CULTIVATION OF THE FULLER'S TEASEL IN ESSEX 285
Pteris aquilina (Brake or Bracken).—Very common and
abundant.
Polypodium+ vulgare (Polypody).—A Fern found on pollarded
hornbeams and old stumps. Used to be abundant, but has been
reduced in numbers by the continued removal of the roots.
Ophioglossum vulgatum (the Adder's-tongue).—This species
is not well known, as it dies away early in the summer and is
only to be found by careful searching. Very abundant in places,
and, I am glad to say, increasing in numbers.
Lastrea filix-mas (Male-fern).—A fairly common plant,
but does not grow in the forest to any great size. I have found
only one really fine specimen.
Athyrium felix-faemina (Lady-fern).—Not quite so common
as the Male-fern, but there are some fine plants still existing.
Lastrea dilatata (Broad Buckler-fern).—This is found often
in the forest, but all the finest specimens have been removed
one by one, and consequently the plants remaining average small
size, with but lew exceptions.
Lastrea Oreopteris (montanum) (Mountain Buckler Fern), and
Blechnum spicant (Hard Fern) grow together in one or
two places, but are not common.
Polypodium dryopteris (Oak-fern) and
Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort).—Both these
have been recorded in one or two places, but have now
disappeared.
These are the species which I have found actually growing
in the forest, and I have photographs and preserved fronds of
most of these for members to examine. I have also found
Polystichum aculeatum, Asplenium ruta-muraria and Asplenium
adiantum-nigrum in the neighbourhood of the forest, but not
actually within its boundaries.
CULTIVATION OF THE FULLER'S TEASEL
IN ESSEX.
By ALFRED W. DENNIS.
(With Plate XIX.)
IN August, 1909, while staying at an old farmhouse
called Don John's, near Halstead, Essex, I was much
surprised to find the Fuller's Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum,
in cultivation at Burton's Green, a hamlet near by. I had sup-