THE POLYPODIES. 
189 
wing 1 , extending along it lengthwise. These leaflets 
are somewhat narrow and lance-shaped, being termi- 
nated in a bluntish point The entire frond, like 
its leaflets, tapers to a point, the leaflets becoming 
shorter and shorter to admit of this arrangement. 
The frond, in fact, has somewhat the appearance of 
a rough double-toothed comb. Under shelter, the 
Polypody is evergreen, its delightful fronds remain- 
ing fresh and vigorous throughout the winter, and 
until a new crop has been supplied from the rhizo- 
mes in the succeeding spring. At the back, and on 
the upper portion of the frond, are the spores, in 
little round patches, unprotected by any covering. 
These, in the autumn, assume the beautiful ap- 
pearance of little heaps of gold-dust, so richly 
coloured are they. 
Essentially a forest fern is the Common Poly- 
pody, waving its delightful fronds aloft in the tree 
forks. But it has also wonderful powers of domes- 
tication. No fern is so plentifully vended in the 
London streets as our Polypody ; for Epping 
Forest — that delightful strip of greenwood — fur- 
nishes the plant in thousands. In beautiful Devon- 
