Page:VCH Norfolk 1.djvu/90

 A HISTORY OF NORFOLK it is however still tolerably widely distributed. In the North-Central division the Genus Polystichum is largely represented by a numerous series of forms varying from a Lonchitidoid form of a few inches high, sometimes fairly fruited, to a large sub-tripinnate form of P. angulare, of nearly as many feet in length ; in fact, there appears to be an almost unbroken succession of forms from the smallest to the largest, from the most simple to the most divided, and it is difficult to say when P. lobatum ends and P. angulare begins. This series of Polystichum is accompanied by a considerable quantity of Scolopendrium vulgare, which is otherwise a scarce fern throughout the county. Asplenium viride has been found on a wall on the extreme southern edge of the Eastern division, and held its own for many years, until exterminated by structural alterations of its habitat. Cystopteris fragilis is known in one or two localities, and Ceterach offic'marum in about twice as many. Of Equisetacece, E. maximum, E. syhaticum, and E. hyemale are the least common, and of Lycopods Lycopodium Selago is the rarest, recorded only from the North-Central division ; whilst L. inundatum and L. clavatum have not been recorded from the South-Central. Pilularia globulifera has only been found in a very few localities, most of them in the Eastern division. FiLICES Pteris aquilina, Linn Lomaria Spicant, Desv. Asplenium Adiantum - nigrum, Linn var. acutum. Poll. . — viride, Huds. (extinct ?). — Trichomanes, Linn. . — Ruta-mutaria, Linn. Athyrium Filix-foemina, Roth. Ceterach officinarum, Willd. . Scolopendrium vulgare, Symons. Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. Polystichum lobatum, Presl. a. genuinum, Syme. . b. aculeatum, Syme — angulare, Presl Lastraca Thelypteris, Presl. . — Oreopteris, Presl — Filix-mas, Presl — cristata, Presl — uliginosa, Newman. E NC SC w E NC w E NC SC w w E E NC SC w E VC SC w E NC w E NC SC E NC SC w E SC E NC SC w E NC SC w E NC SC E NC w E NC w E NC SC w E NC SC w NC SC w Lastraea splnulosa, Presl. . — dilatata, Presl Polypodium vulgare, Linn. . Osmunda regalis, Linn. . Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. Botrychium Lunaria, Sw. . Equisetace.« Equisetum maximum. Lam. . — arvense, Linn — sylvaticum, Linn. . — palustre, Linn. — limosura, Sm b. fluviatile (Linn.) — hyemale, Linn. LrcopoDiACEfl: Lycopodium Selago, Linn. — inundatum, Linn. . — clavatum, Linn. . Marsileace.« Pilularia globulifera, Linn. E NC SC E NC SC E NC SC E NC SC E NC SC E NC SC E NC SC E NC SC NC SC E NC SC E NC SC E E NC NC E NC E NC E NC w w w w w w w w w w w CHARACE^ The Characeas of Norfolk merit special recognition and notice, inas- much as the county stands first in the British Isles for the number of species which it yields. Twenty-five species are recorded for Great Britain ; of these no less than seventeen are found in Norfolk. Nor can it be claimed that this is a complete record. The Characex flora of the 58