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it mimics another, it is not so easily, at first sight, relegated 

 to its proper genus. 



This, of course, may happen to any other member of the 

 order when more or less abnormal. Thus the tyro may 

 be much confused, for a knowledge of the typical plant is 

 necessary to enable one to distinguish abnormalities. 

 Without, however, attempting to go into details as to the 

 number of species this wayward fern mimics when out of 

 condition or character, I cannot help relating what once 

 befell me when out for ferns in the neighbourhood of 

 Redhill, Surrey. Not knowing the district I asked a 

 gardener — not a policeman — if he had any knowledge of 

 such things about there, and he directed me to a certain 

 wood where " Lady Ferns" were abundant. I searched 

 the wood in question without result, but at last it dawned 

 upon me that my would-be horticultural friend had simply 

 mistaken the slim and slender Bracken for the graceful 

 Lady Fern I 



We can fully confirm Mr. Green's remarks anent the 

 capacity of the Bracken frond for imitating other species, as 

 we have repeatedly been deceived when hunting hedge- 

 bottoms and other likely resorts, by seeing projecting 

 portions of otherwise hidden Bracken plants in the midst of 

 other species. Lady Ferns, Buckler Ferns and even 

 Blechnums which they so closely aped as to be taken for 

 a moment as varietal forms. The seedling forms of P. 

 aqnilina are also very deceptive, and if these arise under 

 glass, continue to grow in a lax and delicate fashion which 

 is very different to the normal condition in the open. It 

 may be added that almost everywhere where the Bracken 

 is abundant, three very distinct forms may be found by 

 careful search, one the normal as usually pictured, another 

 much more finely dissected, and a third with constricted 

 hard and leathery sub-divisions and stiff habit of growth. 

 If a single frond of such be noted it is fairly certain that 

 others will recur at intervals over a considerable area. 



Editor. 



