138 BRITISH ЕЕКМ5 
twice-divided fronds are very fragile, as are Ше slender stalks 
and their texture generally. They are perfectly deciduous with one 
exception, viz. sempervirens. It is widely distributed, but is most 
common in hilly districts in the north, where it is found sometimes 
in abundance in the chinks of rocks and stone dykes often associated 
with the Oak and Beech Ferns. It has a short, creeping rootstock, 
but does not travel fast like its companions in question, but forms 
its fronds in closer order. It needs moisture and shade. It may 
be cultivated in same sort of soil and conditions as suit the de- 
ciduous Polypodies, but is, unfortunately, extremely apt to turn 
brown and become unsightly very early in the season, and hence 
is not particularly to be recommended for culture. This remark 
does not, however, apply to a constitutional variety, found in 
Scotland and sent to the writer by the late Mr. R. Somerville, of 
| Edinburgh, which is not merely evergreen under glass, but 15 ргас- 
| tically ever - growing, though otherwise normal, except, perhaps, 
| that it is of robuster growth; vide sempervirens. Several varieties 
are recorded, but we doubt very much whether the bulk of them 
are in existence; we, therefore, only mention the following :— | 
CRISTATA (Fig. 140).—This variety was raised from spores 
by Mr. C. Elworthy; frond and most of Ше pinne crested. | 
| v. d | The writer received а crested 
@ | form from Col. А. М. Jones 
which is imputed to the sem- 


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| WS pervirens or evergreen type, 
| Ur 122 scarcely, perhaps, justifiably, 
1 - zz though it is much more robust 
! ӨМ than Ше normal, and remains | 
| ES = green much longer. ‘It is | 
| в, ke eculiar in reverting sometimes | 
| | р 5 | 
||| Wee o to the uncrested type and then | 
! хаз, ДЕ returning even to grandiceps 
|| | forms 
| RS | y Г 
| ES UVA а” DICKIEANA (Plate XIII).— 
Ñ <= Found in а cave near Aberdeen 
| by Dr. Dickie,and subsequently 
in three other places in Scot- 
land and Ireland ; very distinct 
and far more beautiful than 
the normal, the pinnae being | 
very broad and overlapping. 
Furcans.—Found in Scot- 
land several times with all 
fronds forked at the tips, and 
occasionally the pinne also. 
1 Fig. 140. C. f. cristata. SEMPERVIRENS. — Found in 












