248 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. Y. truneatum— trun-ca'-tum (maimed), Moore. 



In this variety, which was found simultaneously in Ireland and near 

 Windermere, the fronds attain 1ft. or more in length. They are sometimes 

 maimed, the leafy portions wanting and the veins projecting, forming irregular 

 points. The leaflets, of normal dimensions, are finely saw-toothed (Fig. 69, 

 p. 243).— Lowe, Our Native Ferns, i., fig. 21. Moore, Nature -printed British 

 Ferns. 



P. Y. Whytei— Why'-te-i (Whyte's). Another name for P. v. cornubiense. 



We have described above all the handsomest forms of the Common 

 Polypody. There are others which are cultivated especially on account of 

 their strange appearance. Among these are the following : P. v. glomeratum, 

 of Mullins, which C. T. Druery terms an oddity, every frond and division 

 branching repeatedly anyhow, no two being alike. P. v. cambricum Prestonii, 

 of Preston, is a sub-variety of smaller dimensions and of a still more plumose 

 character than the Welsh Polypody, from which it is issue. P. v. variegatum, 

 of Stansfield, found simultaneously at Oldstead, Yorkshire, and near Cark, 

 Lancashire, is another curiosity. The fronds are much like those of 

 P. v. acutum, from which it is distinguished only by the variegation, being 

 distinctly striped with yellowish- white. In some instances, instead of being- 

 striped, the fronds are marbled above with yellow blotches. Unfortunately, 

 when the plant grows vigorously, the variegation is not very constant, but, 

 when in character, it is very pretty. Equally curious and interesting is 

 P. v. suprasoriferum, of Wollaston, a plant which he found near Woolbeding, 

 Sussex. Its narrow-spear-shaped fronds, furnished with toothed and some- 

 what auricled (eared) leaflets, are rendered very interesting through the unique 

 disposition of their fructification. When barren, its fronds appear nearly 

 normal, though the leaflets are disposed farther apart than those of the typical 

 plant : when fertile, however, they have a particularly strange aspect, on 

 account of the sori (spore masses) being in many instances disposed along the 

 margins of the upper surface of its very narrow fronds. P. v. Thompsonii, 

 of Monkman, is an erect-growing form of dwarf habit, with leaflets nearly, 

 and in some instances quite, overlapping ; this was found at Mulgrave Woods, 

 near Whitby. But the most curious of all the known varieties of the 

 Common Polypody is undoubtedly P. v. compositum, of Wollaston, a form 



