Plant Kingdom

Fern Phylum: The common polypod

This plant is often found growing on walls and tree trunks where it can catch more light. The polypod prefers soils which are acidic. New leaves grow in May and reach 10 to 40 cm in length. The plant stores food in an underground root called a rhizome which helps it to pass through the winter. The spore cases ripen on the leaves during the autumn.

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© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2009