134 
POLYPODIACEiE. 
sori marginal. Very different in habit from the preceding (P. 
Dryopteris), and always covered with very minute stalked glands, 
giving a mealy character to the surface. Frond not so decidedly 
trifid, the lower branches being much smaller in proportion to 
the middle one ; all the three erect, rigid.”^ Mr. Wilson, ^vhose 
authority in British ferns is certainly inferior to no one’s, also 
considers the present species distinct from P. Pryopteris, “ I 
consider these plants,” says Mr. Wilson, to be quite distinct, 
the former [P. calcareurri\ having truly the erect habit which 
Smith describes ; I believe also that the pubescence is constantly 
present in P. calcareum. The two species are generally found 
in different habitats, but in a wood on the side of Ingleborough, 
as you go to Weathercote, they are found in company. I have 
cultivated them side by side for many years, with their respective 
characters unchan ged.”f Mrs. Biley, of Papplewick, near Not- 
tingham, has written a few lines on the same subject, which I 
shall take the liberty of quoting. The pubescence, which is 
one distinguishing character of P. calcareum, is a beautiful mi- 
croscopic object, each slender stem supporting a globular head, 
but this pubescence soon dries, so that only on freshly gathered 
specimens can it be fully perceived or accurately examined. 
Though we found P. Pryopteris frequently in Wales, we never 
met with P. calcareum there ; and though, like Mr. Wilson, we 
have cultivated them side by side for years, we can also testify 
that their respective characters remain unchanged.’’^ In letters 
received from the Rev. Mr. Bree, and Mr. Cameron of Birming- 
ham, opinions very similar to those now quoted are expressed, 
both these excellent botanists regarding P. calcareum as a truly 
distinct species. 
The figure and description of Pryopteris Tragi in Gerarde,§ 
as quoted by Smith, || is apparently intended for this species : 
there is a tolerably characteristic figure in Bolton’s ‘ Filices,’1[ 
and also in ‘ English Botany the last under the name of P. 
calcareum, but that in Francis’ ^Analysis ’ft is evidently drawn 
* Manual, 384. f Phytologist, 74. f Id. 94. § Ger. Em. 1135. 
j| Eng. Elor. iv. 270. 
Eng. Bot. 1525. 
f Bolt. Fil. tab. 1, fig. 1. 
ff Analysis, pi. 1 , fig. 5. 
