62 DTJBLIN NATUKAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



a habit also of a beautiful example of this group exhibited by me before youf 

 Society, in 1852, in a plant of Pol. angulare. The Kew plant, or, at least, those 

 blants shown me as such, I believe to belong to Pol. aculeatum, an opinion I 

 know at variance with the generally received one. The preceding remarks, also, 

 in a great measure, apply to the sub-variety, in which we find the same irregu- 

 larities of form— the same occasional symmetrical arrangement of parts — the 

 same tendency to a viviparous reproduction.' The sub-variety in this group is, 

 however, much seldomer fertile than the variety; it is also very often uniform, 

 but never permanently so. The laciniate sub-group varies more under cultiva- 

 tion than any other, but always keeps sufficiently near to the type to be recog- 

 nised easily from any other, except the sub-variety Truncatum, between which 

 and it some confusion exists at present, principally arising from the group not 

 having (owing to its ugliness) been as much studied as the Ramose or cristate 

 type, but, doubtless, after a little more examination, it will be found as well de- 

 fined as that group. I have prepared a list of all the forms that appear to belong 

 to the groups mentioned to-night, but can look on them as, to a certain extent, 

 imperfect, as, doubtless, forms belonging to other groups are mixed up with 

 them, owing to a want of specimens and information about the plants. In- 

 deed, I think, the classes themselves are, to a certain extent, only provisional, con- 

 taining within them, probably, the nucleus of other classes. My object has been 

 to collect together all the abnormal forms, and, as far as possible, group them. 

 How far or how naturally this has been done, it must remain for others to judge. 

 A few words about a point of nomenclature. When a variety and sub-variety 

 are found in conjunction, it is proposed to call the form by the name of the va- 

 riety, merely adding after it, "in combination with sub-var., &c. ;" when two 

 varieties or sub-varieties are conjoined, either to name it after that best marked, 

 or make a similar addition to that above, or to call it after both, as we speak at 

 present of " red and white" roses, &e. To the names used, some may, and, 

 doubtless, will object. If the scientific world in general, or even the majority 

 of them, choose to adopt others, I am content, provided that there be unanimity 

 as to the names chosen, and to the definitions of these names thus chosen. Thus^ 

 gentlemen, I have ended t^e task proposed for myself of collecting and group- 

 ing these abnormal forms ; how far I have succeeded, it is not for me to judge. 

 Doubtless, improvements and alterations can be suggested, but, I doubt, that 

 many of importance, as regards these six groups, will be made. Forms may he 

 removed from groups into which they are, at present, unwillingly placed, 

 as Am. R. M., var. dissectum, which is fruitful, and evidently belongs to some 

 form of Cristatum; the forms, with confused venation, at present included 

 under Laciniatum (which, probably, belong to some form of Cristatum), into 

 others to which they should belong, but, as I stated before, I believe the types 

 will remain intact. On physiology I have scarcely touched, my sole object 

 having been the collecting and grouping of those strange and varied forms 

 whose study is of almost equal importance with that of the limitation and defi- 

 nition of species, since by it I am convinced much light can be thrown on the 

 other. Any further information or explanation concerning this subject I have 

 in my power, I will gladly impart to those desiring it, and thankfully receive 

 additional information, either regarding the forms enumerated, or any others 

 unknown to me at present. 



There is another large group of forms on which I have not touched — those 

 to which I gave the name of sub- forms on a former occasion. These I have not 

 studied sufficiently to say anything either newer practical about. [Dr. Kinahan 

 illustrated those remarks by numerous specimens of the forms mentioned, and 

 by plants of the following unrecorded forms : — Phyl. scolopendrium, var. Laci- 

 niatum, apex of frond normal, basal half of frond contracted and serrated un- 

 symmetrically, fruitful, venation in apical portion of frond confused — neighbour- 

 hood of Drogheda, county of Louth, March, 1854 ; Phyl. scolopendrium, var. 



* Seen in PolTSk angulare ; vide p. 60, also Newm. Brit Ferns, 8rd ed., Polystich Ang. varieties. 



