THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



247 



peat, and broken hearthstone, this 

 iast material being of great service 

 in fern culture. 



Poli/podium alpestre. — The Alpine 

 Polypody. Caudex short, dividing into 

 scaly crowns, from which proceed 

 terminal fronds. Stipes short, stout, 



the wing of the rachis, deeply pin- 

 natifid. Sort at first distinct, after- 

 wards confluent. Spore cases brown, 

 numerous. 



This fine fern differs from other 

 British polypodies in forming distinct 

 crowns instead of extending by a 



POLYPODIUSt ALPESTEB. 



sparingly clothed with pale brown 

 scales. Rachis stout, its branches 

 furnished with a narrow leafy wing. 

 Fronds averaging eighteen inches in 

 length, erect, dark green, lanceolate, 

 bipinnate. Pinna broadly linear. 

 Pinnules ovate-oblong, connected by 



creeping rhizome. Its light and ele- 

 gant appearance causes it to be some- 

 times mistaken for the Lady-fern, a 

 mistake, however, which will never 

 occur to those who have had a little 

 experience in the determination of 

 species, as it is both less elegant, be- 



