ATHYRIUM FILIX-F(EMINA, VAR. UNCO-GLOMERATUM. 263 
of apospory. All its vital energy seemed to be expended in 
branching and subdividing, so that a frond consisted of a solid 
mass of ramifications ending in myriads of minute green points. 
Matters were at this pass when in October 1896, as the plant 
in my garden was dying down for the winter, I noticed that, in 
the case of one or two immature fronds, although the greater 
part of the frond was turning brown, the extreme tips were still 
green and formed little knots of liviug tissue each about the 
size of a pin's head. It occurred to me that if these could be 
kept alive until the spring they might develop into bulbils, and 
80 form independent plants. Under the influence of this idea, 
on November 5th, 1896, I laid down in a pot a portion of a 
decaying frond with the green bud-like bodies attached, the 
latter being brought into contact with the soil,and the whole 
covered closely with a bell-glass. 
I quote now from my journal the notes made at various stages 
of the culture :— 
Dec. 1, 1896.— The bud-like bodies are evidently the unde- 
veloped parts of the frond to which they belonged. They are 
beginning to unroll, and look green and healthy. 
Feb. 5, 1897.—Development has been going on slowly all 
through the winter. The growths are branching and continuing 
to unrol. They look like bits of frond still only partially 
developed. 
June 6, 1897.—The pieces are now luxuriant and healthy- 
looking masses of branches, each about 3 to $ of an inch in 
diameter; they are still growing, but there are no roots nor 
root-hairs visible, nor any bulbils or new axes of growth. It 
has been, so far, a process of continued unrolling. 
Ncv. 5, 1897.— The basal parts of the pieces of frond are 
beginning to decay. The tips are still alive and green, and con- 
tinue to expand, but this process has apparently nearly reached 
its limit. The tips are thin and pellucid, and have a semi- 
prothalloid appearance. There are no buds nor root-hairs to be 
seen. 
March 1, 1898.— The cultures have been almost at a stand- 
still during the winter. Only the extreme tips of the growths 
are now alive, though the bunches of frond are still discernible 
in a half-decayed condition. 
April 30, 1898.—Several of the pieces have died altogether. 
