310 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



ORDER. FILICES. (LINN.) 

 Polypodium, (Linn.) Polypody. 

 Linn. CI. xxiv., Ord. i. 

 Name. From (polus) many, and (pons) a foot. 



1. P. vulgare, (Linn.) common [Polypody. Engl. Bot. t. 1149. 

 N. 111. Ctenopteris, Newm. ed. 3, p. 41. 



Locality. On stumps of trees, in shady hedges, and on banks of 

 hollow lanes. P. Fl. August, October. Area,\, 2, 3, 4, 5. Re- 

 corded in all the Districts. The well-known " Polypody of the Oak." 

 Rhizome very much branched, clothed with yellowish-brown lanceo- 

 late scales. Fronds 6 inches to 1 foot in height, erect, smooth, very 

 deeply pinnatifid. Lobes more cr less crenulated, rarely lacinated, 

 inclining forward. Sori forming a simple series on each side the 

 middle of the upper lobes, equidistant from it and the margin, 

 yellowish-brown when ripe. 



2. P. phegopteris, (Linn.) mountain Polypody, or Beech Fern. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 2224. N. p. 122. Gymnocarpium, Newm. ed. 3, p. 49. 



Locality. Damp shady places, and stony woods. P. Fl. July, 

 September. Area, * * 3. * * 



South Division. 



South-west District. "Woods at Stourhead," Mr. C. F. Broome. 

 Rhizome creeping widely. Fronds from 12 to 18 inches high, erect 

 delicate, pale green, on long slender stalks ; the lowest pair of 

 leaflets projecting from the plane of the rest, and when pressed flat, 

 forming an acute angle with the petiole. Sori small, occupying the 

 lower extremity of each lobe, very near the margin. This is one of 

 our most beautiful species. 



3. P. Robertianum, ^Hoffrn.) rigid three-branched or limestone 

 Polypody. P. calcareum, Sm. Engl. Bot. t. 1525. , N. 131. 

 Gymnocarpium, Newm. ed. 3, p. 63. 



Locality. On broken limestone ground. P. Fl. July, August. 

 Area, * * * 4, 5. 



. North Division. 



4. North-west District. Quarries at Box and Conkwell, sparingly. 1 



1 This rare fern a few years since was abundant in these localities, but owing 

 to the rapacity of collectors, it is now seldom to be met with, and this I fear to 



