The commonest of the three similar species which make up the polypody complex. This plant is a tetraploid, i.e. it has four sets of chromosomes. It has rather thick, tough leaves up to about 8 inches long (often much smaller) and grows in a variety of habitats: on trees in woodland, on sand dunes, earth banks, rock outcrops.
All names: Polypodium vulgare sens. str. L.; Polypodium vulgare L.; Polypodium vulgare ssp. vulgare L. sensu stricto