Polypodium 



( 222 ) 



Polypodium 



but in general appearance. The majority of the 

 species have no difference between the fertile and 

 barren fronds. Most are evergreen, but a few, in- 

 cluding the hardy British Dryopteris, are deciduous. 

 In the attachment of the fronds to the rhizome 

 two well-marked divisions may be noted, viz. 

 Eremobrya, in which each frond is distinct from 

 its neighbour and articulated with the rhizome ; 

 and Desmobrya, in which no such articulation 

 exists. Again, in cutting, the fronds may range 

 from simple (entire), as in the section Niphobolus, 

 to several times pinnate, as in Dryopteris, or 

 simply pinnate or pinnatifid, as in Heracleum. 

 The following genera are now all included under 



POLYPODIUM PHYMATODES PCSTULVM (see p. 224). 



Polypodium, but their separate existence has 

 already caused a number of synonyms to be 

 attached to each plant. So formidable is this list 

 of synonyms that only a few can be given. 



Abacopteris. 



Adenophorus. 



Aglaomorpha. 



Ampelopteris. 



Anapeltis. 



Auaxetum. 



Apalophlebia. 



Calymnodon. 



Campyloiieuron. 



Cwlopteris. 



Colysis. 



Craspedaria. 



Crypsinus. 



Cryptosorus. 



Cyrtomiphlebium. 



Cyrtophlebium. 



Diblemma. 



Dictymia. 



Dictyopteris. 



Dipteris. 



Drynaria. 



Dryostachyuiu. 



Galeoglossa. 



Glaphyropteris. 



Glyphotamium. 



Gouiophlebium. 



Goniopteris. 



Grammitis. 



Gymuocarpium. 



Gynosorium. 



Holcosorus. 



Lepicystis. 



Lopholepis. 



Microgramme. 



Mouachosorum. 



Niphobolus. 



Niphopsis. 



Para gramma. 



Phegopteris. 



Phlebodium. 



Phymatodes. 



Pleopeltis. 



Pleuridium. Steguogramma. 



Polycampium. Xiphopteris. 



Pseudathyrium. 



Propagation. Division may be carried out at 

 any season save in winter. Spores are available. 

 They germinate freely, and make good plants. 

 (See KERNS.) 



Soil. Two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf 

 mould, and one-eighth sand will suit the majority of 

 those having strong root action. A soil rich in humus 

 suits the varieties of vulgare. Dryopteris likes a 

 few pieces of sandstone added. Drainage must in 

 all cases be free and uninterrupted. Those species 

 having surface-rooting rhizomes should be pegged 

 down upon pans of fibrous peat anil sand, with 

 about a fourth part of fibrous loam. A few pieces 

 of sphagnum for surfacing will be an improvement, 

 and charcoal will help to keep the compost sweet 

 under repeated waterings. Epiphytal species, as 

 meyenianum and subauriculatum, do well if grown 

 in pockets in dead tree stems, or in hanging 

 baskets. Little soil is needed, but it should be 

 fibrous. Fibrous peat suits meyenianum well, but 

 subauriculatum needs a little stronger medium. 



Other Cultural Points. Of the greenhouse Poly- 

 podiums, aureum (sy>i. Phlebodium aureum) is the 

 most popular ; it makes a capital window plant. 

 Its varieties like more heat. Pustulatum is useful 

 for growing in dark corners. Phegopteris is nearly 

 evergreen when grown in pots under glass. Vul- 

 gare should be established on dry banks and walls 

 in the hardy fernery. Its varieties make elegant 

 plants for the cool house. All evergreen Poly- 

 podiums require moisture the year round, and in 

 summer tree stems must be syringed twice a day, 

 and baskets dipped frequently. Liquid cow 

 manure is a useful stimulant. Snowy fly and 

 thrips give trouble. Sponge for the former ; fumi- 

 gate lightly and sponge for the latter. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



[NOTE. The dimensions refer to the fronds, and 

 do not include the length of the stipes.] 

 albo-squamatum, 1' to 2' chnoodes, 12" to 24" long, 



long, 1 ' or more broad, 

 simple or pinnate, 

 leathery, dotted wh. on 

 upper surface, st. (/. 

 Phymatodes albo- 



squamata). 



aureum, 36" to 60" long, 

 9" to 18" broad, simple 

 or three-lobed, rootstock 

 covered yel. scales, st. 

 or grh . (sy. Phlebodium 

 aureuin). 



areolatum, fronds 

 smaller, more leathery, 

 pinuatisect, st. 



glaucum, small, glau- 

 cous, st. 



Mayi, fronds silvery, 

 margins crisped, st. 



pulviuatum, 36" to 48" 

 long, 9" to 12" broad, 

 piunatisect. 



sporodocarpon, like 

 aureuin, but with more 

 narrowly lobed fronds, 

 st. (//. glaucum of 

 gardens). 



caudiceps, 6" long, 12" to 

 18" broad, simple, st., 

 good for baskets (//. 

 Goniophlebium caudi- 

 ceps). 



4" to 9" broad, soft, 

 papery, pinnate, good 

 for baskets (sifus. dis- 

 simile and Goniophle- 

 bium chnoodes). 

 crassifolium, 12" to 36" 

 long, 1" to a" broad, 

 simple, leathery, wh. 

 dotted, st. (.)/. Pleu- 

 ridium crassifolium). 



albo-punctatissimum, 

 glaucous, heavily dotted 

 wh. (KI/W. Pleuridium 

 albo-puncfJitissimum). 



ditforme, 3' to 4' long, 

 tufted, leathery, st. 

 (fi/ns. irregulare and 

 Dryopteris irrcgularis). 



macrophyllum, 5' long, 

 1J' broad, st. 



drepanum, 18" to 36" 

 long, 8" to 12" broad, 

 leathery, biphmate. 

 grh. (i/w. Phegopterij 

 drepaua). 



Dryopteris, 6" to 10" each 

 way, finely cut, deltoid, 

 soft, hdy., deciduous. 

 Oak Fern. 



robertianum, scented 

 like Geranium roberti- 

 anum (sy>t. calcareum). 



