1 
COMMON POLYPODY. 
S LTHOXJGH this species is very abundant, it is nevertheless, one of the prettiest and most 
interesting of ferns, for it is found covering those spots where there is the greatest scarcity of 
vegetation, such as hare rocks and walls; and when an aged oak begins to lose its vigour, this 
fern establishes itself on its trunk, as if to compensate for its want of verdure in other parts. 
The young fronds make their appearance in May and June, issuing from all parts of the 
rhizome, except the growing point; they arrive at maturity in September, and remain green until 
the following spring, except in very exposed places. 
The rhizome is thick, branching in all directions, and is covered at first with a dense, brown, 
wiry membrane, which falls off in the winter, leaving a smooth surface. 
The stem is green, and nearly as long as the frond. 
The fronds vary in length from two to eighteen inches; they are pinnatifid, the margin of the 
lobes being more or less serrated or notched. 
The seed is produced on the under surface of the frond, and is of a bright yellow or orange 
colour at first, and brown when ripe. 
jEtefat 
Common on moss-covered trunks of trees, on rock, and walls, shady hedge-banks, and stone 
covered roofs. 
This species is subject to several variations, the pinnae being sometimes bifid or divided near 
the ends, and sometimes more or less deeply cleft. These varieties are scarce in Wales. 
In transplanting this fern, as much as possible of the moss and decayed matter with which the 
roots are surrounded should be removed with it. It grows freely in pots, if a light porous soil is 
used, and the rhizomes kept on the surface. 
Mr. Newman, in his “ History of British Terns,” mentions a very excellent method of culti¬ 
vating this species in a green-house, viz., “in a wooden basket, made very open, which should be 
suspended. The rhizomes should be arranged in the bottom of the basket in such a manner that 
the fronds and the growing points of the rhizomes may pass through the interstices. They should 
then be covered with a thin layer of Sphagnum, over which spread a mixture of well decayed leaf 
mould and silver sand; then arrange a second layer of Sphagnum, and then a second layer of 
rhizomes, on which carefully fasten wooden cross bars, and the basket will be complete. Im¬ 
merse the whole in soft water, until it is thoroughly saturated, and then suspend it in its final 
destination. This should be done in April, before any young fronds have appeared: in June and 
July young fronds will emerge through all the apertures in the basket, and will arrange them¬ 
selves gracefully around it.” 
