FERN TRIBE 109 
margin, and on one side of a pinnated stalk. Name from the Greek, botrys, 
a bunch of grapes, from the appearance of the clusters. 
19. ADDER’S-TONGUE (Ophiogléssum).—Capsules 1-celled, 2-valved, forming 
a compact two-ranked spike. Name from the Greek, ophis, a serpent, and 
glossa, a tongue, from the supposed resemblance of the fructification to the 
tongue of a serpent. 
Sub-Order I. POLYPODIACE. 
1. Potypopy (Polypédium). 
1. Common Polypody (P. vulgdére).—Fronds deeply pinnatifid; the 
segments oblong, and tapering or rounded at the end, the upper ones 
generally smaller. This is one of the commonest of our ferns, and one which 
is of easy recognition. It is abundant on all parts of our island, now hanging 
down from the gnarled branch or sturdy trunk of the old oak, now growing 
in large clumps on the hedge-bank, and forming a good foreground for the 
artist’s sketch ; while sometimes it may be seen waving its bright green 
leaves above the cottage thatch, or on stone wall or rugged rock. The frond 
varies from a few inches to a foot and a half in length, and attains its full 
expansion earlier than most of our native ferns, being usually developed by 
the month of May. If ina sheltered spot, it retains its verdure till Decem- 
ber, but on an exposed situation it is easily destroyed by frosts. The leaves 
have a faint and rather disagreeable odour, and, if tasted, leave a rough and 
unpleasant feeling on the tongue. Several foreign species of Polypody are, 
however, aromatic, and the fronds of some are used by the natives of the 
Sandwich Islands to give a perfume to the cocoa-nut oil with which they 
anoint themselves. The roots of our common species are very numerous, 
forming entangled masses, and the horizontal stems are entirely covered, 
when young, with pale brown scales, which disappear as the plant becomes 
older. The slender stalk of the frond rises from this brown creeping stem, 
and the leafy portion usually extends rather more than half-way down. This 
is lanceolate, and divided into lobes, almost to its mid-rib. The lobes are 
usually oblong, and rounded at the end, but in some specimens they taper to 
a point. The margin is generally entire, but is sometimes slightly serrated. 
A mid-vein winds through each lobe, and lateral veins are produced alter- 
nately from it. The same alternate disposition is to be seen in the veins 
arising from these, which are generally four in number, and it is usually on 
the lowest of these branches that the large, round, bright, orange-coloured 
clusters are seated ; the remaining veins, which are barren, have little club- 
shaped extremities. The fructification is very conspicuous, and is usually 
placed at the upper part of the frond. 
This plant, like the common brake and several other of our native ferns, 
contains a large proportion of carbonate of potash, which in former days was 
used by glass-manufacturers. The fern was also formerly praised for its 
medicinal virtues, and the mucilaginous liquid obtained by boiling its fronds 
had much repute among herbalists as a remedy for pulmonary affections. 
When boiled with liquorice, it is a very good medicine for cold and cough ; 
but it requires boiling for a long time, till the decoction becomes slightly 
