THE FERN PA RADISH. 



rising from the deep, rich soil of the hedge-bank, 

 are some Brakes (Pteris aquilina). These are the 

 giants of the British Fern family, growing in 

 their branching tree-like form to a height some- 

 times of ten feet. Peering into the dark depths 

 of the hedges on either side, we discover, trailing 

 out of the close masses of ivy which encircle the 

 gnarled and matted roots of the trees, the pretty 

 fronds of the Common Polypody (Polypodium 

 vulgare). The Polypody, like the Hartstongue, 

 will grow almost anywhere on walls, on hedge- 

 banks, and on trees ; but it becomes a puny plant 

 when growing in dry, hot, and exposed situations. 

 It delights most to nestle amongst the twisted 

 branches of pollard-trees. There its creeping 

 fleshy roots feeding on the rich leaf-mould which 

 collects in the crevices between the matted roots 

 of ivy love to hide, and from these moist nooks 

 are sent out numerous tufts of bright green, nar- 

 row, lance-shaped fronds stems, midribs, with 

 alternate lance-shaped leaflets, each leaflet mid- 

 ribbed in its turn, and beautifully veined through- 

 out; the round golden masses of spores 

 each mass collected in lines on the backs of 



