1038 



THE FERN FAMILY. 



simply pinnate or deeply pinnatifid ; 

 the linear-oblong segments adhering to 

 the main stalk and usually connected 

 with each other by their broad bases. 

 Sori rather large, of a golden-yellow, in 

 two rows along the under side of the 

 upper segment. When bearing fruit 

 these segments are usually entire or 

 nearly so, and obtuse ; when barren they 

 are often slightly toothed; and mon- 

 strous states not un frequently occur 

 with the segments variously lobed or 

 branched. 



In sheltered places, on trunks of old 

 trees, walls, moist rocks, and shady 

 banks, throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, from the Mediterrannean to the 

 Arctic regions, and in North America. 

 Common in Britain. Fr. summer and 

 autumn. 



2. Beech Polypody. 



Polypodium Phegopteris, Linn. 

 (Eig. 1262.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 2224, and P. Thelyptris, t. 1018.) 



E-ootstock creeping. Eronds rather 

 slender, 6 inches to a foot high or rather 

 more, including their long stalks, broadly 

 ovate-lanceolate and acuminate in their 

 general outline, once pinnate; the seg- 

 ments deeply pinnatifid, narrow-lanceo- 

 late, gradually diminishing from the 

 base to the end of the frond, and all, 

 except sometimes the lowest pair, ad- 

 hering to the main stem by their broad 

 base. The midrib, principal veins, and 

 margins of the frond more or less hairy 

 on the under side, by which this species 

 may be readily distinguished from the 

 smaller specimens of the marsh Shield- 

 fern, which it sometimes resembles. Sori 



rather small, near the margins of the 

 Fig. 1262. lobes . 



