326 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
that is most exquisitely delicate and beautiful. 
The pretty little Fern is in general very abundant 
in the localities where it is found; but these are 
chiefly away from the southern counties of Eng¬ 
land. In the north-western counties, in Wales, 
and also in Scotland, it is plentifully distributed. 
In Ireland it is rare. It is found in very much 
the same situations as the Mountain Polypody; 
and it delights in the same kind of soil, but it 
does not need quite the same amount of moisture 
which is demanded by Polyjpodium phegopteris. 
Like all the Polypodies, except Alpestre, it has a 
creeping rhizoma. In fact, it is a wonderful 
traveller; and, in cultivation, is often found to 
come up in places where it is not expected, so 
extensively does it creep. From the under sur¬ 
face of the rhizoma, or creeping root-stock, pro¬ 
ceed its fibrous roots; and these oftentimes, when 
the Fern is growing on a spongy bed of leaf- 
mould, become densely matted. From all parts 
of its travelling rhizoma start the pretty and 
delicate fronds; sometimes in such profusion as 
to give to them the appearance of a miniature 
forest of beautiful green. The average height to 
