Hamilton. — Abnormal Developments in, N.Z. Ferns. 339 



In view of the number of crested, divided, and otherwise 

 ■abnormal ferns which I have seen, it was somewhat of a sur- 

 prise to me to find that Mr. Field, in a note in the " Journal of 

 Botany,"* says, " I have never met with a crested New Zea- 

 land fern, and only once or twice with a depauperate one, 

 while variations in colour are common." I think if special 

 search were made for crested forms it is quite possible that 

 some of great interest and beauty may be found, and if cul- 

 tivated with skill there are endless possibilities in the future, 

 as it is now a well-established fact that crested ferns rarely 

 revert to their normal state when raised from spores, although 

 occasionally a further distinct form will present itself. 



For nearly forty years a small group of English fern- 

 growers have been workmg at the task of raising plants from 

 spores of plants found wild under natural conditions, and a 

 large numoer of facts have been gatherel which wait a 

 master hand for deductions. Although so much was done by 

 Darwin in his researches on annuals and plants under domesti- 

 cation, in which he brings together a vast host of facts derived 

 from the vegetable and animal kingdom, the record anent 

 ferns, which in some respects present unique powers of varia- 

 tion, is summed up in a solitary short remark about the power 

 of spores taken from abnormal fronds to reproduce the abnor- 

 mal character. Those who wish to take up some branch of 

 botanical study will find a wealth of material at hand, either 

 in a scientific study of the behaviour of the prothalli under 

 various conditions in the living state, or by the microscopical 

 investigation of the anatomy of the leaf-stalk and the disposi- 

 tions of the stelae. This latter character has been investigated 

 lately in the hope of finding more absolute characters for the 

 discrimination of genera. Much interesting detail will also be 

 found m the structure of the filmy ferns. 



The quest for naturally crested or divided ferns for cultiva- 

 tion will add to the enjoyment of many a walk or scramble 

 in the bush, and careful selection of plants raised from natural 

 sports will amply reward the care and trouble required to pro- 

 duce good results in this as in everything else. 



Search should also be made for examples of apospory. 

 I have not yet seen an example in New Zealand ferns, but 

 in an Annual Report of the Colonial Museum there is an 

 entry which may be a record of this: "1754. — Feb. 24, 

 1887. — Fern, AspUnium ohtusatum, supposed to be a new 

 variety ; proliferous on the upper surface. Sent by Miss 

 Marchant." 



* Field, H. C. : "Variation in New Zealand Ferns." "Journal of 

 Botany," xxi., 140, 141 ; 1883, 



