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which is in itself a thoroughbred constant form, with no 

 eccentricities at all to which such results could be imputed 

 by inheritance. Yet by repeated sowings it has been 

 proved that the three forins — the parental, the plumose and 

 the " grandidens " type — arise in more or less the same 

 proportions whenever the decompositum spores are sown. 

 Ptevis aquilina pevcvistata is another fern which constantly 

 produces two different varieties when sown — viz., the 

 parental form quite truly, and a large percentage of 

 " grandiceps," a quite barren variety, with the fronds con- 

 sisting entirely of stalks and heavy crests, these also being 

 quite alike. This being barren, it can only be propagated 

 by sowing spores of the parental form when it is quite sure 

 to appear again. 



The superbum section of Lady Ferns arose first from a 

 beautifully crested seedling raised from an entirely un- 

 crested form (Athyviuin filix foemina elegans Pavsons) raised 

 from an equally uncrested wild find [A. f.f. plumostim 

 Axiiiinstev). In this case the extraordinary feature was 

 that over go per cent, of the same batch were crested also, 

 only two of the parental form resulting, while most of 

 them were more or less defective, only two being perfect, 

 though no defects are visible in either parent or grand- 

 parent. Spores of the better of these tw^o (superbum) 

 being sown, the next unexpected result was the appearance 

 of two distinct sections, one uncrested and extra plumose, 

 and one crested on varied lines, some to the fourth degree 

 [percvistatum). Here again was a sudden divergence of 

 type in two distinct directions in spores gathered from one 

 and the same plant. 



In the more recent case of Polystichiun aculcatum 

 piilchevviimim a similar divergence took place, some 20 

 per cent, of the plants assuming a quite distinct type, 

 " gracillimum," in which half-inch pinnules \vere lengthened 

 to two to three inches, quite transforming the plant, while 

 one plant assumed a decomposite plumose form of quite 

 distinct character, rivalling those of the Jones and Fox 



