POLYPODIUM VULGARE VAR. ALATO- 

 MULTIFIDUM, VAR. NOV. 



By B. D. Gilbert. 



After my monograph of the varieties of Polypodium- 

 vulgare in this country was in print for the April Ferx 

 Bulletin, I received specimens of a variety which I 

 had never seen before, and which is as peculiar and 

 striking as anything in this list. The fronds measure 

 from 20 to 33 cm. in length and are all beautifully multi- 

 fid and fruited at the tips. The pinnae are acute, hardly 

 acuminate, much as in the variety angustum, but at the 

 base expand on each side so as to form a wing to the 

 rachis. The expansions of the lower side however are 

 much larger than those of the upper. Those of the 

 lower side extend downward in triangular shape about 

 1 cm. and meet the short extension from the upper side 

 very near the rachis. thus forming a continuous wing. 

 In the larger auricles a vein springs from the rachis 

 instead'of the costa, and sends a branch both upward and 

 downward, but I have not detected any anastomosing. 



The plants were discovered by Mr. Edward R. Hea- 

 cock at Mauch Chunk. Pa., Oct. 15, 1905. They were 

 growing in a clump on red sandstone. Mr. Heacock 

 says : " I brought a part of the original clump home, 

 divided it, and planted one part in the green house, and 

 one outside. The situation was a big rock slide, and 

 every ledge of the upheaved red sandstone, wherever 

 there was room for leaf-mold to collect, was covered 

 with this handsome fern." In another letter he savs : 

 " I judge it is a fairly constant variety, for a part of 

 the original clump which I brought home to the green- 

 house, has sent up similar fronds for this season." 



Clayzrille, N. V. 



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