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BEECH FERN.
P o l y p o d iu m P h e g o p t e r i s of Authors.
Polypodium Latebrosum,—Gray.
l o c a l i t i e s .
E ngland . . . The mountainous districts of Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland,
Yorkshire, and Lancashire ; near the town of Ludlow, Shropshire ; on Shob-
don Wood Hill, Herefordshire; and Dartmoor, Devonshire.
W a l e s Rhaiadr, Hafod, Devil’s Bridge, Ponterwyd, base of Plinlymmon ; between Ponterwyd
and Aberystwith, Machynlleth, Dolgelly, Dolymelynllyn, Llaneltyd; between
Trawsvynydd and Maentwrog ; between Harlech and Tan-y-Bwlch, Aberglaslyn,
Beddgelert; between Beddgelert and Llyn Gwynnant; abundantly and almost continuously
on the wall to the right between Llyn Gwynnant and the Pass of Lianberris;
at Lianberris, Caernarvon, Cwm Idwel, Falls of Ogwen; Carnedd David;
near Bangor; near Capel Carig; near Cernioge. In South Wales, at the falls of the
Hepste, and several spots in the Vale of Neath.
Sco tland. . . Luss, Tarbet, Arroquhar, Pass of Glencoe, Inverary, Oban, Isle of Mull, Ballahulish,
Pass of Glencroe ; near Tyndrum ; near Killin; near Loch K atrin e; Jardine Hall,
Dumfrieshire; Corra Llyn,and Stone Byers, L anarkshire; generally found in abundance
near all waterfalls in Scotland.
laELAND . . . Mountain rills and waterfalls in the county Antrim ; and at Powerscourt Waterfall,
county Wicklow.
T h i s fern is peculiarly the fern of -waterfalls; its roots are
black and fibrous; its rhizoma wiry, tough, and creeping, often
forms a complete network over the perpendicular face of rocks
within reach of the spray of waterfalls. In such situations this
fern appears to delight. I t throws out its new fronds in May,
and they arrive at maturity in July, and disappear with the
early frosts on the approach of winter. The position of the
frond is at first nearly liorizontal, afterwards pendulous ; its
size varies from that of the frond represented in the figure to
nine inches in length, exclusive of the naked part of the rachis,
which is usually twice as long as that which is clothed. The
figure of the frond is triangular, and acute at the apex ; it is
pinnate, the pinnæ being pinnatifid, linear, and very acute at
the apex ; the lower pair of pinnæ are turned hack from the
apex of the frond ; they are united to the rachis by their stalks
only: the remaining pinnæ point forwards, and are united to
the rachis by their entire diameter ; the fronds, including their
rachis, are pale green and hirsute : they are fertile only.
The lateral veins of the pinnulæ are few in number, alternate,
almost invariably undivided, and extend to the margin, each
bearing a circular mass of thecæ near its extremity ; these
masses consequently form a submarginal series ; they are of a
brown colour. In one of the detached pinnules in the cut
will he seen the position of the veins, and the attachment of
the thecæ ; in the other, the masses of thecæ in their natural
situation.
This is not only a remarkably graceful, but a peculiarly well-
marked fern : it is quite impossible to confound it with any
other species ; the long naked rachis, triangular form, marginal
sori, and the unusual position of the lower pair of pinnæ, are
quite sufficient to distinguish it.
The name of Beech Fern applied to this species seems very
unmeaning : I am quite at a loss to discover the reason for its
ever having been used. Like most of our English synonymes, it
conveys an impression at variance with the nature and character
of the plant. I only adopt it in order to avoid the responsibility
of adding another name.