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POLYGON U.M. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER CARD EX. 



POLYPODIUM, 



tion it is 6 to 8 in. high, with rosy-red 

 flowers in dense spikes borne freely in 

 September and October. P. Brunonis is 

 similar and as desirable ; the flowers, of 

 a pale rose or flesh colour, borne in 

 dense erect spikes nearly 18 in. high, 

 and continuing more or less through the 

 summer. 



P. compactum is similar to P. cuspi- 

 datum, and forming a compact tuft i 

 to 2 ft. high. It bears white flowers in 

 great profusion, and its leaves are 

 similar to those of P. cuspidatum, 

 though much smaller. It flowers late 

 in autumn. 



P. cuspidatum (Japan Knotweed], also 

 known as P. Sieboldi, is of fine and grace- 

 ful habit, its creamy-white flowers borne 

 in profusion. It should be grown apart 

 on the turf or in some rough part of 

 the wild garden, as, unfortunately, it is 

 weedy, and in light soils springs up 

 everywhere. 



P. sachalinense. A huge perennial 

 with bright green leaves upwards of a 

 foot in length, the flowers greenish-white, 

 in slender drooping racemes. It thrives 

 in a moist soil near water, where it is 

 effective, and it makes a fine feature on 

 the turf or in a spot where it can run 

 about freely. There is no better plant 

 for semi-wild places. Sachalien. 



P. vaccinifolium is very distinct in 

 aspect, quite hardy, and thrives in almost 



stumps. Under favourable conditions it 

 grows rapidly, and produces a profusion 

 of Whortleberry-like leaves and rosy 

 flowers. Himalayas. 



POLYPODIUM (Polypody}. This 

 large family of Ferns contains several 

 good hardy kinds, the principal being the 

 common P. vulgare, which has about a 

 score of cultivated varieties differing more 

 or less widely from each other. The most 

 distinct and beautiful as well as the freest 

 in growth are cambricum, elegantissimum, 

 omnilacerum, and pulcherrimum. Though 

 preferring shade, they only need a good 

 supply of water at the root during summer, 

 and will thrive even exposed to the full 

 rays of the sun. Plant them in fibry loam 

 and tough and fibry peat, with a liberal 



Polygonum vaccinifolii 



any moist soil, but is best seen where its 

 shoots can ramble over stones or tree 



Oak Fern (Polypodium dryopteris). 



admixture of leaf-mould and well-decayed 

 woody matter, to which add a thin top- 

 dressing of similar material every autumn. 

 The evergreen Polypodiums associate well 

 with flowering plants that do not require 

 frequent removing, and they may be 

 made to cover bare spaces beneath trees, 

 or to overrun stumps. A beautiful effect, 

 too, is got by their use as a carpet or 

 setting to some of the plants in the rock- 

 garden. Besides P. vulgare and its 

 varieties, there are several deciduous 

 kinds, such as P. Dryopteris (Oak Fern) 

 and P. Phegopteris (Beech Fern), well 

 known to all Fern lovers. They thrive 



