distinguish this plant from its congeners. 



Sit. — In moist woods and rocky dells, chiefly in mountainous countries. 



Hab. — Eng. : Rocks at the foot of Cheviot, above Langley Ford, Mr. Winch. 

 Cawsey Dean, Durham, Mr. R. B. Bon-man. Around Keswick, Cumb., Mr. H. 

 C. Watson. Wensley-dale, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Common about Settle, Yorks., 

 Mr. J. Tatham. Prestwich Clough and Boghart Clough, Lancashire, Mr. Mer- 

 rick. Egerton Moss, near Bolton, Mr. W. Christy. Rocks at the Belle Hag, 

 one mile from Sheffield, G. F. Norwood, Surrey, and near Brentford, Middx., 

 Mr. J. Bevis. Lidford Fall, Beckey Fall, Dartmoor, Devon, Jones's Tour. Isle 

 of Man, Mr. E. Forbes. — Wales : Llanberris, first and second field towards 

 Snowdon, Mr. C. C. Babington Capel Curig, North Wales, Mr. T. H. Cooper. 

 Frequent in Caern., not at any considerable elevation, Mr. W. Wilsoii. — Scot. ; 

 Grampians, Aberdeensh., Red Caird Hill, W. of Invernesshire up to 1150 yds., 

 Forfarshire, Sutherland, Dumbarton, and other parts of the Highlands, Mr. H. 

 C. Watson. Moray and Kosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Ben Lomond, Prof. Hens- 

 low. Ruberslaw, Jedburgh, &c. Campsie, near Glasgow, Mr. T. H. Cooper. 

 — Ire.: Powerscourt Waterfall (right-hand side), Mr. 0. Kelly. Waterfall 

 above Lough Eske, co. of Donegal, and at other places in the northern counties, 

 Air. Mackay. 



Geo. — Throughout Germany, and indeed most European countries as far 

 north as Lapland, but not in the South countries. Linnaeus received specimens 

 from Canada." 



Having thus briefly described Mr. Francis's Analysis, and spoken 

 favourably of commendable portions of it, we must now gently criti- 

 cise certain parts which seem deserving of censure, and make a few 

 comments on some other points. We do not quarrel with the author 



