The Common Polypody 



from its sides. The leafstalks, which are almost equal 

 in length to the leafy part of the frond, are jointed to 

 the rootstock, just as the leaves of trees are attached 

 to the twigs, and when they decay they leave behind a 

 tiny scar. This is a very exceptional feature in British 

 ferns. Since it is so common a fern, we are not sur- 

 prised to learn that our ancestors turned it to account 

 in the preparation of homely medicines. Concoctions 

 prepared from the Common Polypody were once highly 

 recommended for treating violent cases of whooping- 

 cough. It was also much sought after in earlier times 

 by glass manufacturers, who had discovered that it 

 contained large supplies of carbonate of potash. 



Though frequently found on walls, the Common 

 Polypody is by no means restricted to such situations. 

 We find it often on the banks by the hedgerows, on 

 mossy tree-trunks, and even on the thatched roofs of 

 cottages. 



The botanical name of this fern is Poly podium vulgar e. 

 Polypodium means "many-footed," a reference, most 

 probably, to the branching rootstock, while vulgare is 

 a Latin word meaning " common." 



Now, if our old wall happens to be in a limestone 

 district, we may often find in company with these ferns 

 already described a unique fern, the Scale, or Ceterach, 

 Fern. Its fronds springing from a short stout root- 

 stock are deeply pinnatifid, each oval segment being of 

 a deep green colour. These segments are set altern- 

 ately on the rachis, and are separated from each other 

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