Jan., 1903.] Adaptability in Ferns. 359 



to be no soil whatever, now it lives in the drift soil with apparent 

 ease. Camptosorus was taken from the face of a cliff where it 

 invariably grows. Now it is growing flat on the ground and has 

 spread considerably by its peculiar method of leaf-rooting. 



The fact that these ferns, many of which live under peculiar 

 conditions, should flourish under one and the same environment 

 with but little of human control, certiinly shows a remarkable 

 power of adaption. 



The question might well be asked : What would become of 

 these ferns if left entirely to themselves ? From what has already 

 been stated with regard to the rapidity- of propagation in some of 

 the sj^ecies, it would seem that those that find here their normal 

 habitat and those that can most readily adapt themselves to the 

 new conditions, would eventually choke out the weaker species. 

 It is interesting to note in this connection that among those which 

 have shown a decided tendency to spread, Cystopteris bulbifera, 

 Dryopteris thelypteris, and Phegopteris dryopteris have been 

 troublesome. 



A list of ferns which were transplanted is given below. A few 

 of these were brought from a distance. In such cases the locali- 

 ties are given opposite the names. 



i.» Botrychiuin viri^ianiaiium. 



2. Botrychiuin lunaria. 



3. Osniunda regalis. 



4. Osmunda ciniiamomea. 



5. Osmunda claytoniana. 



6. Onoclea sensibilis. 



7. Onoclea struthiopteris — Brevoort Lake, I\Iich. 



8. Cystopteris bulljifera. 



9. Cystopteris fragilis. 



10. Dryopteris acrostichoides. 



11. Dryopteris thelypteris. 



12. Dr\-opteris crislata— Brevoort Lake, Mich. 



13. Dryopteris niargiualis. 



14. Dryopteris .spinulosa, var. — Walter's Park, Pa. 



15. Dryopteris spinulosa, var. — Walter's Park, Pa. 



16. Phegopteris hexagonoptera, 



17. Phegopteris dryopteris — Brevoort Lake, Mich. 



18. Camptosorus riiizophyllus. 



19. Asplenium pinnatifidum. 



20. Asplenium platyneuron — Walter's Park, Pa. 



21. Asplenium trichomanes, 



22. Asplenium angustifolium. 



23. Asplenium nita-muraria- Clifton Gorge, O. 



24. Asplenium acrostichoides. 



25. Adiantum pedatum. 



26. Pteris aquilina. 



27. Pellaea atropurpurea — Clifton Gorge, O. 



28. Polvpodimn vulgare. 



Aniioch College. 



