24 FERNS OF THE LAKE COUNTEY 



Its fronds, including the stipes, vary from six to eight- 

 teen inches in height ; their form is triangular with 

 a tendency to the pentagonal appearance of the Oak 

 Fern, because of the larger size of the two lower pinnae. 

 These lower pinnae are pinnate, with pinnatifid pinnules, 

 the upper pinnae also pinnate, with the lower pinnules 

 again pinnate and the upper pinnatifid. The fructifica- 

 tion is scattered over the whole dorsal surface of the 

 frond ; the sori are small and round, consisting of nu- 

 merous crowded spore-cases, entirely without indusia, 

 arranged in linear sub-marginal series along each side 

 of the lobules, or in series between the midrib and 

 margin when the lobules are but slightly developed, 

 often more or less confluent. Spore-cases pale brown, 

 roundish obovate, small, and numerous. Spores ovate 

 or oblong, somewhat granular. 



The Lime-stone Polypody, as its name infers, is found 

 usually on exposed rocky limestone tracks : grow- 

 ing there very abundantly. In cultivation, however, a 

 lime-stone soil is not essential to its well-being. Like 

 the generality of ferns, it requires good drainage ; but 

 bears the sun more than most others. It grows almost 

 throughout Europe, in Canada, and the United States 

 of America ; and has been gathered by Dr. Hooker and 

 Dr. Thomson on the Himalaya Mountains at the ele- 

 vation of 6,000 feet. 



HABITATS. Scale Force (J. Bobson), Whitbarrovv, 

 Newbiggin Woods, Gilt Quarries, Baron Heath, Arn- 

 side Knott, Hutton Roof Crags, Farleton Knott, 

 Caskill Kirk, &c. Only one variety : 

 variatile, Whitbarrow, J. M. Barnes and F. Clowes. 



