THE COMMON BEAKE. 
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and crispa, but, though distinct enough to form interesting 
finds, would hardly repay cultivation. The case is, however, 
different with regard to those hereafter described, which are 
highly ornamental. The creeping rootstock of this Fern has 
a habit of burrowing sometimes 4ft. or 5ft. into the ground, 
the result of which is that it is almost impossible to remove 
it successfully, unless it be in winter, when it is dormant, but 
when, of course, as it is deciduous, varieties cannot be recog- 
nised. Fortunately, it is easily raised from spores, which, if 
ripe, may relieve a fortunate finder from the horns of a 
dilemma, since, though he may justly claim the find, as its 
discoverer, the acre or so of land to which it is inseparably 
attached can hardly be regarded in the same light, apart from 
porterage difficulties. The best varieties are : 
P. a. congesta (crowded). A very fine, dense form. 
P. a. cristata (crested). All tips very neatly flat-crested. 
P. a. glomerata (clustered). A most extraordinary form, 
very robust, in which all the pinnules are twisted and curled ; 
and as the ends of the pinnae do so as well, apparently ball- 
like crests are formed by the rolled-up masses of pinnules, 
although, in point of fact, no real crest exists. The central 
stalk is straight, except at the tip ; hence the plant is handsome. 
P. a. grandiceps (large-crested). Yery heavily crested 
throughout. 
P. a. polydactyla (many-fingered). All tips branching 
into several points. 
P. a. ramo-cristata (branch-crested). Fronds fork re- 
peatedly, bearing numerous crests on the divisions. 
