228 POLYPODIUM VULGARE. 
variation of this, the segments being more pointed, 
and has been found on rocks in North Wales ; in 
Cobhhin Park, Kent; and in meadows near Maiden 
and Ewel), in Surrey. P. vulgar e Hiliemicum is another 
sub-variety, the segments being more deeply out and 
partly scolloped, found in the Dargle, in the county of 
Wicklow. 
3. Polypodium vulgxre bifidum, or Common forked 
Polypody. In this variety the end of each segment is 
forked or divided into two segments, spread away from 
each other. Sometimes the segments are divided into 
three lobes at the end, and it is then called P. vulgare 
proliferum. This variety has been found iu a wood near 
Bingley, in Yorkshire, and at Chepstow, in Monmouth- 
shire. 
Many other sub-varieties might bo mentioned, but 
they all pass by various gradations into one another, 
and we do not believe that any one of the varieties is 
permanent. Cultivation, we think, would reduce them 
all to the form of the original species. This species is 
common throughout the British Islands on old walls, 
old roofs of cottages, shady banks, and trunks of old 
trees. 
The first botanical writer who mentions this as an 
English Fern is Dr. William Turner In the second part 
of his " Herbal," published in 1562, he gives a very fair 
woodcut of this plant, and speaks of it as the " Englishe 
Polypody," "Wall Feme," and " Okc Feme." Lyte'and 
Gerarde copied Turner's woodcut. They all dwell upon 
the medical qualities of this Fern; but, although 
