POI.YPODirM ALPESTRE. 



13 



stipes is almost wanting, the racliis extending nearly to the 

 base of the frond. The length varies from sLx to eighteen 

 inches. Pinnre brief, having only six or eight pairs of 

 pinnules, which are oblong and narrowed below, and distantly 

 dentate. Sori few, chiefly at the base of the frond, the apex 

 being barren. 



Var. Tripinnatum. — Fronds tripinnate and large, the pinnides 

 attaining a length of an inch and a half; oblong-ovate. Found 

 by Mr. G. Lawson at the AVells of Dee, in Aberdeenshire. 



Var. Lanceum. — Subtripinnate and large; the pinnules elongate, 

 ovate-lanceolate more or less, and profoundly pinnatifid; the 

 segments bluntly serrated. This variety was found on the 

 Clova Mountains, by ^Ir. G. Lawson, and at Lochnagar, 

 Aberdeenshire, by Mr. Croall. 



Var. Laciniatum. — Raised from spores in 1858, in the Fernery 

 of Messrs. Stansfield, of Todmorden. It is distinguished from 

 the variety Flexile by its densely set and laciniated pinna; 

 the pinna; are recurved towards the base of the stipes, brief, 

 and rounded at the end; pinnules decurrent, variously dentate 

 or laciniated, and densely set. Veins branched; venules simply 

 furcate. Sori medial. 



Plate II is a frond of Polypodium alpestrey gathered at 

 Lochnagar, by Mr. G. Lawson. Plate III — A. the variety 

 Flexile, from a plant in the possession of Messrs. Stansfield, 

 of Todmorden. Plate III — B. the variety Laciniatum, also 

 from the Fernery of Messrs. Stansfield, of Todmorden. 



In 1841 ^Mr. AVatson gathered the P. alpestre on Ben Aulder, 

 in Invernesshire ; in 1844 a frond was brought from Canlochen 

 Glen, in Forfarshire; and in 1852, !Mr. T. Westcombe, and 

 ^Ir. Bacthouse, of York, procured it in great abundance in 

 Canlochen, Glen Prosen, Glen Fiadh, and in all the Dee-side 

 mountains. ^Nlr. Backhouse remarks, that at an elevation of 

 from two to three thousand feet this Fern was found mingled 

 with the Lady Fern; above this height the Lady Fern ceased, 

 and left the Alpine Polypody in sole possession, flourishing 

 most in the more exposed situations. 



Mr. Moore seems to think that the plant known as Athyrium 

 filix-foemina, var. presinoi'sum, and found in some gardens under 

 the name of var. Aherdeenense, may prove to be a variety- of 

 this species. 



