


142 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
Chacapoyas, and of Chili; and forms almost, if not quite identical, 
occur in Guatemala, in Mexico, New Granada, and Caraccas. 
Singapore and Java in the East, yield cognate forms barely 
separable on the one hand from this species, or on the other from 
P. aculeatum, and similar forms appear common over India. In 
some of these tropical forms, the harsh texture of the European 
aculeatum is found associated in the same individual with the 
outline and aspect of the European angulare, rendering it difficult, 
if not impracticable, to point out the limits of the two species. 
In the garden, this Fern will be found very ornamental, and of very 
easy management. It is in fact, one of the most beautiful of our 
hardy species, its value being enhanced by its evergreen character, 
and by its capacity for submitting itself to the vicissitudes of artificial 
cultivation. It grows readily in free sandy loam, either in shady parts _ 
of the garden or shrubbery, on out-door shady rock-work, or in pots 
in the in-door Fernery, in the latter case requiring a tolerable amount 
of pot-room, and then attaining remarkable elegance. It is increased 
with facility by division whenever lateral crowns are produced. 
A remarkable proliferous or viviparous character has been 
observed in several of the varieties of this species, as well as in 
many other British Ferns, including Polystichum Lonchitis; P. 
aculeatum, with its variety lobatum; Lastrea Filix-mas, two varie- 
ties; L. emula; Asplenium lanceolatum; A. Ruta-muraria; Scolo- 
pendrium vulgare, several varieties; Blechnum Spicant, ete. Some 
of the varieties of the present species propagate extensively by means 
of these bulbils, which form either towards the base of the stipes, 
or along the rachis in the axils of the lower pinnee, or in some 
instances on the veins of the fronds. Although among exotic Ferns 
instances of this viviparous growth were known to occur frequently, 
yet our acquaintance with so many bulbil-bearing British Ferns 
is due to the scrutiny of a few zealous cultivators, especially Mr. 
Wollaston of Chislehurst, Dr. Allchin of Bayswater, Mr. Clapham 
of Scarborough, and Mr. Baxter of Oxford. Most of the instances 
above referred to were observed during the summer of 1854. Mr. 
Baxter has suggested that it may be a result of pot-culture, all the 

