POLYSTICHUM. 95 



■which are roundish-oblong, so closely placed that they 

 overlap each other. It also bears young plants on the 

 stipes below the surface of the soil. It was found in 

 Somersetshire. 



Another exceedingly curious form is that which we have 

 called alatum. In this the fronds are rather small ; and 

 the pinnules are connected by a very obvious leafy expan- 

 sion which margins the rachis, forming along the side of 

 the latter what is technically called a wing. This is also 

 a Somersetshire variety. 



The variety cristatum is one of much beauty. The 

 extremity of the frond, and the extremities of all the 

 pinnae, are expanded into tassel-like tufts, as occurs in 

 the tasselled or crested varieties of the Male Fern and the 

 Lady Fern. 



There are many other variations ; some with narrow 

 acute pinnules, some with blunt rounded pinnules, others 

 with the pinnules deeply serrated, and some very conspicu- 

 ously spinulose. In certain very elegant forms, the pinna3 

 and pinnules, and lobes and teeth, are exceedingly irre- 

 gular in size and form. The varieties, too numerous to 

 enumerate here, will be found in our " Handbook." 



This is a not uncommon Fern, growing in hedge-banks 



