POLYPODY. 
Ill 
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POLYPODY, {one fourth the natural size). 
Polypodium vulgare, Linneus. 
The common Polypody is one of our best known and most 
abundant ferns; it is to be found in almost every hedge. It 
abounds on stone walls and decaying trees, and on the surface 
of weather-beaten rocks, quickly succeeding the mosses and 
lichens which first establish a footing in these situations. 
Its geographical range is very extensive : it is present in every 
European list, and occurs in various parts of Asia and Africa. 
The North- American plant known by the same name, presents 
a slight difference in the venation, the number of branches in 
the lateral veins being two or three, instead of four ; some au- 
thors consider this plant distinct, others look upon it as identical 
with the European species : I incline to agree with the latter. 
The figures of this fern are generally very excellent: good 
ones are so numerous that I scarcely know which to select for 
notice. None surpass in fidelity those by Gerarde of the usual 
