CHAPTER XIII. 
, THE POLYPODIES 
(Poly podium). 
E now come to a family of whicli the members vary 
exceedingly in everything but the form of fructi- 
fication, which consists of round masses of spore- 
capsules without any cover {indusium). The term 
Polypody, meaning many-footed, refers to the 
creeping rootstock, which feature is, however, by 
no means peculiar to this family, as will have 
already been seen by the preceding descriptions. 
On the other hand, some of the Polypodies 
(the so-called P. alpestre, for instance) are not many-footed at 
all, being built d la shuttlecock. These little anomalies are, 
however, unavoidable in any method of classification, seeing 
that Dame Nature indulges her own whims and fancies with a 
sublime disregard of the hard and fast lines which scientists, with 
the best intentions, are always endeavouring to draw amongst 
her creations. The species included in the Poly podium family 
all over the world are very numerous ; we have, however, only 
four indigenous to Great Britain, exclusive of P. alpestre, 
which belies its name in all respects but its uncovei’ed spore- 
heaps. These botanically cannot be got over, though we have 
ventured to class it with the Lady Ferns on account of its 
gi’eat aflS.nity with them in all other respects. 
