POLYPODIUM VULGARE. 53 



Truxcatum, Moore. (Fig. 21, page 41.) — Found in Ireland, 

 by Dr. Allchin, and at Windermere, by Mr. Clowes. The 

 fronds sometimes truncate, the leafy portions wanting, and the 

 veins projecting, forming irregular points. The lobes pro- 

 foundly serrated or lobed, and the lobules minutely serrated. 

 Rare. Length twelve inches or more. This is a sub-variety 

 of Multiforme. 



Variegatum. — Found at Oldstead, Yorkshire, by ^Ir. C. 

 ^lonkman, of Malton, and near Cark, Lancashire, by Messrs. 

 Stansfield. The fronds are acute, in fact those of Acutum, 

 the distinction being in the variegation. It is pretty distinctly 

 striped with yellowish white stripes, but a very inconstant variety. 

 The plant Mr. Stansfield found is coriaceous, nearly normal 

 in outline, and marbled above with yellow blotches. It does 

 not prove constant under cultivation. It has been considered 

 useless giving an illustration of this variety. 



There are no less than thhly-seven varieties of Polypodium 

 vulgare, many of which are exceedingly interesting. It is quite 

 true that a portion of these are not constant in cultivation, and 

 are liable to run into several varieties; yet others are perfectly 

 constant, and all are more or less beautiful. These varieties 

 have each been described and figured, therefore a reference to 

 the coloured plates and woodcut illustrations will at once point 

 out how very varied has been the departure from the normal 

 form of P. vulgare. AVhat other varieties a few years hence 

 may bring to light it is impossible to say: when Nature puts 

 on these sports there seems to be no limits. A new field is 

 open to the British Fern cultivator, the last few years have 

 added so many varieties that a British Fernery, replete, not 

 only with the species, but also with the varieties of those 

 species, is an imposing addition to the flower-garden. The 

 British Ferns that contain the most varieties are Polypodium 

 vulgare, Polystichum angidare, Lastrea Jilix-mas, L. dilatata, 

 Athyrium JUix-fceniiua, Scolopendrium culyare, and Blechnum 

 spicant. 



