Polystichum setiferum 'Divisilobum' is particularly interesting. This was originally collected on the outskirts of Caernarfon. This was growing along with the normal form in a copse well away from any gardens. The identification was made by Jimmy Dyce who was an expert on this group. Its discovery was listed in a British Pteridological Society Bulletin around 1970, if I remember correctly. Now I have found the original article written by Jimmy Dyce. Newsletter No. 7 November 1969. I quote from page 9 ' During our weekend visit to North Wales we were able to see some plants and fronds collected by Mr William Elfyn Hughes, who lives in Bangor and knows Snowdonia well. Although his interests are botanical, he has a keen eye for variations and surprised us greatly with the many good plants he has found in the area, particularly of Polypodium vulgare. In his herbarium is a wide range of fronds from very broad specimens, deeply serrated ones, and some very good 'Semi-Lacerums'. The best of the last named were collected, as well as an excellent Polystichum setiferum 'Divisilobum', superior to the one collected by Mrs Flanagan in Ireland last year, and only the second recorded plant of this variety since the war. Mr Elfyn Hughes has also found two colonies of Polypodium vulgare 'Cambricum' in the region, but is not divulging the localities to anyone - a very wise precaution, for with so much of this variation already in cultivation there is no point denuding the wild of these plants, and someone would be sure to covet them'.

This is the original plant and produces quantities of bulbils. Philip Brown propagated these in the early 1980's with the result that many P. setiferum 'Divisilobum' plants in Portmeirion originate from this clone. It grows in many parts of the Gwyllt and also Brondanw gardens. Also interesting that now many young P. setiferum plants are naturally occurring around the present garden. The variation of these non cloned plants is amazing and range from 'Bevis' types through to some very dwarf varieties. A few have inherited the bulbiferous habit. There is one with crested tips and no crested forms have been cultivated here. All of these plants are very beautiful.