28 
FERNS. 
[Polypodium. 
Mr. Newman, in his beautifully-illustrated book on Ferns, blends this with 
the former species ; yet his figures show strongly-marked differences.* Both of 
us, no doubt, argue according to our respective means of observation ; and after 
a very careful re-examination of both the species in my own and Sir J. Smith’s 
herbarium, and also as growing in Kew Gardens, I see no reason to alter a single 
word in the above descriptive characters. Whether the size of the two be of 
moment is the only thing which appears of little certainty; but the rigid erect 
habit and dark colour are very characteristic, even without noticing the pubescence. 
Indeed, whatever doubt I may have of the distinctness of certain others of the 
Ferns, I cannot for an instant consider the present and former species identical ; 
let it be observed, however, that in the case of these, as well as some other species, 
the same herbarium often contains but the commoner plant, which is the 
P . Dryopteris, yet some of the specimens may be under the name of P. ealcareum ; 
and too often does it happen, that the receiver of a specimen, taking for granted 
that such is correctly named, makes it a guide for his own future judgment, and 
thus an error becomes perpetuated.f 
Hab. — A rncliff and Gordale, Yorks., Mr. R. B. Bowman. Near Lancaster, 
Mr. Gibson. Sheddin Clough, three miles from Burnley, Lane., Mr. Leyland. 
Common about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Matlock Bath, Derbvs., Dr. 
Howitt. Road-side under the Lover’s Leap, near Buxton, Derbys., Mr. H. ('. 
Watson. Cheddar Cliffs, Somers., Mr. W. Christy. Box Quarries, near Bath, 
Mr. Flower. Not found in either Scotland or Ireland. 
Geo. — Recorded by Pursh and Michaux as occurring throughout North 
America from Canada to Pennsylvania, and no doubt this is correct, as the 
description of Pursh so exactly accords with our plant ; though Swartz says that 
it is found in England only. 
5.— POLYPODIUM ALPESTRE. 
ALPINE POLYPODY. 
(Suppl. Plate, fig. 2, a.) 
Ciia. — Leaf lanceolate, bipinnate. Pinnae linear-lanceolate. 
Pinnules deeply pinnatifid, with sharply-toothed ovate lobes. 
Syn. — Polypodium alpestre, Spreng., Moore (1853).— P. rliaeticum, Woods' 
Tourist's Flora . — Pseudathyrium alpestre, Newm. (1854). 
Fig. — Moore (1853), p. 51. — Newman (1854), p. 199. 
Des. — Rootstock short, decumbent, with a tendency to branch ; 
with the leaves in terminal tufts. Leaves 1 — 3 feet high, the bare 
part of the stalk short, with few scales ; blade lanceolate in outline, 
bipinnate, the pinnae linear-lanceolate, acute ; pinnules elongate- 
triangular, shortly stalked, deeply pinnatifid, the lobes having coarse 
acute teeth. Sori at first small and circular, afterwards often con- 
fluent on the larger pinnules. 
Sit. — Alpine glens. 
Hab.— Ben Aulder, Invernesshire, Canlocken Glen, Forfars., 11. C. Watson, 
Esej. Clova Mts., Messrs. Backhouse and Westcombe. 
Geo.— Mountains of Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland ; Russia. 
* It is admitted as a species in the latest edition (1854).— Ed. 
t The figure given in Pl. I, fig. 5, is P. Dryopteris.— E d. 
