1903] Waters,— Asplenium ebeneum proliferum — 273 
of Cystopteris bulbifera, which appear to be a special case of pro- 
liferation in which the young plants drop off at an early stage, 
instead of receiving sustenance from the parent until fully established. 
They differ also in being formed on the rachis and midribs, instead 
of only at the tips of the fronds or pinnae. 
While cleaning the roots of a specimen of Asf/. ebeneum, I noticed 
what seemed to be a queerly shaped pinna on an otherwise bare 
stalk. It was soon seen that a small plant had sprung from the 
stalk, It was on the rachis of a sterile frond of the previous year, 
which had been covered with earth, and was at the point of attach- 
ment of the lowest pinna. ‘The root was broken, but the part that 
remained was 8 mm. long. ‘The first leaf, shaped somewhat like a 
small basal pinna, was 3.5 mm. in length. ‘The second frond, nearly 
4 mm. long including the stipe, had three lobes, the middle one being 
much the largest and three-notched at the end. One of the lateral 
lobes was slightly notched. ‘The young plant did not seem to be in 
the axil of the old pinna, but exactly at the point of attachment. 
I have been informed by Mr. B. D. Gilbert that this form was 
described about thirty years ago by Professor 
D. C. Eaton, who called it 4457. ebeneum proli- | 
Jerum. It-calls to mind the tropical ferns 
that bear buds and young plants on the upper 
side of the rachis, but these are produced 
normally, and not when the stalk is covered 
with earth. It may be that this is the deter- 
mining cause in the case of our specimen, for 
it was normal in other respects. At the same 
time it must be admitted that this is not the 
only reason, for a careful search did not bring 
to light any more like it on other buried stalks. 
It would be well worth while for some one 
to see whether this condition could be brought about experimentally. 
One might try, for instance, the effect of covering the rachis with 
earth at different seasons, and cover not only the perfect fronds but 
those that have part or all of the pinnae removed. The plant in 
question was growing in rather moist soil on the steep bank of a 
little stream. 
JoHns Hopkins UNIVERSITY. 
